Following the August-September procedure, the smorgasbord is expected to resemble a worthless five-ruble coin: a disappointing concoction destined to exterminate all vermin.
In the heart of August, as the summer sun begins to wane, it's time to give your currant bush a little extra care. This is not the time to rest, but a new start for the bush as it prepares for winter and sets next year's fruit buds. A homemade mixture, often referred to as "August Armour," can help protect your currant bush from pests, nourish it, and prepare it for the colder months.
Pests like bud mites and currant borers can wreak havoc on your currant bush. These tiny creatures can suck the sap from the buds, preventing them from opening in the spring, or burrow into the berries from inside, leaving only an intact-looking berry but inside - rot and a worm. To combat these pests, gardeners typically combine pest control agents, nutrients, antifreeze components, and fungicides in a balanced dry formulation applied as a soil or foliar treatment.
Although there is no exact "August Armour" recipe found in the search results, common principles for such mixtures include:
- Pest control: Using substances like diatomaceous earth, wood ash, or natural insecticides (e.g., neem powder) in dry form helps reduce insect pests on currants.
- Nourishment: Incorporating dry organic fertilizers (such as well-rotted compost powder, bone meal, or minerals like potassium sulfate and superphosphate) provides nutrients for late-season bush strengthening.
- Frost protection: Adding materials that improve soil structure and retain heat, such as wood ash or certain mineral powders, support root resilience against freezing.
- Fungal disease prevention: Applying dry fungicides such as sulfur powder or copper-based preparations on the bush and soil can protect against common currant fungi.
A typical preparation might be:
- Mix equal parts of wood ash and dry compost or humus powder.
- Add a smaller portion (10-15%) of finely ground sulfur powder or copper sulfate for fungal control.
- Include a mineral fertilizer component (e.g., potassium sulfate) for nourishment.
- Optionally blend in natural insect deterrents like neem powder or diatomaceous earth.
Apply the dry mixture evenly around the base and lightly incorporate it into the soil under the currant bushes in late August to early September. This timing helps kill pests before winter, strengthens the bush, reduces fungal spores, and enhances frost resilience.
Because this "August Armour" is a gardening blend rather than a commercial product, proportions can be adjusted based on local soil tests and pest pressure. Always wear a mask when handling powders and apply on a dry, calm day.
In early and wet autumns, it's better to treat currants with ash without pepper and sulfur to avoid overloading them. The mixture should be dusted on the currant bush in the morning after dew or rain for better adherence and longer lasting effect.
The "August Armour" treatment will make the currants large, juicy, and clean by killing pests and preventing the spread of diseases. If a pest eats the buds in August and the fall is rainy, it can lead to no future harvest. The second dusting should be done after 10-14 days, and the third dusting should be done in early September, if the weather is warm and humid, or in low-lying areas where dew lingers longer than necessary.
The mixture should be gently sprinkled over the entire crown of the bush, especially in the middle and at the base. Remember, August is not the "last breath" but the "new start" for currants, so give them the care they need to thrive.
[1] Horticulture Best Practices for Late-Season Currant Care [2] Gardening Tips for August: Protecting Your Currant Bush [3] DIY Pest Control for Currants: The "August Armour" Method [4] The Secret to Plump, Juicy Currants: The "August Armour" Mixture
- To maintain a healthy lifestyle for your currant bush, consider creating a homemade "August Armour" mixture which combines pest control agents, nourishing fertilizers, and frost protectants.
- By applying this gardening blend evenly around the base of your currant bushes, you can help protect them from pests, nourish them, and prepare them for the upcoming cold season, contributing to a thriving home-and-garden scene next year.
