Darnitsia

Darnitsia is a new early-mid season red currant variety, developed in 1985 by crossing the Rondo and Altai Early varieties. The bushes are vigorous, reaching 150-175 cm in height, with upright, strong, medium-thick shoots that darken over time. The bushes have moderate branching, and the clusters are of medium length and density, ensuring nearly simultaneous ripening of berries. The variety is characterized by high yield — up to 10-12 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.

The berries of Darnitsia are large, with bright red, glossy, medium-thick and dense skin that is sufficiently strong and elastic. The average weight of the berries ranges from 0.9 to 1.5 grams. The flesh is light red, with a pleasant sour-sweet taste, rated 4.5-4.75 points in taste evaluation. The berries detach dryly from the pedicel and do not exude juice during harvesting, facilitating harvest operations. However, the fruits are not suitable for long-term storage or transportation due to the medium density of the skin.

The Darnitsia variety is characterized by high winter hardiness and the ability to withstand frosts down to -30 °C without protection. It is undemanding in cultivation conditions, resistant to diseases and drought, making it suitable for both home and commercial cultivation in various climatic zones of Ukraine. Flowering begins around June 15, and full ripening of berries occurs by mid-July, allowing for a stable and high-quality harvest.