Blackcurrant Belorusskaya Sladkaya & Other Champions: A Detailed Variety Analysis

The blackcurrant is a treasure in any productive garden. Its fruits, packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, are not only extremely healthy but also versatile. However, choosing the right variety is key to a grower's satisfaction. They differ not only in taste but also in disease resistance, growing requirements, and ripening habits.

"Modern breeding has produced varieties that combine sweet flavor with high yields and hardiness, debunking the old myths about "sour" blackcurrants."

In this detailed analysis, we will look at three top-tier Eastern European varieties: 'Belorusskaya Sladkaya', 'Chernyj Zhemchug', and 'Svita Kievskaya'. We will find out their strengths and weaknesses and for which type of grower they are the ideal choice.

1. ‘Belorusskaya Sladkaya’ (Белорусская сладкая)

This is a very popular and widespread Belarusian variety, prized for its high yield, excellent sweet fruit flavor, and high degree of self-pollination. The bush is vigorous, moderately spreading, and dense.

As the name ("Belarusian Sweet") suggests, the main asset of this variety is its exceptionally sweet taste. With a sugar content of up to 11.7% and low acidity (1.03%), it is one of the sweetest blackcurrants on the market, making it ideal for fresh eating, especially for children. The bush grows vigorously and densely, requiring enough space and regular thinning to maintain air circulation and fruit quality. Thanks to its genetic background from a Siberian subspecies, it has high frost hardiness in the wood, but the flowers can be sensitive to late spring frosts, which is its main cultivation weakness in some locations. High self-fertility ensures a reliable harvest even when growing a single bush.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: Excellent sweet flavor, high yield, high self-fertility, good resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose.
• Weaknesses: Flower sensitivity to late spring frosts, uneven ripening of berries.

2. ‘Chernyj Zhemchug’ (Чёрный жемчуг)

A Russian variety, prized for its high frost hardiness, early bearing, stable yield, and all-purpose fruit. The bush is of medium vigor, slightly spreading, and suitable for mechanical harvesting.

The name translates to "Black Pearl," which aptly describes its appearance and value. This variety is a "workhorse" for growers looking for a stable and reliable harvest every year. Although its taste is not as extremely sweet as 'Belorusskaya Sladkaya', it is very pleasant, refreshing, and balanced. This makes it universally usable—from fresh consumption to all forms of processing. It also contains a high amount of P-active compounds and pectin. One of its greatest advantages is its suitability for mechanical harvesting and high resistance to the currant bud mite, which is a common problem. Its only significant weakness is only medium resistance to powdery mildew, which may require attention in humid years.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: High frost hardiness, stable yield, early bearing, all-purpose fruit.
• Weaknesses: Only medium resistance to powdery mildew.

3. ‘Svita Kievskaya’ (Свита Киевская)

A Ukrainian commercial variety, prized for its high and stable yield, self-pollination, and low maintenance. The berries are large, ripen at the same time, and the bush is suitable for mechanical harvesting.

This variety is synonymous with productivity. It was bred for commercial orchards, which means its traits are focused on maximum efficiency. Among its main advantages is the uniform ripening of all berries at once, which greatly simplifies harvesting. Unlike varieties that ripen gradually, here you can pick the entire crop at one time. The bush has flexible shoots with shortened internodes, which contributes to its suitability for mechanical harvesting. The fruits are large, firm, and handle well. In terms of resistance, its resistance to powdery mildew and rust is highly valued, but one must be mindful of its medium susceptibility to anthracnose.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: High and stable yield, self-pollinating, uniform simultaneous ripening, resistant to powdery mildew and rust.
• Weaknesses: Medium susceptibility to anthracnose.

Variety Comparison at a Glance

Find Your Favorite
Each of these varieties is a testament to successful breeding that produces hardy and productive plants. Whether you prefer a sweet taste for fresh eating, a reliable harvest for processing, or maximum efficiency at picking, you are sure to find the right one in the world of blackcurrants. Discover proven blackcurrant varieties in our new exclusive offer and choose the one that best meets your expectations.

Which of these blackcurrant varieties would be the best fit for your garden? Let us know in the comments!