Content
In search of an unpretentious gooseberry that consistently yields a harvest of delicious berries, you should pay attention to the Grushenka variety. The shrub attracts gardeners with excellent immunity, low soil and maintenance requirements. One of the important advantages of the variety is the absence of thorns, which greatly simplifies harvesting.
Breeding history of the variety
The gooseberry variety Grushenka was bred by breeders in the 80s of the last century. The main goal pursued by the scientists was to create a frost-resistant shrub variety with large, sweet berries and no thorns. As a result of breeding work, it was possible to create such a variety. It got its name due to the specific shape of the fruit, reminiscent of miniature pears.
Description of the bush and berries
The gooseberry bush is of medium height and drooping shoots. The branches of the plant are densely covered with glossy green foliage. Inflorescences of 2-3 buds are formed on the shoots. The shape of the berries is round, expanding towards the bottom. In the process of ripening, the peel changes color from light green with a reddish bloom to purple. The average weight of Grushenka berries is 4-5 grams. In favorable conditions, up to 6 kg of sweet gooseberries can be harvested per season.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Grushenka variety fell in love with gardeners for its unpretentiousness and an abundance of sweet and sour berries. Gooseberries can bear fruit in a wide variety of climates. Before buying a seedling, you should consider the main positive and negative qualities of the variety.
Dignity | disadvantages |
High frost resistance | The need to tie bushes |
Lack of thorns | Small berry size |
Resistant to most diseases | Susceptibility to waterlogging |
Ability to withstand drought and heat |
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Bountiful harvest |
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Excellent transportability of berries |
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Ability to bear fruit for 20 years |
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Characteristic
The Grushenka hybrid belongs to the gooseberry varieties that even novice gardeners can grow. An undemanding variety is suitable for planting in a summer cottage and does not need daily care. At the same time, the culture has a stable yield and high immunity.
Yield
Gooseberry bushes are literally strewn with berries along the entire length of the shoots. The variety is characterized by the ability to quickly build up young shoots with a large number of fruit buds. The berries are tied both on the annual branches of Grushenka and on adult shoots. The average yield of a bush often exceeds 6 kg. A large number of fruits forces gardeners to tie up heavy branches that lean to the ground.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
The Grushenka variety is recognized as the leader in its ability to withstand low and high temperatures. Gooseberry bushes, even without additional shelter, can withstand frost-30 °. Flowering branches of the crop can also withstand short-term frosts, which makes it possible to grow the variety in regions with cold climates.Grushenka is not afraid of dry, hot weather.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is highly immune to various diseases. Experts note that Grushenka's gooseberry is practically not affected by powdery mildew, septoria and viral diseases. This characteristic of the variety allows you to save cultivation efforts and get an environmentally friendly harvest without the use of chemicals.
Sometimes the hybrid is attacked by pests. One of the most common is the spider mite. The pest infects the plant in dry weather. In addition, the variety suffers from aphids and moths.
Ripening period
Gooseberry Grushenka belongs to mid-season varieties. The flowering culture begins in late spring. In the second half of July, berries begin to ripen. Fruiting continues until mid-August. Thanks to the dense skin, the berries do not crack for a long time on the branches. This allows gardeners to harvest at a convenient time without fear of losing their crops.
Transportability
Easy care and abundant fruiting contribute to the fact that many gardeners grow the variety for further sale. Berries retain their integrity and presentation for a long time. The peel protects the berries from mechanical damage, which makes the Grushenka variety suitable for transportation and prolongs its commercial properties.
Growing conditions
Gooseberry varieties Grushenka are grown on almost any soil composition. The most preferred soil is loam. It is advisable to plant gooseberries in loose, nutritious soil with neutral acidity.
An adult plant does not tolerate transplanting well, so you should immediately take care of choosing a permanent place. The shrub is planted in a lighted place, light partial shade is allowed. To protect the seedlings from wind and drafts, you can place Grushenka's plantings along the fence. Vegetable crops are considered the optimal predecessors of gooseberry. You should not plant bushes after currants.
Landing features
The preferred time for planting seedlings in a permanent place is the autumn months. Gooseberries should be planted 1-1.5 months before the onset of frost. During this time, he will have time to root for a successful wintering. Spring planting is carried out between the thawing of the soil and the beginning of the growing season.
Grushenka saplings are placed at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other. Such a planting scheme will allow the gooseberry root system to develop correctly, and prevent the interlacing of the ground part.
High-quality seedlings must meet a number of characteristics:
- In one-year-old seedlings, small roots should be dense, without damage or flaking.
