Secrets of growing gooseberries. Gooseberries - planting and care The best time for planting gooseberries

Foreword

Planting gooseberries has long become familiar, as well as growing currants or raspberries. From these rounded green berries you can make anything from jam to liqueur. People call this plant northern grapes and highly valued for good long-term fruiting. Many gardeners dislike gooseberries because of their many thorns. This disadvantage can be easily tolerated, given all the other advantages of the plant.

Gooseberry is a crop demanding on humus, acidity and stagnant water in the soil. Among all types of soil, light and medium loamy soil will be the most favorable for planting plants. If you have sandy or heavy clay soil, then you need to add a bucket of clay or sand to it, respectively. Gooseberries also have “preferences” for soil acidity. He does not like high acidity. The pH level up to 5.5 is considered optimal for it. Above this norm, the soil must be limed at the rate of a glass of lime per square meter of land. Waterlogging and stagnant moisture for gooseberries is not suitable. This leads to decay of the root neck of the shrub and its complete death.

Gooseberries in the planting hole

Occurrence ground water not higher than 1.5 m for this plant will be quite enough. For gooseberries, short-term drought is better than high soil moisture. Illumination and protection of the site from the winds also play an important role. Gooseberries are classified as light-loving crops, so it is extremely important to plant them in open areas with good access. sunlight. Shady places will lead to a small harvest with small berries. Do not make dense plantings. With a small plot area, shrubs can be planted between trees, keeping a comfortable distance from the tree to the berry plant (at least 2 m).

A good option would be to plant gooseberries along the edge garden area and barriers, indent 1.5 m. Depending on the strength of the growth of the bush and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe plot minimum distance between shrubs should be 0.7-1 m. This will provide good ventilation of fresh air, greatly simplifies the care and planting process. It is undesirable to plant seedlings in a place where raspberry and currant bushes grew. These cultures have common diseases and pests. Such soil will be depleted, it is dangerous for growing healthy gooseberries.

Gooseberries can be planted both in spring and autumn. However, it is better to do this in the autumn, at the end of September-mid-October. It is then that young seedlings have time to take root well and prepare for winter frosts. In spring, the plant takes root worse. To make it more convenient to take care of the gooseberry, prepare the site in advance. Clear it of weeds and overgrowth, dig to remove all rhizomes. Then carefully level the soil with a rake, breaking up coarse lumps of earth.

Planting gooseberries

If you plant a seedling in the fall, dig a hole with a diameter of 0.5 m two weeks before planting and give it time to settle. Now we are preparing a nutrient base that will serve as a reliable foundation for the development of young shrubs. At the bottom of the pit we pour out about 8 kg of rotted compost, 50 g of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate, as well as 100 g of wood ash. All this substrate is mixed with top layer soil, we level everything. This mixture will last the plant for 3 years, after which it will need to be fed again in a complex way.

When choosing planting material pay attention to all the details that ensure good plant survival in the soil. A healthy seedling should have a developed root system with a root length of 20-30 cm, as well as 3-4 strong buds that should not be dry and dark. Before planting, carefully inspect the seedling again. If there are damaged roots and dry shoots, remove them. For reliability, lower the seedling for a day in a stimulating solution Kornevin or sodium humate at the rate of 3 tablespoons of raw materials per 5 liters of water.

When the planting hole is filled with nutrient mixture, and root system will stay in the growth stimulator for a day, we proceed to planting the seedling in the ground.

We level its roots along an earthen mound and sprinkle them on top with earth. The seedling can be inclined to the ground, and the root neck is slightly deepened into the ground. The final stage will be abundant watering. We carry it out from a watering can with warm water around the seedling, having previously made low earthen sides so that the liquid does not go beyond the fence. When the soil is dry enough, mulch trunk circle a three-centimeter layer of peat or compost. When growing gooseberries in the spring, we perform all the same operations, and we carry out the planting after the snow melts and the first buds bloom.

In the first years of life, young seedlings need to get used to a new place and provide good conditions for further growth. As a prevention of fungal infections and pests, spray with boiling water every spring. Such a tempering shower makes the plant healthier. In May, remove the accumulated weeds and loosen the soil around the shrubs by about 7 cm. This will provide a good flow of air to the root system and concentrate the moisture supply exclusively to the roots of the plant. This procedure is recommended to be carried out regularly every three weeks. However, if you mulch the soil in the trunk circle, then weeding and loosening will have to be carried out extremely rarely.

Pruning a gooseberry bush

Most important point at all stages of gooseberry growth - watering. In summer, moisture should be regular, but moderate. This will ensure flowering and development of shrubs. Watering should be given special attention a few weeks before harvest. Remember, water for irrigation should always be warm, ideally warmed up in the sun. Plant irrigation cold water can lead to the development of fungal diseases. For moisture recharge, irrigate after flowering ends in October, gradually preparing the gooseberries for the coming winter.

The first gooseberry buds bloom very early in spring. Therefore, if you intend to carry out the main pruning in the spring, and not in the fall, this must be done before the sap flow begins so as not to harm the plant. First of all, remove damaged, dry, as well as weakened shoots that are unable to bring a quality crop. If the shrub has branches with slightly frostbitten tips, cut them off, affecting a few centimeters of living tissue. Soon, new zero shoots will appear on the places of cuts of old shoots. In order for the bush not to grow in breadth and height, it needs to be shaped.

Ideally, each shrub should have 10-14 shoots. different years. How to achieve this? In the first years of growth during the season, we leave 3-4 strong shoots growing from the base. Thus, for 4-5 years, 10-14 of the strongest shoots of different ages will remain on the bush. A large number of branches should not be left, this will reduce the yield and size of the berries. But a smaller number of shoots (up to 6-8 units) can be done. This rule applies to tall shrubs. The pruning principle is the same here. So you are guaranteed to enjoy a large and plentiful harvest for 10-15 years. . Do not forget to treat the cut points of the main shoot with garden pitch.

