Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) VĪKSNES SARKANĀS

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 'Vīksnes Sarkanās'

A Latvian treasure with extra-dark fruits packed with vitamins.

'Vīksnes Sarkanās' is a historical and very valuable Latvian red currant variety, still considered one of the highest quality today. It is prized for its fruits of a unique, very dark cherry-red color, which have an exceptionally high content of Vitamin C and antioxidants (anthocyanins)—in comparative tests, it achieves values up to 9 times higher than other varieties. The taste is rated as excellent, refreshing, and significantly milder compared to other red currants. Thanks to its high pectin content, it is ideal for processing into jams and jellies and is considered the best variety for freezing.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Extremely high content of Vitamin C and antioxidants: One of the most nutritionally valuable red currants.
• Excellent, milder taste: The berries are refreshing, sweet-tart, and less aggressive than other varieties.
• Ideal for processing and freezing: Thanks to its high pectin and anthocyanin content, it creates beautiful jams and jellies, and retains its flavor and texture after thawing.
• High and stable productivity in home garden conditions.
• Good resistance to frost, drought, and anthracnose.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Latvia
• Breeders: Arvīds Vīksne and T. Zvyagina
• Origin: A selection from the ‘Varshevich’ variety
• Year of registration: 1997

Variety Characteristics

Bush

Growth is medium-height (1–1.5 m) and moderately spreading. It comes into bearing in the 2nd to 3rd year after planting and, with good care, produces high and regular yields (5–10 kg per bush).

Fruit

• Size: Medium to large (0.7–0.9 g).
• Clusters: Long (11–16 cm), with a high number of berries.
• Color and skin: Dark, cherry-red ("garnet"). The skin is thin but firm.
• Taste: Excellent, refreshing, sweet-tart, and mild.
• Biochemical composition: Extremely high anthocyanin content (144.6 mg/100g), high Vitamin C content (approx. 80 mg/100g), and high pectin content (up to 2.4%).

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: Satisfactory to good.
• Drought resistance: Good, but with prolonged drought, the berries are smaller and more acidic.
• Disease resistance: Resistant to anthracnose, medium resistance to powdery mildew.
• Pests: Susceptible to attack by currant aphid.

Growing Recommendations

• Suitability: An excellent variety for home gardens.
• Use: Considered the most suitable variety for freezing, and thanks to its high pectin and color content, it is ideal for jams, jellies, and juices. Also suitable for fresh consumption.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Early to mid-early, in mid-July.
• Harvest characteristics: Ripe berries hold well on the clusters and do not drop.
• Storability: Fresh berries have a short shelf life.