Contents of the article:
When a gardener decides to start breeding gooseberries, many questions arise that need to be studied( where and how to plant, from which insects to protect, how and when to cut).The main question is the care and cultivation of gooseberries.
The primary task for the gardener is to choose a suitable place for planting young gooseberry shoots. This plant loves a lot of light, so it should be planted in the open area, away from tall trees.
It is best to plant gooseberry bushes in the soil in late September - early October. This is done in order to adapt to a new place before the onset of frost. In early spring, a young bush can use the full potential of nutrients and soil moisture reserves. By the autumn, with proper care for gooseberries, the bush will grow noticeably.
Autumn planting more applies to Western European varieties Grossularia reclinata( Z) Mill( Warsaw, Industry, Brazilian, bottle, Murer Seedling, green).They differ in average height. The buds in these varieties awaken early( April 3-20), when the air temperature does not exceed 10C.In appearance, the fruits are large, the leaves are small, the bushes are small.
Hybrid varieties( Yuvileiny, Russian) can be planted in early spring, but the main thing is not to be late. Moisture from the ground quickly goes away, so the gooseberry bush will develop poorly.
If in the future the care of a plant is not sufficient, its growth will be inhibited. The reason for this is the late provision of gooseberry moisture and fertilizer fertilizer.
It should be remembered that the gooseberry has a very early growing season. It is significantly ahead of the development of the roots. Therefore, to obtain excellent results, he needs careful care.
Gooseberry care tips
In order to provide the plant with proper care, you need to have information about some of the principles and characteristics of the development of fruit and berry culture.
Care tips:
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Periodically, you need to monitor the soil around the bush. Gooseberry feels comfortable in loose soil. Therefore, in the fall, it must be plowed, freeing from weeds. This should be done so as not to damage the root system( it is better to use the villas).This procedure will spud the bushes, preparing them for the winter. When digging, fertilizers can be applied( both organic and mineral). - In the spring, after the snow leaves, it is necessary to loosen the soil around the bush to a depth of no more than 6 cm. Organic fertilizers( humus) can also be included in this process.
- During the summer, 4 more tillage of the soil with weeding should be carried out. Also during this period, care for the gooseberry bushes includes controlling the soil moisture around the plant. If summer is obedient, you need to water the soil once every two days in the evening, after sunset. Especially in the need of watering plants in the active period of growth( formation of ovaries) and 14 days before harvest. Watering the plant must be strictly under the root( drip outdoor watering can lead to the development of various diseases).
Using a knowledge base of gooseberry care principles you can get the desired result two or three years after planting.
Spring care for gooseberries
An important point in the care of gooseberries in the spring is the timely application of fertilizer to the soil. When, what and how much fertilizer needs to be applied depends entirely on the type and condition of the soil on the estate.
If the soil is depleted, nitrogen fertilizers should be applied once a year. For moderately fertile soils, fertilizer is sufficient to apply once every two years. For good fertile soil - once every three years.
Phosphate and potash fertilizers are applied in two steps. The first procedure is carried out in early spring, and the second - after harvest.
A very important point is the introduction of potash fertilizer in the spring. An excellent organic source of potassium is wood ash. This is not only a fertilizer, but also an excellent remedy in the fight against various insect pests and protection against powdery mildew.
How to care?
Every gardener wants every year to get a big harvest from his own plant. To ensure a positive result, you need to know how to properly care for gooseberries.
It is possible to achieve high rates of fruiting of the gooseberry only in case of timely trimming of the bushes. There are a number of ways to trim the shoots of gooseberry, which allow not only to get a big harvest, but also to give the bush a decorative shape.
The classic way involves the care of gooseberries in the fall. By this time, the bush grow annual shoots. The gardener should select about 5 of the strongest and strongest branches. It is desirable that they diverge in different directions and be at a distance from each other. All other shoots should be removed with pruning shears as low as possible, approximately at the level of the soil( it is not recommended to leave branch hemp).
With the advent of strong new shoots, every year all weak and those that lie on the ground are removed. This process will allow for the fifth year of the plant’s life to obtain a well-formed shrub with unequal branches, which contributes to high yields.
Gooseberry pruning rules - video
The Stlanets method is used in harsh climatic conditions or for growing varieties that do not like cold weather. When applying it, you should not expect a big harvest, because the bush should be cut so that it remains no more than 2-4 shoots. In addition, the branches should be started wide and not full-length.
Method of forming a single-shouldered cordon bush. This is essentially one runaway that clings to side branches. The yield, when using this method, is small.
Method of forming a “Double-shouldered cordon” bush. Represents the growth of two shoots from the same root system. Branches are arranged horizontally. Already from them grow vertical shoots. The yield of this method is quite large. Thanks to this method, it is possible to plant gooseberry bushes in a small area, near walls or fences. It is very difficult to form a bush in this way, but if it works out, the effort will be worth it.
The “Shpaler” method has several interpretations. This is the best option for planting gooseberry and in terms of yield, and from a decorative point of view. Planted plants opposite each other in two lanes, at least one and a half meters between the bushes. Thus, two rows are formed. The “trellis” method can be used on small suburban areas with a limited area.
An important point of caring for gooseberries after harvesting is pruning old shoots and preparing for the winter period.