In the third year after planting, we begin to feed the gooseberries so that the fertility of the soil and the content of nutrients in it do not decrease. We use a complex of mineral and organic fertilizers. We carry out fertilizing in early spring. This complex should include half a bucket of rotted compost, 50 g of superphosphate, 25 potassium sulfate and urea. If the bush is large, then the number of these components is doubled.

gooseberries

We introduce the prepared nutrient composition along the perimeter of the growth of the shrub and plant it in the soil. Next, we spill the soil with water so that top dressing quickly penetrates the root system. We carry out the next one immediately after the end of flowering, and two weeks later we add a solution of mullein, diluting it in a ratio of 1:5. The consumption rate of organic fertilizer per bush is 5-10 liters, depending on the age and size of the gooseberry. In May, also scatter two glasses of wood ash around the bushes. This will make the soil lighter and more breathable. And once every 5 years, add the same amount of dolomite flour to the soil.

If you failed to keep a neat bush, and it has grown a lot, then it must be divided and transplanted. To begin with, we cut off all the old and dry shoots, leaving only strong and healthy branches. We also cut off the overgrown top. After such sanitization you should have about 7-10 shoots left. Next, prepare the place where you want to transplant the seedling. Dig a standard planting hole, fill the bottom with 3 buckets of water and wait until the moisture is completely absorbed. In the meantime, mix the soil with humus and pour it into the bottom of the hole.

Next, we return to the bush. We retreat along the edges of about 35-40 cm and make small indentations, digging a bush out of the ground. If during the process you come across large rhizomes, they must be cut down with a garden saw or an axe. When the bush is dug up with earthy clod, transplant it into the prepared planting hole, level the roots and sprinkle them with earth. The transplanted shrub should be buried 4 cm lower than before. At the end, pour the bush on all sides with warm water and mulch it with peat.

The standard gooseberry is a small tree that grows with a stem. It is very convenient to care for such a crop, as well as harvest from it. To form a standard bush, there are several options. For the first of them, we leave two closely spaced strong shoots and remove all the buds on them up to a height of 30 cm. We continue to perform this procedure for 3 years. Branches that develop over the season will give average yield up to 2.5 kg. In the spring, before bud break, we shorten the shoots, giving them the correct, neat shape. We pay special attention to branches that tend to grow inward.

Standard gooseberry

For the second method of obtaining a trunk, you will need a polyethylene opaque tube with a diameter of about 3 cm and a length of 40 cm. Such a tube must be put on the central shoot of an annual seedling and planted in the garden. We deepen the tube along with the gooseberries a few centimeters into the ground. For 3 years we have been observing previously listed rules. The third option for the formation of a bole is vaccination. In early spring, we remove all the thorns from the shoots so that they are smooth. Next, we graft in the place where the stem ends and the crown begins. The grafted seedling is tied to a peg. Every year we carry out the formation of the crown.

By the way, pegs or support can be made not only in the last method, but also in all the others. At increased load we install a trellis on the shoots, keeping a distance of half a meter between each support if it is planned to plant several standard gooseberries. To grow a standard tree, in addition to observing the rules for its formation, we select suitable varieties, which branch a little and do not give a large number of root shoots. Such specimens include gooseberry varieties. Krasnoslavyansky, Salute, Pink-2, Russian and Lefora Seedling.

On hot dry days, gooseberries are almost never affected by diseases and pests. In rare cases, it can become a victim of garden aphids, which are quite easy to deal with. To do this, sprinkle the shrub and the trunk circle with ashes. To make the ashes stick to the leaves better, pre-treat them with a solution laundry soap. After 12 hours, wash everything off the bush with a hose. In early spring or after flowering, the presence of a sawfly or moth can be noticed on the gooseberry. To control these pests, use Karbofos, Bitoxibacillin or Lepidocid. If the defeat occurred in the fall, dig the ground around the shrub to a depth of 10 cm.

Sick gooseberry

With prolonged humidity and dampness, gooseberries are affected by powdery mildew. Usually after the onset warm weather the symptoms of the disease recede by themselves. However, to be sure, spray with drugs Topaz, Strobi or Vectra. The first treatment is carried out after the beginning of flowering, and the second - after two weeks. Even with severe infections, after such treatment, the bush is transformed.

Juicy gooseberry belongs to the category of integral plants that are grown in domestic gardens. This berry can grow for more than 30 years with favorable conditions, and delight the owners with a bountiful harvest. But in order to reach positive results in the cultivation of shrubs, plantings should be carefully looked after.

Place for planting gooseberries

The primary task of the gardener, before planting gooseberries, is to carefully select the optimal place on the site. The fertility of plantations and their longevity will depend on this factor, and therefore it is impossible to make mistakes in this matter. So, when choosing a landing site, the following criteria should be considered:

  1. Gooseberry content is not too whimsical, but it does not tolerate waterlogged soils. If the landing took place in such a place, the shrub will grow poorly, get sick much more often and, ultimately, die. For this reason, a site should be chosen where groundwater flows at least 1.5 m from the surface.
  2. Since the gooseberry wakes up early enough from dormancy and is characterized by early flowering, lowlands should be avoided when choosing a place, since it will accumulate in such areas cold air. Try to identify the shrub in a corner where it will be completely protected from cold winds.
  3. This culture is very demanding on lighting and does not tolerate dark, crowded places. The plant does not die, but the branches become thinner and bare on the bush, the berries become less and less, and they become small. In addition, they stain worse and may ripen at different times.

Soil preparation

It is best to plant a gooseberry bush in soil that has undergone preplant preparation. This occupation is quite laborious, but as a result, the owner will receive a healthy, fertile and long-term plant. Let us consider in more detail the stages of soil preparation in planting a berry plant:

  1. For 2-3 years before planting gooseberries, it is necessary to sow precursor plants in the soil. The best representatives are tilled crops, perennial herbs, as well as black steam.
  2. After the precursors have completed their task and saturate the soil with the necessary substances, they must be removed.
  3. After harvesting, glyphosate-containing gooseberry herbicides should be applied to the soil. Photos with norms and instructions are usually indicated on the packaging of the substance.
  4. When September comes, it will be necessary to cultivate the land 20-25 cm deep, walking on it with a general-purpose plow.
  5. Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to freshly dug soil.

