Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) LENINGRADSKIJ VELIKAN

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) 'Leningradskij Velikan'

A large-fruited Russian variety with excellent dessert flavour and high yield.

'Leningradskij Velikan' (Ленинградский Великан) is a proven Russian blackcurrant variety, known primarily for its exceptionally large fruits and excellent dessert flavour. Although it was removed from the official register due to lower disease resistance, its qualities have kept it very popular among gardeners, especially in the northwestern regions of Russia. It is characterized by vigorous growth, high frost resistance, and stable yields.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Large fruits with an excellent dessert flavour (rating 4.5/5).
• High and stable yield: 3 – 4.5 kg per bush.
• High frost resistance and good drought tolerance.
• High content of Vitamin C (up to 255 mg / 100 g).
• High self-fertility, ensuring a harvest even in poor weather.
• Versatile use of fruits – fresh consumption, freezing, and processing.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeders: E. I. Glebova, A. I. Potashova
• Institution: Saint Petersburg State Agrarian University
• Crossing: Created in 1974 by pollinating the 'Stakhanovka Altaya' variety with a pollen mix from 'Vystavochnaya' and 'Neosypayushchayasya'.
• Registration: It was recommended for cultivation in 1995 but was later removed from the State Register of the Russian Federation due to lower disease resistance.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth: Vigorous, upright, up to 160 cm tall. Becomes moderately spreading during fruiting.
• Shoots: Thick, straight; young shoots are green and pubescent, while woody shoots are greyish-beige.
• Buds: Short, thick, ovate, purplish-pink. A characteristic feature is their clustering on older wood in groups of 6–8.
• Leaves: Large, five-lobed, light green, matte, blistered and wrinkled.
• Flowers: Large, with pale pink petals.

Fruit (Berry)

• Size and weight: Large and uniform, with an average weight of 1.2 – 2.2 g.
• Shape and colour: Round, black, glossy.
• Skin: Thin but firm, does not crack.
• Flavour: Excellent, dessert-like, sweet-tart, with a strong aroma.
• Strigs: Short to long (5–10 cm), containing 6 to 13 berries.
• Use: Versatile – excellent for fresh consumption, freezing, and all types of processing (jams, juices, compotes).

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Drought resistance: Tolerates dry periods well.
• Disease resistance: Lower. Susceptible to anthracnose and powdery mildew.
• Pest resistance: Lower. Susceptible to the currant gall mite.
• Requirements: Requires fertile soil and good care.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Due to lower disease resistance, preventive protection is advisable.
• Branches may break under the weight of a heavy crop and may require support.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early (late June – early July).
• Harvest characteristics: Berries ripen unevenly. They hold well on the bush, do not drop, and have a dry scar, which facilitates picking.
• Yield: High and stable, 3 – 4.5 kg per bush.
• Self-fertility: High (over 50%).