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When looking for bushes with dense foliage, good survival rate and large, sweet berries, you should pay attention to the gingerbread gooseberry. This variety is considered one of the most popular among summer residents. It doesn't require a lot of gardening experience to grow it. The bush produces large, medium-sized berries with red skin and a pleasant sweet and sour taste.
Who is it for
Even a novice gardener can start growing the Kolobok variety. This gooseberry does not require specific care. It is enough to choose the right place for planting and ensure systematic watering.
This gooseberry variety is intended primarily for the central regions of the country. It is worth noting that the Kolobok can be found throughout the territory. If you provide him with proper care and shelter from the cold, gooseberry crops can be obtained in the northern regions.
Variety characteristics
Gooseberry Kolobok is considered one of the mid-season varieties. The gardener can harvest by mid-summer. The plant forms a sprawling, powerful bush up to one and a half meters high. The branches have a small number of thorns, which are located in the nodes.
The kidneys are voluminous, brown. Gooseberry leaves are arranged on short petioles. They have smooth outlines. Kolobok's foliage is deep green with colored veins.
Features of Kolobok berries
Next, we list the main characteristics of Kolobok berries:
- dense, deep red skin;
- weight from 3-4 to 7 g;
- rounded or slightly elongated shape;
- juicy, slightly crispy pulp;
- small seeds;
- nice smell;
- sweet and sour taste;
- light waxy coating.
If we consider the chemical composition of gooseberry berries Kolobok, it contains ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, sugar. The pulp has a pleasant, sweet and sour taste. During picking, the berries are easily separated from the branch. The few thorns on the bush is also an advantage when picking the fruit.
Choosing a place on the site
In order for the gingerbread gooseberry to bear fruit well, you need to plant the stalk in a suitable place. The main requirements are sufficient illumination, soil composition and a moderate distance from groundwater.
The best playground for Kolobok
Gooseberries can be planted where legumes, potatoes or beets were previously grown. But on the site where raspberries or currants were previously located, the Kolobok should not be planted.
The best place for gooseberries is a free, well-lit area. If there is no such zone for a seedling in the garden, a place in partial shade is suitable.
Soil moisture
The second important factor is the proximity of groundwater. Although the gooseberry gingerbread man requires regular watering, excess moisture can provoke fungal diseases in the plant. If the groundwater is less than two meters deep, an embankment will need to be prepared before planting the bush.
Soil composition
There are a number of requirements for the composition of the soil. In order for the gooseberry Kolobok to bear fruit well, the land must be:
- neutral / slightly acidic;
- loose;
- fertilized.
After planting the plant, the moisture content of the soil should be monitored. When it rains periodically, this will be enough for the growth of the shrub. If the summer is dry, the gooseberries will have to be watered.
Features of planting a bush
You can plant a gooseberry Kolobok either in spring or early autumn. In the first case, the most suitable time is mid-March. Then the seedling will have time to take root before the period of the appearance of new branches.
If a shrub is planted in early fall, it should take root before frost. This method is suitable for gardeners living in the southern and central regions of the country. Autumn planting of gooseberries Kolobok allows you to achieve the best results.
Seedling preparation
In order for a seedling to quickly take root and subsequently bear fruit abundantly, it needs enough nutrients. Therefore, before planting, its roots should be held in a solution of sodium humate (3 tablespoons per 5 liters of water are enough).
A young seedling with a well-developed root system will be an ideal newcomer in the garden. If dry branches are visible on the bush, they are cut off before planting.
Planting process
In the place chosen for the gooseberry, a recess is pulled out with a volume of about a bucket. If the bush is planted in the fall, it must be prepared a couple of weeks before planting. In the spring, it is enough to dig a hole in a week.
It is recommended to place a small amount of ash or humus on the bottom. For spring planting, potassium sulfate and superphosphate can also be added. The seedling is immersed in the recess vertically before branching. Next, you should carefully spread the roots. After they have been laid, they begin to cover them with earth. In this case, it is important to avoid the formation of cavities. In the process of falling asleep, it is recommended to tamp the soil periodically.
Upon completion of planting, the gooseberry bush is watered abundantly with water. Then the branches are pruned in such a way that about five developed buds remain on each. Around the trunk, the soil is fertilized with humus. This reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil. Also, this measure prevents the formation of a crust on the surface.
Plant care
In order for a plant to develop correctly, it needs proper care. Gooseberries Gingerbread man needs regular pruning.
As a result of removing some of the branches, the bush is better illuminated. Also, this measure allows you to prevent excessive thickening and promotes better fruiting.
One of the features of the gingerbread gooseberry is its tendency to overgrow. Therefore, pruning of branches begins immediately after transplanting the plant.
Re-trimming description
The repeated pruning of the Kolobok is carried out a year later in the spring. You will need to remove branches that have grown directly above the ground. It is also worth cutting off weak shoots that have not grown to 20 cm in length.
Subsequently, pruning will also be required. This removes:
- branches growing directly above the soil;
- tips of overgrown shoots;
- shoots making the crown too thick;
- damaged and weakened branches;
- root growth.
If you regularly thin out the shrub, the fruiting branches will have enough sunlight. It is also necessary to remove the root growth so that more moisture and nutrients enter the trunk. With this approach, the gooseberry Kolobok bears fruit abundantly for 10-15 years.
However, caring for a planted plant is not limited to pruning. The soil next to the gooseberry Kolobok is required regularly:
- watering;
- feed;
- loosen.
Watering is relevant only in case of dry summer. As already mentioned, excessive moisture can cause fungal diseases or root rot.
If a gardener plans to plant several gooseberry bushes at once, it is recommended to prepare a drip irrigation system.However, when planting one or two plants, such a measure will not be advisable.
Loosening and removing weeds
Immediately after watering, it is recommended to carry out two more procedures: weed removal and loosening. In this case, it is important not to injure the root system of the gooseberry Kolobok. After moistening, the soil becomes softer and more elastic, so weeding and loosening is carried out after watering.
Fertilization
It is recommended to fertilize the soil during planting. The plant's initial supply of nutrients will last for three years. In the fourth year, a complex of fertilizers should be added to maintain high productivity. The composition includes:
- compost;
- ammonium sulfate;
- superphosphate;
- potassium sulfate.
The ratio of ingredients is as follows: for 5 kg of compost, 25 g of ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate and 50 g of superphosphate. This composition fits right under the bushes and slams.
Fruiting
If you take care of the gooseberry Kolobok according to the instructions, it will bring up to 10 kg of berries per year.
This variety is resistant to diseases and fungal infections, which won the sympathy of gardeners. Ripe gooseberries stick well to the branches. When harvesting, it is easy to remove it without damaging it. The variety has excellent transportability.
