Variety Grushenka is one of the most unpretentious gooseberries, the bush brings a rich harvest, so it will delight the gardener for many years. The main advantage of the plant is the absence of thorns, which greatly simplifies the collection of berries.
Grushenka gooseberries have a thick skin, so they are easy to store and transport.
Grushenka - low-growing and frost-resistant grade of gooseberry
Gooseberry Grushenka has no spikes, so harvesting becomes more enjoyable
Variety breeding history
Domestic variety, bred by scientists in the 80s of the 20th century. The main goal for which the plant was created is to obtain cold-resistant gooseberries with large, sweet fruits. An equally important condition was the absence of spikes. In the course of lengthy work, breeders were able to achieve their goal, and the plant received the name "Grushenka" due to the special shape of the berries.
Characteristics of gooseberries Grushenka
Even a novice gardener will be able to grow this plant variety on his plot. Gooseberries do not need special care, it is not picky about soil and soil. Despite this, the variety brings a rich harvest and is famous for its strong immunity. The plant can bring berries for two decades.
Bush description
Shrub is low, shoots are long, but weak. The branches of the plant are covered with smooth foliage of a bright green hue. On the shoot, inflorescences of several buds are formed.
Description of berries
The fruits are round, expanding below. They change color: from green to dark purple. The weight of one berry is 5 g. With good care for the season, from the 1st bush you can collect about 6 kg of the crop.
Productivity
The bushes of the plant are covered with fruits on all branches. The plant grows new processes with a huge number of buds. Berries are formed both on new shoots and on old ones. The average yield is 5-6 kg per plant.
Due to the large number of fruits on the branches, summer residents are forced to tie gooseberries so that the shoots do not lean towards the ground.
Ripening period
Gooseberry Grushenka breeders belong to the mid-season group of plants. The plant begins to bloom in late July. Harvest brings almost until the end of summer. Berries are formed with thick skin, so they do not crack on the shoots. This advantage helps gardeners harvest any day and time.
Transportability
Unpretentious care and excellent productivity enables summer residents to grow gooseberries for future transportation and sale. Harvest retains marketability for a long time. The peel of the fruit protects them from shock and damage.
Drought and frost resistance
Variety Grushenka is rightfully considered the best in its ability to withstand cold and heat. A plant without additional care can survive an indicator of -30 degrees Celsius. Flowering bushes can withstand spring frosts, so the variety can be grown in areas with low temperature. The variety is not afraid of too sunny days.
Disease and pest resistance
Gardeners claim that throughout the life of gooseberries, it is not affected by various viral diseases. This ability of the plant helps to save efforts to grow it and get a quality crop without the use of chemicals.
Rarely, but there are times when a bush hybrid is attacked by pests, the most dangerous is a spider mite. The insect infects gooseberries in dry weather, in addition, the bush can die from aphids and moths.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gooseberry Grushenka, like other plants, has a number of advantages and disadvantages; when growing shrubs, they must be taken into account.
Grushenka grade advantages:
- high cold resistance;
- no spikes;
- strong immunity;
- the ability to calmly survive cold and dry days;
- large crop;
- excellent crop mobility;
- bears fruit for more than 20 years.
Cons of the variety:
- it is required to build supports;
- the berries are small;
- exactingness to watering.
The dense skin of gooseberry berries makes it possible to use the crop for conservation. They make jam, make jams and various winter sweets. Berries retain useful properties even after prolonged heat treatment.
Gooseberry Planting
This gooseberry variety can be grown on any soil. Loam is considered the best option. It is better to plant a seedling in a loose and nutritious soil with neutral acidity.
The adult shrub Grushenka does not tolerate the transplant very well, for this reason it is necessary to take care of the planting place in advance so that the plant does not bother later.
Selection of seedlings
Saplings are the key to the successful growth of gooseberries. From the right and informed choice depends on the full potential of the variety.
When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to such points:
- The length of the main roots is at least 0.14 m. The roots should be large and powerful, yellow or brown. They should not have black spots and various damages.
- Check for shoots - at least 3. Their length is from 0.4 m. The bark is light in color, without spots.
- Fully inspect the green cover of the plant. Leaves of even color, without yellow shades.
- Pay special attention to the absence of diseases and insects, otherwise the seedling itself will die and the plants will fall ill in your garden.
