Content
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry is one of the most popular varieties of this plant species. The plant is undemanding to care and growing conditions, however, in order for fruiting to be abundant and regular, a number of rules will still have to be followed.
Description of the gooseberry variety Belarusian sugar
Belarusian sugar gooseberry is a vigorous plant with self-fertility rates exceeding 65%. The variety is recommended for growing in Belarus, Ukraine, southern regions of Russia, Siberia and the Urals. Shrubs do not need pollinators. As the description of the variety, photos and reviews show, the Belarusian gooseberry is difficult to distinguish in appearance from other varieties. The height of the bush, as a rule, is about 1 m, but can reach up to 1.5 m.
The shoots of the shrub are relatively thin, but strong and durable, looking up. When the fruits ripen on the Belarusian sugar gooseberry bush, the branches, densely covered with berries, lean towards the ground under their weight. The thickened central shoots practically do not bend. The spine of the shoots in the culture is strong. The pins can be single, double or triple. The bush itself is tall, but slightly spreading.
The buds on the shoots begin to bloom with the arrival of spring, and by the end of April the bush is usually completely covered with greenery. Medium-sized folded leaves have five lobes and are colored in a rich green hue. The surface of the leaf blade is glossy.
Flowering also begins very early, in central Russia it most often falls in mid-May. The flowers of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry are small, inconspicuous, bisexual and pollinated by insects.
The fruits of the Belarusian gooseberry have a round-oval shape, light green color and are quite large. The weight of one berry can reach 9 g. The skin of the fruit is thin, dense, not pubescent. Their flesh is pale green, the juice is transparent.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The gooseberry variety Belarusian Sugar is perfectly adapted to an unstable climate with severe frosts in winter. The variety belongs to the frost resistance zone 5a, which means that the plant can withstand temperature drops to 28.9 degrees below zero.
This gooseberry variety tolerates heat and drought calmly. Plants recover quickly after being in unfavorable conditions.
Fruiting, productivity
Belarusian sugar gooseberry is considered to be a medium early variety. Ripening of berries should be expected at the end of July.
The yield of the variety from one bush is 4 - 5 kg. The harvest volumes are increasing every year. The fruiting period is 12-15 years. After ripening, gooseberry berries of the Belarusian Sugar variety are able to remain on the shoots for a long time without crumbling or baking in the sun.
The fruits of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry are very tender, sweet, have a slightly sour taste. According to the tasting scale, the variety earned a rating of 4.8 points out of the maximum possible 5. The pulp of the berries contains up to 14% sugars, about 2% - acids, as well as a large amount of vitamin C. For jam from berries of this variety, a minimum amount of sugar is required. The fruit is also suitable for fresh consumption and wine making.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety:
- self-fertility;
- regularity of fruiting;
- compactness of the bush;
- large size of berries;
- high productivity;
- sweet, dessert fruits;
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- high frost resistance.
Disadvantages of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety:
- problematic collection of fruits due to the strong stinging of the shoots.
Breeding features
Gooseberries of the Belarusian Sugar variety can be propagated using several methods: cuttings and layering. The most effective method of reproduction by layering is considered. This procedure is carried out in the spring; only strong, healthy shoots should be used as layering. It is necessary to dig a hole, place the shoots in it and sprinkle it with earth on top, leaving only the top above the surface. Next fall, young plants can be separated from the mother bush.
Propagation by cuttings is not as effective as their survival rate is lower.
Planting and leaving
Planting can be done both in spring, in April, and in autumn, in October. Gooseberries of the Belarusian Sugar variety should be placed in well-lit places. Insufficient lighting negatively affects the palatability of the berries and can be the reason for a low yield.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry reacts poorly to stagnant water in the soil. In flooded areas, it is necessary to provide the shrub with good drainage, otherwise its development will be weak. With a long stay in waterlogged soil, the plant begins to hurt and may even die.
The soil for this gooseberry variety should be light, loamy or sandy loam, neutral or slightly acidic. The optimum acidity level is 6 - 6.5 pH.
When choosing planting material, you should carefully examine gooseberry seedlings for the presence of diseases. It is best to purchase planting material in specialized nurseries and gardening stores. The seedling must have at least one shoot at least 5 mm thick and several skeletal roots at least 15 cm long.
For the comfortable development of the root system of the plant, a large space is needed. During planting, a distance of at least 2 m between adjacent rows and 1 m between bushes in rows should be observed.
Algorithm for planting gooseberries of the Belarusian Sugar variety:
- Dig a planting hole, which is about 50 cm in diameter and about 60 cm deep.
- Place humus (10 kg), superphosphate (200 g) and potassium fertilizers (20 g) in the pit.
- Pour about 3 - 5 liters of water into the pit. Wait until the liquid is completely absorbed, repeat the procedure.
- Place a seedling in the center of the pit, not forgetting to straighten the roots. Cover with earth, deepening the root collar by no more than 5 - 7 cm.
- The next day, slightly loosen the soil in the trunk circle and mulch. Otherwise, the roots may crack when the soil dries out.
Growing rules
Proper care of the plant contributes to obtaining a bountiful and regular harvest for many years.
When the weather is warm and dry, watering is done, as a rule, once a week. Water the shrub directly under the root.During the formation of flowers, ovaries and fruits, the Belarusian sugar gooseberry needs more abundant watering.
Poultry manure, mullein, or ready-made mineral complexes are usually used as fertilizers. If the land on which the gooseberry grows is depleted, fertilizing should be done annually. Fertile soil is fertilized every three years.
Pruning for Belarusian sugar gooseberries is recommended in the spring, before the buds bloom, or in the autumn, after the harvest has already been harvested. The shoots of the shrub are quite flexible, so they can easily be given any desired shape. The plant can be grown in the classical way, with a one-shoulder or two-shoulder cordon, as well as on a trellis. To prevent the shoots from sagging under the weight of the berries, it is best to tie them up.
Shelter for the winter is usually not required for the plant. However, if the winter is with little snow, the trunk circle should be mulched. Straw, manure and spruce sawdust are perfect for this.
To protect the gooseberry bush from rodents, during the fall, you need to dig up the ground between the rows and in the near-trunk circles in order to destroy their burrows. After that, the stem and skeletal branches should be tied with spruce branches.
Pests and diseases
The gooseberry variety Belarusian Sugar is distinguished by high immunity to various diseases. For the prevention of diseases, the old layer of mulch is removed with the arrival of spring, after watering the bush with hot water (3 - 5 liters). At the same time, the old layer is replaced with a new one.
An additional preventive measure is the cultivation of the soil under the bush with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. The procedure should be performed before bud break. Before the formation of buds, the bush is treated with Karbofos. This will protect the plant from insects such as aphids, gall midges and sawflies. You can get rid of a kidney mite with the help of colloidal sulfur (30 g per 10 L of water).
Conclusion
Gooseberry Belarusian sugar - one of the most popular varieties of green gooseberries among Russian gardeners. It is distinguished by its high taste, abundant fruiting, unpretentious care and high frost resistance.
