A lot of healthy berries grow on the site of any gardener. Currant, which is also called the health berry, occupies a worthy place among them. In order for her to be healthy and strong, she should properly care for, treat and protect the plant from pests.
Currant diseases and methods for their treatment
Below we describe the symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention of popular diseases of currant.
Anthracnose (dry fellow)
The causative agent of anthracnose is Colletotrichum orbiculare. This form of the disease most often spreads to red currant bushes, although its other varieties are also affected.
The fungus transfers winter in withered leaves, and awakens again by the summer season.
Signs:
- currant leaves begin to become covered with small red and brown spots, which then grow;
- the bush, not processed in a timely manner, loses dried leaves and dies over time;
- appears on newly planted plants in the absence of prevention.
Treatment:
In the treatment of anthracnose, a mixture of a solution of copper sulfate and slaked lime, or, as it is also called, Bordeaux liquid, will help. Bordeaux liquid can be purchased at any supermarket.
The first time the plant is sprayed after detection of the disease, and then the second time the berries are ripe and picked.
Prevention:
- be sure to collect and burn all fallen leaves, this will prevent the fungus from spreading;
- if the currant bushes did not survive such an attack, do not plant new ones in the same place.
Powdery Mildew (Sferotek)
This is another currant disease caused by the activity of the Erysiphales fungus. The disease is quite rare, but easily treatable. Its danger is that it can spread to other plants, for example, roses, or even cucumbers.
Signs:
- on young leaves of currant a white loose mycelium is formed;
- leaves with such a bloom deform and dry out;
- after a while it spreads to berries, they dry out and lose their taste.
Treatment:
Gardeners use simple pharmacy iodine, in the ratio - 1 bottle to 10 liters of water. The currants are treated with iodine solution for 3-4 days. In advanced cases, a solution of 1% copper sulfate (1 tsp. To 6-7 l of water) is applied to the bushes. You can also use Fundazole to treat affected bushes.
What this disease looks like and what recipe for treating currants from powdery mildew is used by gardeners to combat this ailment, is described in the video below:
Prevention:
Only weakened bushes growing in too moist soil are affected. To ensure the prevention of powdery mildew, it is enough to properly process and water the soil in the right amount on time, timely feeding with the necessary fertilizers.
Ball rust
Excessive proximity to the coniferous forest may become the reason for the spread of gobby rust, since pine is an intermediate host of Coleosporium, the causative agent of this disease. Most often, blackcurrant is exposed to rust.
Signs:
- light orange warty growths form on the underside of the leaves;
- apply to buds and flowers;
- completely fill the space of leaves;
- berries on a rusty sick bush crumble over time.
The treatment is not very different from the treatment methods already described above diseases.
Prevention:
- after eliminating the disease, collect all the fallen leaves and burn them;
- in the future, digging up the soil will help, at the beginning of the flowering season and after the last harvest of berries (in spring and autumn).
Terry (reversion)
This is a viral disease, the carrier of which is a microscopic tick. The causative agent of the disease is Ribes virus 1. A bush of currant infected with such a virus mutates, changes, and ultimately ceases to bear fruit.
Signs:
- the shape of the leaves of the plant begins to change, lengthens, becomes asymmetric, with sharp edges;
- the leaf acquires a purple hue, the flowers turn red;
- the flowers acquire an elongated shape, their petals narrow, dry out, but do not crumble for a long time;
- berries on the bush do not appear at all.
Treatment:
Treatment with various drugs and fluids will not bring results, dig up the mutated plant and destroy it, because the disease is contagious.
Prevention:
- observe young, newly planted plants for 4 years;
- destroy first of all the vector of the disease - a tick;
- When harvesting cuttings for propagation, leave a branch on them that will bear fruit, and in case of the slightest signs, destroy the plant.
Gray rot
The causative agent of gray rot is the fungus Botrytis cinerea, wintering in the remnants of leaves not collected in the autumn. It is most active in mid-summer, especially with increasing humidity of air and soil.
Signs:
- on the tops of young growing shoots, signs of wilting appear, spreading below;
- the shrunken shoot is covered with gray fungal bloom;
- leaves are covered with light brown shapeless spots;
- over time, the spots crack, and during rain they show a gray coating, similar to the coating on the shoots.
Treatment:
With the treatment of gray rot, the same solution of copper sulfate does well. Effective is a solution of soda with soap, which is prepared at home (50 g of soap and soda per 10 liters of water).
Prevention:
- Sanitary cutting of shrubs, as the most susceptible to rot are densely growing from them;
- for preventive purposes, treat currants and the soil under it with antifungal solutions before the flowering period and after harvesting;
- in the autumn, fertilize the earth with a mixture of ash and water;
- destroy all rotten leaves in the fire.
Striped (vein) mosaic
Another viral disease that is not treatable. It is distributed mainly due to aphids, herbivorous ticks.
It can be entered when cutting the bush with a tool, which previously cut the diseased bush.