- Biennial bushes should be sold with an earthen ball. The root collar of a quality seedling is smooth, without signs of rot.
- A young bush of the 2nd year of life should have several spreading branches with buds.
- The optimal shoot length is 10-15 cm.
Gooseberry planting is carried out in compliance with several rules that allow the bushes to quickly adapt to a new place.
- The seedling is soaked in a growth stimulator according to the instructions.
- For each bush, a hole is dug 50 cm deep and in diameter in accordance with the volume of the root system.
- A bucket of humus and a complex mineral fertilizer are poured into the pit, mixed thoroughly and sprinkled with a layer of earth.
- The seedling is buried at an angle so that the root collar is 5-6 cm underground.
- Gooseberry bushes are plentifully spilled with water under the root, having previously tamped the soil.
A one-year-old seedling of Grushenka, subject to all planting rules, actively grows shoots and begins to bear fruit the next year.
Care rules
The variety does not require much attention during the cultivation process. Fruiting continues even without the participation of the gardener, while the quality and quantity of berries decreases.In order for Grushenka to give the maximum yield of delicious gooseberries, it is enough to pay attention to watering, top dressing and formative pruning of the bushes.
Support
Young, thin branches of Grushenka gooseberry are tied to a support. They can be damaged by the weight of berries or by strong winds. At a distance of 15-20 cm from the root collar of the gooseberry seedling, 3 pegs are dug up, tied with twine, and the branches of the bush are fixed between the supports.
The crown of an adult Grushenka bush also needs the support of the branches. Under the weight of the pouring berries, they lean to the ground, which can lead to the defeat of the culture by the fungus. The support is adjusted as the plant grows. At the time of the ripening of the crop, Grushenka needs additional support, due to the fact that a significant part of the branches is located horizontally.
Top dressing
The Grushenka variety does not need frequent feeding. It is enough to apply complex mineral fertilizers to the soil 1-2 times a year. The amount of dressing depends on the nutritional value of the soil and the condition of the plant. Fertilizers added to the soil during planting are enough for gooseberries for the entire season. The increased acidity of the soil can be normalized with dolomite flour or wood ash. In the fall, superphosphate can be applied under the gooseberry bushes.
Pruning bushes
The Grushenka variety needs 2 types of pruning: sanitary and formative. The optimal time for the procedure is early spring. During this period, it is advisable to shorten the shrub by 1/3 in height, remove all damaged and diseased branches. Learn more about spring pruning in the video.
The variety is characterized by a rapid build-up of young shoots. During the season, it is necessary to ensure that the overgrown branches do not obscure each other's sunlight. Lack of lighting will lead to a loss in the taste of the berries.
Reproduction
Gooseberry Grushenka propagates by cuttings or layering. Cuttings can be carried out from mid-summer to early autumn.
- In an adult bush, a 15 cm long stalk with several buds is cut at an acute angle.
- The twig is treated with a rooting stimulator.
- The prepared stalk is placed at an angle of 45 ° in loose soil so that at least 2-3 buds remain on the surface.
- The seedling is watered regularly until new shoots begin to form on it.
An easier way to propagate Grushenka's gooseberry is by layering. To do this, you need to bend the one-year-old shoot to the ground and pin it with a metal bracket. The place of contact is sprinkled with soil and watered. As soon as the seedling grows several young branches, it is separated from the mother bush.
Preparing for winter
The cold-resistant qualities of the Grushenka variety allow gooseberries to winter without additional shelter. Preparatory work before the onset of winter:
- sanitary pruning of old, diseased shoots;
- treatment of shrubs from pest larvae with Bordeaux liquid;
- removal of debris, fallen leaves and mulch.
If necessary, you can apply mineral fertilizers under each gooseberry bush.
Diseases and pests
The variety is highly resistant to disease. The main concern of the gardener is to protect the Gooseberry Grushenka from the invasion of pests. The table contains a description of dangerous insects and measures to control them.
Pest | Signs of defeat | Control measures |
Fruit aphid | Curling, drying and falling leaves | Spraying with soapy water or insecticide |
Spider mite | Yellowing of foliage, presence of cobwebs on the inside of the leaf plate | Spraying with an infusion of wormwood, diluted with water 1: 1, infused during the day |
Fire | The caterpillar damages the flesh of the berries. Early fetal pigmentation is observed | Treatment of gooseberries with Aklektic, removal of affected berries |
Conclusion
Grushenka is a gooseberry variety that is deservedly popular with gardeners. Sweet berries of unusual shape and color are ideal for conservation or fresh consumption. An unpretentious shrub gives a bountiful harvest without significant effort on the part of gardeners.
