General description: The Blanca white currant is a Slovak variety, created at the Research Institute of Pomology and Ornamental Plants in Bojnice and introduced on the market in 1977. It was created by crossing the cultivar Heinemans Rote Spatlese and Red Lake. In Poland it is a relatively new variety, but it’s steadily gaining popularity thanks to its frost resistance and resistance to leaf canker. The Blanca currant is distinguished by very strong growth, and its bushes can grow up to 2 m in height.

Flowers: Blanka flowers are small, yellow, melliferous and gathered in multi-flowered clusters.

Blooming: Blanka blooms in May, thanks to which its flowers are safe from spring frosts.

Leaves: This shrub has large, smooth, palmate, 3-5 lobed leaves, truncate or heart-shaped at the base, with unevenly double serrate margins. They give off a strong, characteristic smell. Young leaves are hairy on the veins.

Fruit: Blanka bears some of the largest berries among white currants. The fruit are large and medium-sized, white, and shiny. Their flesh is bright yellow, with small seeds inside and is slightly sour. They grow gathered in clusters of several dozen.

Ripening: Blanka currants ripen late, in the second half of July or at the beginning of August. First fruit usually appear a year after planting.

Cultivation requirements: Blanka grows best in sunny or semi-shaded locations. It tolerates sandy loam soils. A slightly acidic soil is best (ideally with a pH of 6.2-6.7).

Pruning: Seedlings do not need pruning. For the first 3 years after planting, only pruning to remove any damaged or withered stems should be done. White currants like mulching, e.g. bark, wood chips, compost.

Overwintering: This cultivar does great in temperate climates. It withstands temperatures of down to -26°C but covering young seedlings for the winter is recommended.

Origin: Slovakia.