The process of planting gooseberries

The most important aspect that affects the effectiveness of planting gooseberries this is the time of year. This berry can only be planted in spring or autumn. However, it is worth considering that in the first case, one should carefully track down the short interval between the thawing of the soil and the swelling of the kidneys, and it is rather difficult to determine it. That's why optimal time for planting gooseberries - the period from late September to early October, since the bushes will have time to take root before the onset of frost.

Planting gooseberries should be done in the following sequence of actions:

  1. Initially, inspect the seedlings: you need to remove sluggish or dried roots from them, and also cut off the tops of the branches. Leave no more than five buds on each shoot.
  2. Do landing pits up to 40 cm deep, and up to 50 cm wide.
  3. Biennial or annual shrubs are suitable for planting, in which 3-4 developed branches are formed, and the roots are at least 15 cm in size.
  4. Then you need to apply fertilizer to the trench to saturate the soil as much as possible. To do this, you can use the following material:
  • organic matter - 10 kg (humus, fallen leaves, manure, etc. are suitable);
  • wood ash - 100 g.
  1. Place the seedling in the recess, holding it so that the bush is placed at a slight angle.
  2. The interval between seedlings should be 1-3 meters, depending on the variety and size of the plants.
  3. Then fill the hole with soil and be sure to compact it to avoid voids.
  4. Finally, water each shrub generously.
  • it is desirable to plant a shrub 6-8 cm deeper than it grew in the nursery;
  • if the landing takes place on light soil, then it is necessary to deepen the seedling by 8-10 cm;
  • after planting, the bush should be watered at the rate of 10 liters per 5 bushes;
  • in order to avoid freezing of seedlings, if they were laid late autumn, it is necessary to carefully mulch the soil with a layer of manure, dry earth, peat or humus so that the mulch covers the soil by 10 cm;
  • in early spring it is necessary to unwind plantings.

gooseberry care

In the period of early spring, before the buds begin to bloom, you need to cultivate aisles. This will keep moisture in the soil. You should also do manual weeding. And if the year turned out to be dry and precipitation is extremely rare, you need to repeat the cultivation during the season.

Gooseberry processing also involves fertilization. The most nutritious for this berry are substances of phosphorus and potassium content, which must be added to the soil in early autumn. In this case, it is worth adhering to the following deadlines:

  • on heavy soils, fertilizer is carried out every 3-4 years;
  • on the lungs - 1-2 years after the first application.

Important! Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied annually, with the onset of the spring period.

Watering and pruning

This berry culture loves abundant watering. It is recommended to “drink” gooseberries according to the following scheme:

  • after the flowering of the bush, during the formation of fruits;
  • 14 days before picking berries;
  • immediately after harvest.

In this case, one should proceed from the rate of water consumption - 350 m3 / ha.

Shrub pruning is done either in the autumn period after the leaves have fallen, or in the spring, until the buds have blossomed. In this case, it is important to adhere to some subtleties of the process:

  1. It is necessary to prune those shrubs on which thickening shoots are noticed. It is important that the old frame branches are replaced by new ones.
  2. The most valuable and fertile branches in gooseberries are those that grow for 6-7 years. Shoots older than 8 years old have low yields and are pruned.
  3. It is necessary to cut the branch at the very base to make room for the growth of a new shoot.
  4. Trimming the tops of the bush is not necessary at all, except if small and watery-tasting berries have begun to form on them.
  5. It is necessary to prune gooseberries once a year, otherwise, it will become very overgrown, and the harvest will be extremely poor quality. In addition, unkempt bushes begin to hurt, aphids, sawflies or firemen get on them, which will be problematic to remove.

Video instructions for pruning gooseberries are shown in the fragment:

Disease and pest control

  • solution of karbofos;
  • special biological preparations;
  • ash infusion at the rate of 1 kg of ash per 3 liters of liquid.

The bush is processed in the spring, however, if the pests have not left their habitat, it is necessary to re-spray after the gooseberry blooms.

Another problem of this berry is powdery mildew - a disease in which gray spots appear on the shoots and foliage. You can get rid of this ailment by spraying the bush with such preparations:

  • inkstone at the rate of 3 g / 1 l of water;
  • sodium bicarbonate solution at the rate of 5 g / 1 l of water.

The plant is processed immediately after the first signs of the disease appear.

Harvest

The duration of the fruit ripening period is from 30 to 35 days. At the same time, you can harvest varying degrees maturity, depending on what they are needed for. For example, for squeezing juice, jam, jelly, etc., the fruits should be slightly unripe.

For eating berries fresh harvesting occurs when the fruits acquire the appropriate color for the variety, but a little hard, because during the transportation process the berries will overripe and lose their taste.

It is best to harvest gooseberries in cool and dry weather, using a shallow container for this. The collected fruits cannot be poured from one container to another, as they easily crumple and release juice. It is best to store the berries in the refrigerator, where they will ripen naturally within 6-8 days.

If you want to get a rich harvest of berries, you will have to take the time fruit bushes during the whole year. Gooseberry care in the spring begins with sanitary pruning, fertilizing, loosening the soil and removing weeds. But even during the summer and autumn, the shrub needs some care to maintain high yields.

This article will describe the main features of growing and caring for gooseberries at home. You will learn how to keep the bush healthy in the spring, and how to grow it on personal plot.

Gooseberry care in spring

There is nothing difficult in caring for gooseberries in the spring, despite the fact that this culture has certain features cultivation. For example, in early spring, when the ground is still partially covered with snow, preventive treatment of shrubs against diseases and pests is carried out.


Figure 1. Spring treatment of shrubs with boiling water

The most effective preventive measure is watering with boiling water (Figure 1). Hot water is poured into a hand sprayer and shrubs that are still dormant are evenly treated. Hot water capable of destroying larvae of pests and pathogens that could overwinter on stems, leaves or soil.

Peculiarities

Boiling water treatment is far from the only feature spring care. In May, when the buds wake up, and the branches are covered with young leaves, they carry out surface loosening of the soil and removal of weeds.

Note: Deep loosening of the soil around the bushes cannot be carried out, since in this case it is easy to damage the roots of the plant located close to the surface.