- Get any kind of gooseberry in the fall, a huge selection of seedlings makes it possible to find and select the plant that suits you.
Optimal timing
Experienced summer residents who have grown this gooseberry variety for a long time, argue that the best time for planting Grushenka is autumn, or rather the last days of September - early October. During the autumn period, the bush manages not only to take root well, but also to grow roots quite massive.
You can plant the plant in the spring, but in this case, the risk of being late for planting is much greater due to the fast vegetative process. If a plant is planted already with leaves appearing on it, then the roots will not quickly take root, and the process of engraftment itself will take much longer, and in winter the bush can suffer from frosts.
Seat selection
As for the composition of the soil, the gooseberry Grushenka is very tolerant of this. The plant will grow and bring a large crop on any soil, but loams are considered the best option. It is good if the earth is loose, fertile and breathable.
Acidity - close to neutral, during the preparation of the place, add dolomite flour or lime to the soil to get the desired result.
The shrub is characterized by a strong root system, which itself can provide itself with water. Therefore, you should not choose in areas with a high occurrence of groundwater. Young root shoots die from a large amount of moisture.
Choose a lighted area, a slight shadow is allowed. Another two important factors for the full development of gooseberries are protection from the north and east winds, so gardeners plant a plant near a fence or building.
Site preparation
In order for the plant to quickly take root and then bring a rich harvest for many years, it is necessary to take care of the preparation of the site 12 months before planting. Siderata are planted on the territory, lupine and vetch are considered the best options.
Experienced gardeners argue that you can use places where dahlias grew earlier. These amazing flowers do not allow the grass to grow on the site, stop even the persistent wheatgrass.
The soil should be made as fertile as possible. For this, the following components are introduced (calculation per 10 sq. M):
- Manure or humus - 16 kg.
- Phosphorite flour - 2.2 kg.
- Potassium salt - 400 g.
When phosphate rock is added to the soil, lime can be omitted. On heavy lands with a lot of clay, sand is applied. If you decided to plant gooseberries in the spring, then prepare the pit in late autumn.
Deepening for planting gooseberries varieties Grushenka prepared in 30 days.
Algorithm for preparing gooseberry grooves:
- In the cleared area, dig a hole measuring 0.5x0.5 m.
- If until this moment you did not fertilize the soil, then you can do it now. It is necessary to add to the top layer of the earth: 0.1 kg of ash, 0.05 kg of double superphosphate, 0.04 kg of potassium sulfate and 5 kg of organics.
- Shuffle all of the above ingredients and put them into the pit.
If you are planting a couple of plants at once, then adhere to a certain distance between the bushes - 1-2 m.
Landing: step-by-step diagram
The process of planting gooseberries is very simple, just follow the following procedure:
- Assess the condition of the roots of the plant. If everything with him is good and does not need additional processing, then soak it for 12 hours in a solution with a root stimulant. For example, a great option Kornerost or Kornevin.
- Cut the shoots and leave 6 buds, treat with any adaptogen, you can use Epin. And it is better to opt for a folk remedy in the form of an aloe variety.
- In the center of the recess for planting, make a hill 10 cm high. Put a seedling on top and straighten the root system.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil, shake the plant a little, so that the earth is evenly distributed between all the roots.
- Fill the indentation 1⁄2, and water the bush. For watering, use a watering can with a nozzle.
- Once the water has completely absorbed into the soil, water again. After 1⁄4 hours, mulch the soil. As mulch, you can use sawdust, hay or humus.
Care Features
The gooseberry variety Grushenka does not need special care, but if the gardener does not take part in growing the plant, the bush will continue to produce crops, but it will not be so plentiful and of high quality.
In order for the gooseberry to bring a large number of berries, it is necessary to carefully monitor the watering of the plant, fertilize Grushenka and carry out the forming pruning of bushes in time.
The gooseberry variety Grushenka easily tolerates heat, but it negatively refers to a large amount of moisture. Stagnation of water leads to the appearance of fungal diseases.
Mulching and loosening
Loosening of the soil is not necessary, but this procedure will help to improve the breathability of the soil, which will well affect the state of the root system of the plant. Loosening must be carried out carefully so that the roots of the bush are not damaged.
Trunk mulching helps retain moisture, and prevents the occurrence of weed grass. As mulch, you can use straw or hay.
