Red Slavic

Medium-ripening variety, obtained at the Leningrad Fruit and Vegetable Experimental Station by crossing the varieties Avenarius and Oregon. Authors: O.A. Medvedeva and I.S. Studenskaia. Since 1992, included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the North-Western, Central, and Volga-Vyatka regions.

Medium-height, loosely branched bush. Shoots are straight, medium thickness, directed upward and sideways. Growing shoots are light-brown at the base and light-green along the rest of their length. Thorns are strong. Thorns are distributed along the entire length of the shoot, single-, double-, and triple-lobed, medium length and thickness, greenish-yellow, sharp, straight, directed perpendicular to the shoot or slightly bent downward. Buds are small, pointed, brown, slightly deviated.

Leaves are medium-sized, broadly round, green, matte or slightly glossy. Leaf surface is smooth or slightly wrinkled. Lower leaf surface is hairy, upper surface is hairless. Leaf blade is flat or slightly concave. Teeth are broad, rounded, slightly bent. Three-lobed. Central lobe is rhombic, lateral lobes are oval. Edges of the central lobe are rounded. Notch between lobes is shallow and narrow. Leaf base has a small heart-shaped notch. Petiole is medium length, thin, green, hairy. Leaf orientation is at an angle to the shoot.

Flowers are medium-sized, bell-shaped, medium-colored. Calyx lobes are loosely arranged. Ovate, hairy ovary. Inflorescence is single- or double-flowered. Peduncle is medium length, thin, green or colored, cylindrical, hairy.

Berries range from 3.9 to 6.0 g, average weight — 4.2 g, round or round-oval, uniformly colored, dark cherry-red, densely velvety and sparsely hairy on the entire surface. Veining is practically indistinguishable. Skin is thin, tender, yet firm. Receptacle is medium length and thickness, half-closed. Seed count ranges from 14 to 63 per berry, average 44 per berry. Flavor is dessert-like, sweet with slight acidity and aroma, tasting score 5 points. Chemical composition: total soluble solids — 14.2-15.9%, total sugars — 10.8-11.8%, titratable acidity — 1.8-2.3%, ascorbic acid — 17.8-31.3 mg/100 g. Berries are versatile in use.

Yield up to 6 kg/plant, self-fertility up to 49%. Cold hardiness and resistance to fungal diseases are medium.

Advantages of the variety: dessert flavor and attractive appearance of berries.

Disadvantages of the variety: in some years, there is a risk of frost damage and powdery mildew infection.