In the spring, it is also necessary to feed the bushes with mullein infusion or mineral potash and nitrogen fertilizers. This stimulates the growth of young shoots and will give the shrubs the opportunity to develop more actively.

Rules

If you haven't grown gooseberries before, here are some tips from seasoned gardeners on caring for the crop in the spring.

Spring work with plantings such(picture 2):

  • Regular watering vital for the culture, as it is very sensitive to lack of moisture, especially in the spring months. It is best to use root or drip irrigation, since in this case moisture goes directly to the roots. However, waterlogging and soil compaction should not be allowed, as this can cause root rot and the development of fungal diseases.
  • Loosening and mulching carried out after each watering. Loosening allows you to saturate the soil with oxygen, and mulching prevents the evaporation of moisture and the growth of weeds.
  • Sanitary pruning it is carried out very early, in March, since the plant belongs to early cultures, and its buds begin to awaken with the advent of the first warm days. Up to this point, you need to remove all damaged, dry or frostbitten shoots, as well as branches that thicken the crown.

Figure 2. The main stages of planting care: watering, loosening and pruning

Mature bushes grow actively, and their branches can intertwine, forming a dense growth. In this case, it will be difficult to care for a shrub, so it is advisable to tie the young shoots of shrubs to trellises or other supports.

Gooseberry care in spring: video

From the video you will learn how to properly care for plants in the spring to maintain high yields and prevent plant diseases.

Growing gooseberries in the backyard

Many gardeners prefer to grow gooseberries in their backyard, as this crop is different high yield, but it does not require special care.

If he is landed in right place, it will successfully bear fruit for 20 years, but for this you need to regularly thin the crown and rejuvenate pruning. Let us consider in more detail the main features of growing this crop in the country.

Growing Secrets

Seedlings can be planted in open ground not only in spring, along with most other fruit crops but also in autumn. Experienced gardeners it is advised to plant in the fall, as it is easy to miss the right time for planting in the spring.

Note: Spring in the ground is carried out only at a time when the soil has thawed, but the buds have not yet swollen. As a rule, this period is only a few days. If you miss the right time, the plant will not take root well in a new place or not take root at all.

In autumn, it is easier to choose the moment for planting. It is carried out about a month and a half before the onset of frost. Gooseberries quickly form roots, so young seedlings will have time not only to acclimatize in a new place, but also to take root qualitatively.

It is important to observe optimal distance between bushes. It depends on the variety: for compact ones, one meter will be enough, and large varieties are planted at a distance of two meters from each other. Only under such conditions will the root system of the plant be able to obtain a sufficient amount of nutrients from the soil.

Location selection

Gooseberries belong to cultures that are demanding on the illumination of the site. You need to plant a plant in well-lit places. There should be no drafts in the garden, but it is desirable that the area be ventilated (Figure 3).

Note: Shaded areas are not suitable for cultivation, because with a lack of sunlight, the berries become small, and the yield of the shrub decreases as a whole.

Wetlands and areas with a close location of groundwater are not suitable for cultivation. Heavy clay soils are also not suitable for the plant. In conditions high humidity and soil density increases the risk of root rot and fungal attack.

Arrangement

In order for the gooseberry to bear fruit regularly and abundantly, you need to properly equip the garden for it and ensure optimal conditions growth.

The main requirements for growing a crop are:

  • When planting in a hole, you need to apply fertilizer: rotted manure or compost, wood ash and superphosphate. This mixture will provide seedlings with all the necessary nutrients for rooting and growth.
  • Before planting, the seedling is inspected and all damaged and dry branches or parts of the roots are removed. It is also recommended to prune the shrub, leaving five buds on each branch.
  • During planting, each layer of soil with which the seedling is sprinkled must be compacted so that voids do not form around the roots. After planting, the soil around the bush is abundantly watered and mulched.

Figure 3. Preparing a site for planting seedlings

It is also desirable to install supports or trellises near each shrub, to which young branches of the plant will be tied in the future. This will allow you to form a crown of the correct shape and prevent the branches from intertwining.

In the video you can find expert advice on caring for this plant.

Is it possible to grow gooseberries from seeds

Most gardeners prefer to plant gooseberries with ready-made seedlings purchased from specialized stores or nurseries. But, like other crops, it can be successfully grown from seed.

The basic rules for growing from seeds are(picture 4):

  • Seeds are collected only from very ripe fruits. They must be thoroughly cleaned of pulp and dried.
  • Ready seeds cannot be stored. They are immediately sown in the ground.
  • In pots that will be used to germinate seeds, you need to make a layer of drainage at the bottom to remove excess moisture.
  • Soil mixture for seed germination consists of fertile land, humus and sand in equal proportions.
  • Seeds are sown to a depth of not more than 0.5 cm and at a distance of 5 cm from each other.

Figure 4. Growing gooseberries from seeds

Sprinkle seeds on top thin layer soil, watered abundantly, covered with foil and placed in a cool room. In the future, you need to ensure that the soil does not dry out. When the seedlings grow up, they dive, transplanting into fertile soil.

Standard gooseberry: how to grow

The standard gooseberry, unlike ordinary varieties, differs not only in practical, but also in decorative value. For example, such a shrub can be used as a central element to decorate a flower bed with low flowers.

In addition, standard varieties are much less likely to be affected by powdery mildew, and their fruits are one and a half times larger than berries that can be obtained from ordinary bush varieties. However, it should be borne in mind that standard species need more careful care. Most varieties are not resistant to low temperatures, and easily freeze in winter, so special shelters need to be equipped for shrubs. In addition, the shape of the crown must be regularly shaped by pruning, as young shoots easily thicken the crown.

Peculiarities

To grow a stem type of culture, you need to choose the stem itself - a small trunk from 60 cm to a meter high. By properly planting a crop, it is possible to significantly facilitate its care, since it is much easier to collect fruits and prune on a shrub raised above the ground (Figure 5).


Figure 5. Growing gooseberries on a trunk

The main feature of growing a standard plant is that this technology is great for small areas. Using stems, you can raise the shrub above the ground. As a result, even an adult dimensional shrub will take up little space, and harvesting and pruning will be easier than with conventional bush forms.

