Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) VELOJ

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) 'Veloj'

A Russian variety with a perfect dessert flavour and high resistance.

'Veloj' (Велой), also known by the synonym Leningradskaya sladkaya, is a Russian blackcurrant variety resulting from a cross between 'Leningradskij Velikan' and 'Öjebyn'. It is highly valued for its perfect dessert, sweet flavour (rated 5/5 points), very large fruits, and early entry into bearing. Additionally, it is characterized by high resistance to frost, drought, fungal diseases, and the currant gall mite, making it a very reliable and low-maintenance variety.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Excellent dessert flavour, rated with the maximum score (5/5).
• Very large fruits with a weight of 1.7 – 3.5 g.
• High yield (3.0 – 4.2 kg per bush) and early entry into bearing.
• High resistance to fungal diseases and the currant gall mite.
• High frost and drought resistance.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Synonym: Leningradskaya sladkaya (Ленинградская сладкая)
• Breeders: E. V. Volodina, S. P. Khotimskaya, N. N. Khabarova
• Institution: Pavlovsk Experimental Station of the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources
• Crossing: ‘Leningradskij Velikan’ × ‘Öjebyn’
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1993.

Variety Characteristics

Bush

• Growth and habitus: Medium-vigorous (up to 140 cm), semi-spreading, medium density.
• Shoots: Thick, straight, pubescent. Young shoots are pinkish; woody shoots are greyish-brown.
• Leaves: Large, five-lobed, dark green with a bronze tint, matte.
• Flowers: Large, cup-shaped, greenish-white with a pinkish tint, heavily pubescent.

Fruit (Berry)

• Size and weight: Large to very large, with a weight of 1.7 – 3.5 g.
• Shape and colour: Round to oblate, black, moderately glossy.
• Skin: Thin but firm.
• Flavour: Excellent, dessert-like, sweet (rating 5/5).
• Strigs: Short to medium length (up to 8 cm), with 5–8 berries.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Disease resistance: High, resistant to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.
• Pest resistance: Resistant to the currant gall mite.
• Drought resistance: High.
• Requirements: Requires light, fertile soil and a sunny, sheltered location.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Due to its gradual ripening, it is advisable to harvest the fruits in several stages to achieve optimal flavour.
• To prevent the thin skin on large fruits from cracking, it is important to harvest them on time and not let them overripen.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-late (late July – mid-August).
• Harvest characteristics: Ripening is gradual (uneven). The scar is semi-dry.
• Yield: High, 3.0 – 4.2 kg per bush.
• Self-fertility: Good (approx. 50.5%).