Currant is one of the most common garden shrubs in Russia. This culture is grown everywhere: from the Far East to Kaliningrad. Unfortunately, the variety of pests parasitizing on it is also countless. One of the simplest and most effective methods of dealing with them is the spring treatment of boiling currant shoots.
Why do you need to water currant branches with boiling water
To expose a plant just preparing for spring awakening to such stressful effects, a very good reason is needed. And this reason is the fight against currant kidney mites (Cecidophyopsis ribis). These pests, despite their tiny size (0.2 mm), suck juices from green shoots, flowers and currant leaves throughout the growing season. As a result, the leaves become covered with yellow spots, the plant stops in development, does not bear fruit well (most of the berries do not survive to ripeness), and over time, the bush may even die.
Photo gallery: infection of currants with a kidney tick
- Enlarged kidneys indicate infection of currants with a tick
- Currant tick feeds on juices of young shoots, flowers and leaves
- Currant bud mite activates in early spring
A distinguishing feature of a plant infected with this tick is the enlarged, unnaturally swollen buds that form in the fall.
The favorite owner of the kidney tick is black currant, but it does not disdain its closest relatives: white, yellow, red currants and even gooseberries. So the consequences of this pest can be disastrous for the entire garden.
By the way, the famous witch brooms and galls on the leaves of plants form the closest relatives of the kidney mites.
Kidney ticks have simply a unique reproduction rate. Even before the first flowers appear on the bushes, they will have time to grow two generations of young parasites, and, thus, increase the number exponentially.
Kidney ticks do not tolerate sharp fluctuations in temperature and low humidity, so for the winter they take refuge in the reliably protected kidneys of currant, where they are destroyed with the help of hot water in the spring.
In addition to the destruction of pests, pouring boiling water tempers currants, increasing its resistance to diseases.
Processing periods for different regions
Spring currants should be irrigated with boiling water in early spring, when the snow is already beginning to melt, and its height is only 5-10 cm. For different regions of our immense homeland, this period begins at different times:
- Moscow and Moscow Region: March 10-15;
- Central regions (Pskov, Yaroslavl, Tula, Vladimir regions, etc.): March 12-17;
- Western Siberia (Altai Territory, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk Regions, etc.): April 5-10;
- Central Siberia (Krasnoyarsk, Transbaikal Territory, Irkutsk Region, etc.): April 8-12;
- Eastern Siberia (Amur Region, Khabarovsk, Primorsky Krai, etc.): April 1-10;
- Southern regions (Rostov Region, Kalmykia, Astrakhan Region): March 1-10.
Unfortunately, only early spring treatment with boiling water is effective. In autumn and winter, the currant buds are still covered with a dense crust, which protects not only the beginnings of young leaves, but also the parasites that hide in them. Well, summer watering with hot water will become too serious an injury for green leaves and young shoots.
Summer currant irrigation with hot water will do more harm than good
How to process currants with boiling water
First you need to decide on the bushes that you plan to process. This is important, since boiling water will gradually cool, and without a clear action plan, the effectiveness of the procedure will decrease.
In case your currant has roots located close to the soil surface, additional protection of the root system with any available material: plywood, sheets of iron, boards, etc., is an extra precaution.
Metal watering can - the best tool for watering currants with boiling water
As an irrigation tool, an ordinary metal watering can with a strainer is best suited. It is better not to use its plastic analogue, since its deformation can result from a temperature difference.
You can boil water on a fire, stove or stove, as well as in the bath - at the same time combine business with pleasure. When the water boils, you must immediately begin watering. Watering should be uniform, so do not stay in one place for longer than five seconds. Remember that you do not need to cultivate the soil, but shoots!
The addition of potassium permanganate will significantly increase the efficiency of boiling water
To increase the efficiency of treatment with boiling water, traditional pest control agents are added to the water: copper sulfate, salt, potassium permanganate. They should be bred in the following proportions:
- potassium permanganate: 1 g per 100 liters of water;
- copper sulfate: 3 g per 10 liters of water;
- salt: 10 g per 20 liters of water.
Since all these substances are simple salts in composition, the high temperature of the water does not harm their therapeutic properties.
Video: pouring currants over boiling water in early spring
Precautionary measures
When carrying out the procedure, it is important not to forget about safety. A metal watering can quickly heat up from boiling water, so the procedure must be carried out with thick fabric gloves. You should also check whether the strainer is firmly fixed to the watering can, otherwise it is highly likely to earn a burn of the first or second degree. In addition, correctly approach the choice of your own shoes for this work, so that boiling water that accidentally gets on your feet during watering, could not scald them.
Spring treatment of currant bushes with boiling water is a traditional, highly effective method of pest control. The procedure does not require any financial costs, is environmentally friendly and extremely simple. No wonder this method has been used by gardeners of Russia since time immemorial.