Growing Rules

As in the case of bush forms, growing standard type carried out according to certain rules.

First, you need to choose the right variety for growing on a trunk. Ordinary varieties are covered with snow in winter, and shrubs raised above the ground can easily freeze and die. That is why you need to choose frost-resistant varieties.

Secondly, you need to choose a suitable stem. In this case, there are several options: growing a bole from the bush itself or pinching a seedling to the trunk of a golden currant. In the first option, the seedling is grown for two years and, when the plants receive the necessary strength, the entire aerial part is removed. After that, a young growth is formed, from which one of the strongest shoots is selected, and the rest are removed. next spring on the shoot, almost all buds are removed, leaving only 5-6 of the strongest in the upper part. They will become the basis for the formation skeletal branches. In the case of using the trunk of golden currant as a stem, the usual pinching of the kidney is carried out on the selected stem.

Planting a standard gooseberry is carried out in the same way as ordinary varieties. Requirements for lighting and soil also remain unchanged.

Among modern methods growing a crop, one of the most popular and convenient is the trellis method (Figure 6).

Growing gooseberries on a trellis cannot be called simple, but with certain care, you can significantly increase the yield of a crop and extend its fruiting period. In addition, the berries are evenly warmed by the sun and receive the same amount of nutrients, and they are not polluted, since there are no branches lowered low to the ground with this method of cultivation.

Peculiarities

To increase productivity, you need to properly manufacture and install trellises. These are special support structures to which plant shoots are tied.


Figure 6. Tapestry for garter and cultivation of gooseberries

Properly positioning the trellis on the site, you can save space in the garden. Ordinary shrubs grow widely, and it is not always possible to remove young shoots. If the gooseberry is fixed on a trellis, it is much easier to control the growth of young shoots, and it is more convenient to collect fruits.

landing technique

Can be used as a support wooden poles or metal pipes at least two meters high. Three rows of wire are stretched between the supports, one above the other.

In spring or autumn, seedlings are planted, placing them at a distance of a meter from each other. About a week after planting, you need to prune the seedlings. In this case, all branches located near the ground are removed, and only strong upper shoots are left.

The branches are tied to the wire of the first level. The next year, the length of the shoot increases, and the young shoots are tied to the second wire. A year later, the procedure is repeated, tying the shoots to the third wire. In the future, all the growth that has formed near the root collar is removed, and the young shoots are shortened or cut off so that the bush remains compact.

Pros and cons of technology

The technology of growing gooseberries on trellises has both pluses and minuses. Among the advantages are the compact placement of shrubs on the site and the convenience of caring for them. A shrub attached to a trellis is much easier to cut, and the fruits are evenly warmed by the sun. In addition, it is easier to harvest from shrubs on a trellis, and the berries are larger.

The disadvantage of growing on a trellis can be considered a large amount of labor for arranging the site. It is necessary to choose the supports correctly, install them and stretch the wire between the posts to fasten the shoots. In addition, when growing a crop on a trellis, much attention should be paid to pruning, since all the young shoots that form near the root collar must be regularly removed.

The advice of experienced gardeners will help you successfully grow gooseberries in the garden, even if you have never cultivated this crop before.

First, you need to choose the right site for the plant. This culture does not tolerate shady and too humid places, so it is better to immediately choose a well-lit area with fertile soil.

Secondly, seedlings should be placed at a distance of 1-2 meters from each other (depending on the variety). Overcrowded planting will result in weakened plants and increased susceptibility to disease.

Thirdly, planting is best done in the fall, not in the spring. The buds of the culture wake up very quickly after winter, so it is easy to miss the right time for planting. In autumn, planting is carried out about a month before the onset of frost. Gooseberries form young roots very quickly and manage to take root by winter.

In addition, the shrub needs to be regularly fed with organic and mineral supplements, and it is advisable to do this in the spring, when plants need nutrients most of all.

Each gardener strives to plant only the best varieties of berry plants on his site. Gooseberries are no exception. Given the ease of care and reproduction, as well as the high taste characteristics of the berry and the presence of vitamins, many plant gooseberries. According to reviews, choosing the right variety is not enough, you need to know the features of growing, protecting against diseases, shaping shrubs and fertilizing in order to receive bountiful harvest Every year. Our advice with photos will help you figure out how to do it right.

Varieties and varieties of gooseberries

By origin, gooseberry varieties are divided into groups:


Breeders represent a wide variety of varieties, each of which has its own characteristics and characteristics. When choosing a variety for planting, consider the climate zone, since varieties intended for the south are unlikely to fully exist in the northern region. For reproduction on large plots Choose varieties that are slightly sprawling, upright. Breeders have bred many varieties without thorns, as well as those without thorns in the fruiting zone - they have individual thorns on lignified parts, and young twigs without thorns.

  • Change seedling;
  • Russian yellow;

Variety Russian yellow

  • Gingerbread Man;
  • Spring;

Variety Rodnik

  • Ural shipless;
  • Serenade.

Despite the presence of thornless varieties, prickly varieties continue to be grown (due to their large fruit, high quality and excellent taste of berries):

  • Neslukhovsky;

Variety Neslukhovsky

  • Kamenyar;
  • Carat;
  • Malachite;

Variety Malachite

  • Ural emerald;
  • Grushenka.

When crossing gooseberries and currants, a hybrid called Yoshta was obtained. It is great for pinching and creating different forms, has the strength of the growth of a small tree.

Hybrid Yoshta

Some hybrid varieties:

  • Chrome;
  • Rext;
  • Yochilin.

Landing

You can spend both autumn and spring planting. The place is chosen illuminated, or with a small penumbra. There are no special requirements for the soil, the main thing is that it is not acidic and not waterlogged. Rhizome perennials are removed from the site, and planting pits are prepared. On sandy soils, a couple of shovels of clay are brought to the bottom of the pit, and on clay soils - sand, humus and a handful are brought on top complex fertilizers. Sprinkle fertilizer with soil and plant.