Signs:
- in late May, early June, bright yellow patterns and stripes appear on the sheet plate around the main veins;
- over time, the leaves turn yellow, fade and crumble.
Treatment:
Uproot a diseased shrub of currant and burn it. It is almost impossible to cure the virus.
Prevention:
- inspect healthy plants and uproot bushes if you suspect a disease;
- eliminate parasites that are mosaic carriers;
- observe quarantine for 4-5 years, if a sick bush has grown in the soil, do not plant new cuttings there.
Nectric drying of shoots and branches of currant
This is a fungal disease caused by the marsupial fungus Nectria ribis. It applies mainly to varieties of white and red currants, black currants has more resistance to infection.
Signs:
- branches and young shoots are covered with round small growths of yellow color, darken over time;
- when the spores mature, the growths turn black;
- when spread to the entire trunk, the plant is killed.
Treatment:
Once you have found signs of drying out, eliminate diseased shoots. It is difficult to cure this disease, but since it is contagious, the main factor is the speed with which you find it. Treat the cut points with a Bordeaux mixture.
Prevention:
- remove weeds from the ground around the currant;
- collect all fallen leaves, which are the focus of most fungal diseases;
- Do not let the bushes grow uncontrollably.
Drying of shoots and currant branches
An excess of sunlight with no watering leads the currant, like any other plants, accustomed to the temperate climate zone, to death. The development of the disease may indicate improper care of the bushes.
Signs:
- the bark on young shoots hardens, becomes fragile and brittle;
- over time, the death of more adult branches begins, the plant dies.
Treatment:
If the plant has already dried out, unfortunately, it will not work out to bring it back to life.
Prevention:
- timely watering of the plant;
- pruning old branches;
- thinning bushes and their seating.
Septoria (white spotting)
The disease spreads thanks to the fungus Septoria, which, like other types of mushrooms, loves moisture, and transfers the winter in leaves. Activity is especially often manifested if the winter was warm.
Signs:
- small brown-brown spots appear on the leaves, similar to blotches;
- with the spread of spots and an increase in their size, the leaves dry out and curl;
- similar symptoms extend to other plants around.
Treatment:
First, remove all leaves affected by the fungus, then spray the plant with a solution of copper 3-4 times. At the end of the season, treat the plant so that the fungus does not remain in the soil and leaves for the winter.
Prevention:
- in the autumn, remove all fallen leaves from the garden;
- periodically dig up the earth to a depth of not more than 10 cm;
- cut the bushes, if they grow, so that the plant is strong and healthy, then the fungus is not afraid of him.
Column rust
Another kind of rust. The difference between the two is that in this case, the sediment carrier that can grow in your garden is the carrier of the disease.
Signs:
- leaves are covered with orange flat spots;
- spots grow and destroy the bush.
Treatment:
In addition to the standard spraying procedure, remove all sedge from the area where the currant grows.
Prevention:
Timely weed removal. Otherwise, prevention is no different from the prevention of other types of fungal diseases.
Currant pests and control methods
In addition to the aforementioned diseases of a viral and fungal nature, various kinds of insects can interfere with the comfortable growth of currant bushes. Familiarity with basic information, and most importantly, ways to combat parasites, will help to avoid an unpleasant neighborhood.
Gooseberry sawfly
Female sawfly have a bright orange color. Insect larvae are caterpillars of a pale bluish-green color. They almost completely eat all the leaves, leaving only an average thick streak. With the onset of autumn, the larvae bury themselves in the ground at a depth of about 12 cm and there survive the winter.
Methods of struggle:
- if you notice larvae at an early stage, collect them manually, on tape or in a jar and immediately destroy them;
- use special biological products, for example, “Lepidocide”;
- in the case when there are a lot of larvae, chemicals such as Decis will help;
- folk remedies do well: ash lye, infusion of potato leaves.
Prevention:
- in the spring, cover the soil under the bushes with a film;
- when the berry begins to bloom, go to its spraying with a solution of 10% malathion;
- young leaves in early summer pollinate with fertilizer from wood ash;
- Dig the soil again in the fall so that there is no hint of a pest in it.
Gooseberry moth
Adults are small gray butterflies. The larvae in the first stage are green or brown caterpillars with black heads about 1.5 cm in size. Over time, they become darker and larger. Winter is experienced in the soil, in the spring, during the period of the formation of buds and flowers, fly into bushes and lay eggs. Berries and seeds of the plant are eaten.
Methods of struggle:
During flowering, when the larvae just appear, it helps to combat them, in addition to their manual collection, spraying with various chemicals and folk tinctures.
Prevention:
- in spring and autumn, dig the soil under the bush, shifting the soil to another surface from a different place, so the butterflies will not be able to dig through the layer blocking the path;
- Dust is a good preventive measure; treat it with soil about 10 days before flowering begins.
Gooseberry moth
In adulthood, this is a small gray butterfly with spreading wings. Its green caterpillars are often pulled on a branch into a string, imitating part of the plant, hiding from predators. Destroys the leaves on the bushes of red and white currants.
The methods of struggle are no different from the struggle with other species of caterpillars.
