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New varieties of blackcurrants developed
25/02/2010
 Growing a good crop of blackcurrants after a mild winter can often prove difficult, with harvests showing uneven bud breaks and poor fruit quality if temperatures don't drop low enough.
And blackcurrants are not the only fruit which needs a cold period - many varieties of apples, pears and rhubarb need a long spell below seven degrees C to ensure that the fruit grows properly during the summer.
While this winter has been cold, data shows that during the last century there has been a 12 per cent reduction in the length of time the weather stays below seven degrees C in the south-east.
This has been causing concern about future fruit production, leading scientists to work on developing new crops which do not require cold weather to grow.
The Scottish Crop Research Institute near Dundee, which was been working to develop new varieties which can withstand milder weather, has also joined forces with colleagues in other northern European countries to ensure the soft fruit industry survives.
Blackcurrants were called "miraculously healthy" by the Daily Telegraph earlier this month.
Make the most of your garden with our free plant deals.
Posted by Carla Spuri. |
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