Planting a gooseberry bush

Planted obliquely, deepening several buds into the ground. 4 buds are left above the soil surface, and the rest is removed with a pruner. Water well and mulch after planting. A distance of 1.5 m is left between the bushes, twice as much between rows. The distance may vary depending on the spreading of the variety.

Advice. Excess moisture can cause rotting of the root neck and death of the bush.

Care

Crop care, as with any berry bushes, consists in watering, fertilizing and shaping.

It is very convenient to replace loosening with mulching, so as not to injure the root system of the shrub with a tool. Mulch suppresses weeds and retains moisture. Gooseberries especially need watering during flowering and ripening of berries.

Good effect gives application drip irrigation: water does not fall on the foliage and does not provoke sunburn and fungal infections, besides, it is convenient to add fertilizers immediately to the watering container. Before the onset of frost, it is necessary to carry out water-charging irrigation if there is little precipitation in autumn.

Drip irrigation is very convenient for gooseberries

Pruning is carried out every year, in order to form a bush with the same number of branches of different ages. Branches older than 6 years are cut to the level of the soil. In the spring, broken and frozen branches are removed to a healthy bud. Remove all growing inside and thickening shoots.

AT decorative purposes you can form a standard form or a trellis.

Fertilizer and top dressing

Gooseberries, like all berry plants, are very demanding on nutrition. Without the application of organic fertilizers, it is difficult to count on a good harvest. Gooseberries are very responsive to the application of potash and phosphorus fertilizers. They are brought in in the second half of summer. Nitrogen is introduced during the opening of flower buds. Also in the spring, a bucket of compost is added under each bush.

Create a support for the bush so that the branches do not lie on the ground

Fertilizers are applied along the perimeter of the crown of the bush. On light sandy soils nutrients are washed out into deep horizons during irrigation and heavy rainfall faster than on loamy and clayey ones. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the dose of fertilizer for such soils. After flowering, spray with chelated fertilizers on the leaf.

Advice. The device of fencing supports at a height of 30 cm will keep the berries clean and facilitate the care of the bush.

reproduction

Gooseberries are most often propagated by vegetative methods. Moreover, varieties of European origin are better propagated by layering, and hybrid ones - by green and combined cuttings. Lignified cuttings root very weakly. Seeds are used by breeders to develop new varieties. At seed way the berries will have to wait a very long time, and it is not clear what they will be, because the seed does not inherit maternal characteristics.

Scheme: propagation of gooseberries by layering

layering. This method is the most reliable and efficient. The branches of the shrub, in contact with the ground, form adventitious roots, which makes it possible to rapid reproduction. Use two-year-old branches that are maximally inclined to the ground. In the spring, a groove is made under the branch in the ground and the shoot is laid in it, fixed with studs and sprinkled with soil on top. Spud as vertical shoots grow and water periodically. Remove weeds. In autumn, the bushes are ready for transplanting.

cuttings. This method is more complex than the previous one. Most often it is used in nurseries. Not every variety is suitable for this method, only varieties of the American group, for example, Kolobok, Smena, Yubileiny, give a good result.

gooseberry stalk

Material for spring cuttings is harvested in late autumn. They choose strong bushes without diseases and cut cuttings of 30 cm each, cut off the foliage, and dip the cut in paraffin so that the twig does not lose moisture. Store blanks until spring in the refrigerator. With the onset of heat, cuttings are planted in shkolki, tucked nutrient soil. The bottom of the cut is updated and planted so that 3 buds remain on the surface. Water and mulch.

Diseases and pests

Diseases and pests lead to a decrease in yield or even to the death of the plant. Sometimes it is enough to process folk remedies, in advanced cases will have to use heavy artillery - fungicides.

powdery mildew

As a preventive measure, it is possible to advise the observance of agricultural technology, the prevention of thickening of the bush, spring spraying zircon, Bordeaux mixture or urea before the leaves bloom. The application of phosphate fertilizers is carried out in the fall. After leaf fall, the ground under the bushes is covered with a fresh layer of mulch, which will “bury” the infection. Gooseberries have common diseases with currants, as they belong to the same botanical genus.

  1. Powdery mildew.
  2. Septoria.
  3. Anthracnose.
  4. Mosaic.
  5. Gray rot.
  6. Rust.

Of the pests, it is worth noting the following insects:

  1. Gallica.
  2. Glass case.
  3. Spider mite.
  4. Moth.
  5. Ognevka.

gooseberry sawfly

The most "popular" disease is powdery mildew. The mushroom picker begins to germinate in spring on all parts of the plant. The mycelium can be seen as white coating. Spores are carried by the wind from a diseased plant to a healthy one. Wet and warm spring contributes to the rapid development of the disease. By the end of summer, the ripened mycelium has the appearance of felt with black dots. Gooseberry shoots stop growing, bend, berries crack and rot.

Old varieties do not have resistance to this pathogen, the number of treatments for the disease reaches ten per season. Modern varieties are sprayed 2-3 times per season, and this is quite enough to maintain the health of the shrub and produce high-quality berries. Therefore, choose pathogen-resistant varieties so as not to run around the berry with a sprayer from spring to summer.

How to grow gooseberries: video

Varieties and types of gooseberries: photo




The gooseberry, planting and caring for which will be discussed in this article, belongs to the genus currant and appeared in North Africa, as well as in Western Europe. In the wild, this plant can also be found in the Caucasus and North America. The gooseberry was first described by Ruel in 1536. And breeders from America managed to breed varieties that are not affected by powdery mildew.

Today, this crop is grown in almost all countries of the world. Next, it will be considered what gooseberries are, planting and leaving in open ground, as well as pests and diseases of this plant, measures to combat ailments and their prevention.

Description of bushes

The gooseberry grows in a bush. Its height can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters. The bark of the plant is gray-brown in color and has spines, the origin of which is leafy. And on cylindrical young shoots you can find thin spikes. There is also a thornless gooseberry, planting and caring for which will be discussed in more detail below. The leaves of the plant reach a length of six centimeters and have a rounded shape. The flowers open in May and are reddish or greenish in color. The fruits are oval, smooth or covered with small bristles. Usually their size reaches twelve millimeters, but there are specimens in which berries grow up to forty millimeters.

