Lentaj Currant is a highly productive black currant cultivar bred in the former Soviet Union, crossing Bredthorp and Minaj Smyriou to create an unusually sweet berry that ripens late in the season. Hardy from zones 3 to 9, this vigorous shrub grows medium-tall with a spreading, dense form and produces bountiful clusters of medium-to-large black currants. The berries ripen in waves over several weeks, rewarding patient gardeners with extended harvests if they visit the plant every few days to collect the ripest fruit.
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Moderate
3-9
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High
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What makes Lentaj stand out is its remarkable sweetness for a black currant, combined with exceptional disease resistance and the practical gift of staggered ripening. The Soviet breeding work that created this variety focused on both flavor and productivity, resulting in a shrub that produces generously without demanding constant vigilance for disease. Late-season ripening means you'll be harvesting when many other currant varieties are already finished, stretching your fresh currant season considerably.
As a black currant, Lentaj is prized fresh off the bush for its sweetness, though these berries also excel in preserves, liqueurs, syrups, and baking. The intense flavor and robust yields make them particularly valuable for home gardeners interested in making cassis or blackcurrant cordials. Fresh eating is enhanced by the late ripening window, which allows for extended season enjoyment.
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Lentaj ripens late in the season and produces berries in waves over several weeks. Visit the plant every few days beginning when berries turn fully black and slightly soft to the touch, as ripeness staggered across the plant means continuous harvesting rather than a single flush. The medium-to-large berries should release easily from the stem when ready.
Black currants fruit on older canes, so prune to maintain an open, vigorous structure. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood promptly. Since Lentaj grows medium-tall with a naturally spreading habit, light thinning of older canes encourages continuous renewal and maintains productivity.
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“Lentaj Currant emerged from Soviet horticultural breeding programs as a deliberate cross between two established cultivars, Bredthorp and Minaj Smyriou. This pairing was designed to capture the strengths of both parents while pushing toward greater sweetness and disease resilience. The variety represents the post-war era of Eastern European fruit crop development, when breeders systematized the selection of superior berry plants for cold climates and challenging growing conditions.”