Prevention:
Among other procedures, while the plant is still sleeping, tie all the branches together and treat it with hot water.
Gooseberry shoot aphid
They have a green-yellow color. Adults do not differ from larvae. Pest colonies can reach 1000 individuals. Soft shrubs are completely covered.
Methods of struggle:
- soapy water is a good remedy in this case;
- apply insecticides: decis, fufanon, actaru;
- it is easiest to remove aphids by cutting off the plant on which it is placed.
Prevention:
Another method of prevention along with soil treatment with hot water is the planting of plants that repel harmful insects.
Willow shield
Insects similar to aphids have a slightly larger size, in the adult stage they acquire a hard shell. Color varies from brown to red.
Plantations infected with scabies are in quarantine. The pest acts in the same way as an aphid, finds the soft parts of the plant and sucks out the juices from it, weakens.
Means of struggle and prevention:
Soap solutions, ash, tobacco and garlic infusions. There are chemically effective drugs on the market.
Two Year Leaflet
It got its name because of the nutritional characteristics of caterpillars, which in 20 days reach a size of about 2 cm. They twist into leaves and create a nest in them that protects them from external attacks. Caterpillars feed on leaves.
Methods of control and prevention are the early treatment with chemicals and the use of folk remedies, which are described above.
Spider mite
Small parasitic insects. Appear on the lower parts of the bush in large numbers, moving higher and covering the plant with a thin web.
They multiply rapidly, weaken the plant. The leaves of the currant, affected by a tick, are deformed and dry out. Parasites appear in hot, dry weather, dust can become a carrier.
Methods of control and prevention:
They struggle with the tick comprehensively, since even one adult female is able to restore the entire insect colony again. Since the mite does not tolerate humidity well, first water the plant with water, washing it off from dust.
Gall leaf aphid
It affects the leaves of the plant, which swell and redden. At first glance, it looks like a disease, but with a thorough examination, you can find on such foliage a small pale yellow aphid.
Methods of control and prevention:
- treat currants with nitrofen solution in early spring;
- plant marigold, chamomile, marigolds next to the currant, they will drive insects away;
- shoots with a colony of aphids just cut and burn;
- After spraying the plant with infusions of herbs with a bright smell.
Kidney moth
A bright butterfly with three white spots on its wings is a kidney moth. Caterpillars have a reddish hue, which eventually turns into dirty yellow. It feeds on the kidneys of the plant, eating them.
The plant with the moth looks like frostbitten, in the twisted leaves you will find the insects themselves and the products of their vital activity.
Methods of control and prevention:
- cut damaged processes of plants;
- cultivate the soil in early spring;
- Choose parasite-resistant plant varieties.
Currant kidney mite
Another species of tick, very small, lives in the kidneys.It can be detected in the early stages, in winter, as the buds on the bushes of the affected currant increase in size. In the spring, such shoots grow slowly, in the summer they noticeably lag behind in development. The fruits do not ripen at all.
The methods of control and prevention are simple:
- Choose seedlings from trusted sellers;
- Remove infected parts of the plant if a large area of the plant is affected.
Currant Goldfish
Zlatka is a bug with a narrow body and a dark golden copper color. The larva has a white color, its legs are absent, chitin hooks are present at the end of the body.
In winter, an undeveloped insect waits inside the shoots of currants, in the spring it begins to feed on the contents of the trunk. The gold leaf ripens in May and begins to absorb the leaves of the plant.
Methods of control and prevention:
- cut off damaged and dead shoots;
- treat the plant with actelic;
- often bugs die themselves without experiencing a cold winter.
Currant Gall midges
Adult gall midges look like mosquitoes. Larvae are red, resembling aphids without paws. More often the insect infects blackcurrants. When the plant blooms, insects fly around.
Winter larvae survive in the ground. The plant, which is attacked by gall midges, is covered with red swelling, distorting the leaves.
Methods of control and prevention:
- dig the soil;
- put a film or cardboard on it;
- when insects fly out of the ground, use traps by hanging them in trees;
- pour seedlings with hot water;
- fertilize the soil under the bush with peat crumbs in several layers, alternating it with the ground.
Currant Glass
The glass-case is most reminiscent of a wasp, but its body has a dark blue color, and a tassel flaunts on the tip of the tail. Larvae are located in the trunk, feeding on its contents.
You can detect an intruder by cutting a dried branch. In the middle of the cut there will be a dark empty spot with dust.
Methods of control and prevention:
- cut the affected branch to the part that the caterpillar has not yet eaten;
- trim bushes in a timely manner to eliminate glass;
- spray branches with chemically and biologically active preparations and solutions;
- plant elderberry bushes on the sites, they drive away most of the pests (other plants with a pronounced smell are also suitable);
- Before planting, carefully inspect the trunk of the seedling for soreness and dark spots inside the trunk.
All these not complicated measures will help prevent and eliminate both diseases and damage to bushes by insects. It is necessary to carefully monitor the plant in time to notice the first signs of disease or damage.