Fruit ripening occurs in July or August. They can be green, yellow, red or even white in color. Berries are very healthy because they contain organic acids and salts of many metals. The gooseberry is a self-fertile crop. This means that even one bush in the garden will regularly bear fruit for many years.

Gooseberry varieties

Depending on which gooseberry you grow, planting and care, reproduction and treatment of plants may differ. All varieties of the bush can be divided into two large groups. The first includes European representatives. This group is characterized by a longer productive period and large berries. But it is more susceptible to attacks by various pests and diseases. The second group is hybrid varieties, or in other words American-European. Representatives are much more resistant to various ailments. Gooseberry varieties may differ among themselves even in the location of the thorns or their absence. Species that do not have thorns include "eagle", "serenade" and "gentle".

Often in gardens you can find a hybrid plant that combines currants and gooseberries. Planting and caring for it are similar to other representatives of this genus. The name of this hybrid is yoshta. And he is also very popular.

When to plant gooseberries

If you decide to plant gooseberries on the site, planting and caring for them in the open field will require some knowledge and skills from you. You can plant a bush either in spring or in autumn, but only from the end of September to mid-October.

For a plant, it is necessary to choose the right place, since its root system is quite long, gooseberries should not be planted in a lowland. So you increase the risk of damage to his fungal diseases. It is best to choose a well-lit place on a plain or hillock. Try to choose a site protected from the wind. Nice results can be obtained by planting bushes on sandy or clay soil. It is only important not to forget that such soil requires frequent loosening.

One more thing to consider when choosing when to plant gooseberries. Planting and care in the spring is not much different from autumn events. Experienced gardeners for planting are advised to choose autumn time. This is due to the fact that in bushes planted in October, the growth and survival of shoots is much better.

Planting gooseberries in autumn

If you have decided what time of year to plant gooseberries (planting and leaving in the fall is more preferable), then we can move on to the theoretical part of this issue.

It is very inconvenient to weed the soil around the gooseberry bush: all because of the large number of thorns. Therefore, the cleaning of the site from weeds is carried out in early autumn. To do this, the area where the bushes are supposed to be planted is dug up. During this process, it is necessary to carefully remove all weed roots from the soil.

The next step after cleaning is preparation. The surface of the soil is leveled with a rake. All earthen clods are well broken. Two weeks before planting, cube-shaped pits are dug. Each of its faces should be half a meter. This is done in advance so that the earth settles before planting the bushes. The fertile layer of the earth, which is located at the very beginning, is removed and mixed with fertilizer. If the soil is clay type, then you need to add a bucket of river sand to the mixture.

Between two adjacent bushes, a distance of one to one and a half meters should be observed. But the distance between the rows of bushes should be at least three meters.

Choose from annuals or biennials. Their root system is well developed and is about thirty centimeters long. The ground part of the plant should be formed by several strong shoots. Before planting, soak the roots for twenty-four hours in a fertilizer solution. Prepare it by adding three or four tablespoons of nutrients to five liters of water.

It is necessary to place the seedling in the pit straight, giving it a slight slope. The roots are carefully and carefully straightened, making sure that the root neck is slightly below the soil level. The earth is filled in portions: each part is well compacted.

For one bush, a bucket of water is used for irrigation. After soaking the soil with moisture, mulching is performed. To do this, use peat or humus. Then the shoots are cut, leaving five or six buds on each segment.

In order for you to end up with a beautiful, healthy, and most importantly, well-bearing gooseberry, planting and care must be carried out in accordance with all the rules.

spring care

When nature awakens from its winter sleep, gooseberries also require some care. Planting and caring for this crop in the garden is not difficult for either experienced gardeners or beginners. The main thing is to comply with all agrotechnical rules. As soon as spring has come, before the snow has even melted, it is necessary to spray the gooseberry bushes with boiling water through a spray bottle. This is done to prevent damage to plants by pests and diseases.

In early May, you need to loosen the soil around each bush, deepening ten centimeters, and then mulch the soil. At the same time, feeding is carried out.

Gooseberries are among those plants that are too acutely experiencing a lack of moisture in spring and summer. in the best way irrigation will be intrasoil or drip. It is these options that allow you to transport moisture straight to the root system, which is located at a depth of five to forty centimeters. Thus, gooseberries are watered about five times during the growing season. Watering the plant in the upper way with cold water is not permissible.

If you decide to arrange rows of gooseberries in your garden, planting and care in a set of activities will require the support of low-hanging branches. To do this, at a height of about thirty centimeters, stretch marks are pulled between rows or nets are used.

Autumn Care

Autumn care for gooseberries consists in activities that prepare the bushes for wintering. First of all, it is top dressing. Fertilizer allows the gooseberry to lay fruit buds by next year. Also pruned in the fall. If you cut the bushes in spring time- this will weaken the plants, which will contribute to the occurrence of various ailments.

Gooseberry nutrition

Since the fruits on the gooseberry ripen over many years, it absorbs nutrients from the ground into huge number. This leads to the need for annual fertilization. Moreover, they must be of a mineral and organic nature. In order for a healthy and prolific gooseberry to grow on your site, planting and care (you can see the photo in the sections of the article) must necessarily include nutrient addition measures.

In the spring, the following mixture is prepared: fifty grams of superphosphate, as well as ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate, are added to half a bucket of humus. The last substances are twenty-five grams each. If the bush is very large sizes and gives a bountiful harvest, then all components should be doubled.

Nutrients should be applied along the perimeter corresponding to the size of the crown. After fertilization, the soil is loosened. As soon as the gooseberry has faded and after another two weeks, the plant is fed with a solution of mullein. Mix one part of the mixture with five parts of water. Each bush should have at least five liters.

Gooseberries: planting and care, pruning. What year does it bear fruit

A gooseberry bush planted on the site begins to bear fruit after three years. The plant brings the harvest for ten or even fifteen years.

The branching of the bush occurs strongly enough, which does not contribute to good harvest. That is why gooseberries should be cut. This can be done in spring or autumn. In general, the bush should have ten shoots of different age categories.