Watering and feeding
This variety of berry bush tolerates dry days, however, it is impossible to allow complete drying of the soil, especially when the water evaporates very quickly.
For 1 season, the plant is watered 4 times:
- At the end of the flowering period. Watering will have a beneficial effect on the size of berries.
- During the formation of the ovaries. Harvest will become more delicious and juicy.
- During the ripening period of berries.
- Before hibernation - in the last days of October. This watering will save the root system from drying out during wintering.
If the gooseberry was planted in the spring, then in the first year it needs more frequent watering, because the plant has just begun to build up the root system.
About 1 liter of water is poured under 1 bush.
On hot sunny days, you can additionally water gooseberries, but this should only be done if you notice sluggish fruits and dry foliage.
The fertility of the plant, as well as other berry bushes, depends not only on watering, but also on the introduction of useful components into the soil. The standard feeding complex: potassium chloride 20 g, nitrate 40 g, superphosphate 80 g and compost 6 kg. Such fertilizer is applied 2 times a year in early spring or mid-autumn.
If the soil in your garden is not very nutritious, then as a mulching layer for gooseberries, it is better to add peat or humus. During the ripening of the crop, shrubs are fed with ash. It is brought into the near-stem circle (per 1 bush - 0.4 kg of ash).
Pruning
Gooseberry variety Grushenka is not good for bush thickening, poorly ventilated plants become infected with fungal diseases very quickly, branches grow old, and yield decreases.
Shrubs are formed during the first 5 years:
- For the first time, the plant is pruned during direct planting. Get rid of unnecessary shoots, on strong leave about 4 kidneys.
- In subsequent years, from the new shoots, select 5 strong and conveniently placed. Unripe tips pinch. Cut the excess shoots.
- An adult plant should have 5 main shoots and 12-20 branches of different ages.
Adult gooseberry pruning rules:
- Adjust the number of branches, remove excess and old ones (those that are more than 3 years old).
- Cut diseased branches, cut weakly growing ones and burn sick ones.
- In the spring season, be sure to free the bush from broken and frozen branches.
Read more about how to care for gooseberries in spring, read our other article.
Use of props
There are many berries on the gooseberry, and the branches are thin, so the plant must be tied up. At a distance of 0.2 m from the root neck of the bush 3 supports are inserted, they are tied with a rope, and the branches of the plant are attached between the pegs.
Adult gooseberries also need support. Under the weight of the crop, the branches tend to the surface of the soil, this can lead to the destruction of plants by fungal diseases. Mounting is established as the bush develops.
Breeding
Gooseberries propagate in two ways: cuttings and layering. The cuttings method can be carried out from July to September.
The propagation algorithm by cuttings:
- Cut an adult plant 0.15 m long stalk with buds.
- Treat the branch with a root stimulant.
- Place the treated plant at an acute angle in the ground so that about 3 buds remain on the soil.
- Water the cuttings until new shoots form on it.
Breeding by layering is an easier way. To do this, bend the annual shoot to the ground and secure it with a metal bracket. The contact area is sprinkled with soil and watered. After the appearance of several branches in a plant, the sprout is separated from the mother gooseberry.
Winter preparations
Frost-resistant characteristics of the plant allow it to survive cold winters without shelter. However, some work should be done before winter:
- Clean up old and diseased branches.
- Treat the plant against insect larvae with Bordeaux liquid.
- Remove trash and mulch.
- Paste mineral dressing under each plant.
Gardeners reviews on the Grushenka variety
Vladimir, 42 years old, programmer, Uzhgorod. This is the most stable gooseberry variety I've seen. He didn’t have any pain at all. The 8th year in a row brings a large crop in the form of small but tasty berries. The only drawback is because of the severity of the berries, twigs lie on the surface of the soil, so you have to constantly build and install supports.
Irina, 57 years old, cameraman, Novosibirsk. Variety Grushenka perfectly settled down in our difficult climate. We adore the whole family to make preservation from berries, compotes are especially tasty. Not a single bush in the garden has ever been so loaded like this.
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Grade Grushenka is the leader among all gooseberry varieties. Almost every summer resident of Russia grows this unpretentious berry shrub in his garden. Gooseberry care will not force you to spend a lot of effort, you just need to adhere to certain rules in order to maintain a strong immunity and high productivity in the bush.