Spring pruning is done before the buds swell. It is necessary to ruthlessly remove all shoots that, after wintering, turned out to be weakened, dry, diseased or broken.

In addition to all the listed candidates for removal, it is necessary to cut off the shoots near the roots and the weakened ends of the branches. All this must be done before the awakening of the plant, and it happens very early. If you are late with pruning, you will cause a lot of harm. Based on this, it becomes clear why experienced gardeners prefer to prune bushes in the fall. So you can injure the gooseberries less. Planting and care (pruning) performed in the autumn allow the bushes to better adapt to winter and acquire frost resistance. And also almost negate possible damage.

Autumn pruning is done annually. If this is not done, then by the third year the bushes thicken to such an extent that the fruits lose their quality greatly. Branches of five and seven years of age are the most valuable. Also the ramifications of the first three orders. All others do not have good productivity. Shoots over ten years old are black and are removed at their very base. Also, don't forget that too long branches should also be shortened. After pruning is completed, all cuts must be treated with garden pitch.

Gooseberries: planting and care, propagation by cuttings

This culture, like all other plants, needs to be propagated. We discussed earlier in the article the conditions under which gooseberries should grow. Planting and care, reproduction and seating - all this requires certain knowledge and skills. The most time-consuming option is propagation by cuttings. And the result can be obtained not always positive.

Most often, this method is good for reproduction. American varieties. Preparations are made in October or even in November. Choose annual shoots and cut off the tops 25 cm long. They must be absolutely healthy, without any signs of malaise. All leaves must be completely trimmed and the sections paraffin-treated. This stalk is stored in the refrigerator or buried in the snow. As soon as spring comes, such blanks are buried to a depth of fifteen centimeters. If you plant several copies, then the distance between them should be at least twenty centimeters. When burying cuttings, it is important to follow one simple but mandatory rule. Two buds should be left above the ground surface, updating the cut, and four buds are located underground. The earth around is compacted, watered and mulched using peat or humus.

You can also propagate gooseberries using layering. This is done in the following way. We select a branch that is closest to the ground and make an incision on it. We dig a shallow hole in the soil, bend a branch with a notch to it and fix it using a wire bent in the form of a hairpin. We sprinkle it all with earth and water it well. While the growing season lasts, this place should be constantly wet. In autumn, roots will appear in this section. AT next year as soon as spring comes, the rooted seedling must be separated from the mother bush using a sharp pruner for this. Now it remains only to transplant the young bush to where it should grow constantly.

Gooseberry without thorns

Gooseberry varieties that are partially or completely devoid of thorns are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners.

What is the difference between gooseberries without thorns? Planting and caring for such plants have their own characteristics. These varieties love fertile soils containing a large amount of humus. After planting, the bushes are cut so that two to four buds are left above the ground on each shoot. The fruits ripen already in the second year, and their number reaches one and a half kilograms of berries from one bush. Reproduction occurs by cuttings.

Thornless gooseberries, planting and caring for which require a lot of attention, need timely complementary foods. In the spring (from late March to mid-April, and also from late May to early June), ammonium nitrate or urea is added to the soil. In autumn, in its first half, they use organic fertilizers. And three years after planting, potassium salt and superphosphate are added to the soil every year in autumn. In hot weather, mandatory watering is necessary.

The self-fertility of this variety is low. Experienced gardeners recommend planting several bushes at a distance of one meter from each other for cross-pollination.

Periodic spraying of plants is also necessary to prevent the invasion of pests and avoid powdery mildew. Twice a season they are sprayed with "Karatan" or "Topaz". And during the period when the leaves bloom - one of the insecticides, for example, Novaktion.

gooseberry diseases

Powdery mildew is considered one of the most dangerous gooseberry diseases. Its other name is spherotek. This ailment can instantly destroy the entire crop.

And if the disease is not treated, then in a few years the whole plant will come to an end. The most dangerous time in this regard is when the weather is warm and humid. Gooseberries are covered with a loose white bloom that appears on leaves, shoots and fruit that has set. Later, this plaque is transformed into a crust that has a brown tint. The shoots under it bend and dry out, the leaves break, and the fruits do not ripen and fall to the ground. To prevent powdery mildew disease, it is necessary to treat the gooseberry before it begins to bloom with a solution of a preparation containing copper "HOM". Forty grams of the drug is used for ten liters of water.

Of the other gooseberry ailments, anthracosis, mosaic and goblet rust are most often found.

Mosaic refers to diseases of a viral nature. It is impossible to get rid of the plant. If the affected bushes were noticed, then they should be immediately dug up and set on fire. The rest can be cured. For this, the plant is treated with "Nitrafen" or blue vitriol. Spraying is done twice: first before bud break, and then ten days after harvest. To prevent such diseases, it is necessary to remove all last year's leaves from under the bushes in the spring, and also to prevent the appearance of weeds in the garden.

We examined how to maintain a healthy gooseberry (planting and care), diseases, as well as ways to prevent them. Now let's talk about pests.

Of the pests, the most common are shoot aphids and gooseberry moths. Fireweed lays eggs in flowers. The caterpillars that emerge from the eggs eat the fruits in all directions. And shoot aphids, as a result of their vital activity, lead to twisting of the leaves and curvature of the shoots. The berries are crushed and fall off.

Of course, pests can be controlled using various insecticides. But it is better to take precautionary measures. Immediately after the snow melts, cover the soil under the bushes dense material. Sprinkle the edges of the canvas with earth. Then the moths will not be able to get out of the ground. After the gooseberry has faded, the material can be removed. Bushes should be hilled in autumn.

Do this to a height of about ten centimeters. If you notice fallen berries, and even with caterpillars, then it is better to collect them immediately. When the plant has faded, treat it with Lepidocide or similar.

This article examined a plant so popular in our gardens - gooseberries, planting and caring for it, as well as ways to propagate and prevent its diseases. Having studied all the simple rules for growing this crop and consistently putting them into practice, you will get beautiful healthy bushes that bring a bountiful harvest. delicious berries long years. And also delight in winter time yourself, your friends and loved ones fragrant