Content
The cultivation of gooseberries in the European and Central part of the Russian Federation became possible after the emergence of cultivars resistant to frost and disease. Gooseberry Rodnik is a selection variety created in 2001 by I. Popov and M. Simonov on the basis of mid-early species of Lada and Purmen. After experimental cultivation, the variety fully confirmed the characteristics given by the originators, and in 2004 it was entered into the State Register.
Description of gooseberry spring
Gooseberry Rodnik belongs to the early maturing varieties. Resistant to spring frosts, flowers are not damaged if the air temperature drops to -4 0C for a short time, therefore gooseberry popular with gardeners in the Urals, Moscow region, Siberia. The variety is cultivated in the Middle Lane, the European part in the southern regions.
Description of gooseberry Rodnik (pictured):
- The bush is 1.2 m high, compact, with a dense crown.
- Shoots are strong, upright, with drooping tops. Perennials are completely woody, have a smooth surface, the bark is dark gray. The stems of the current year are green, by autumn the surface is painted in a light brown color.
- Thorns are rare, concentrated in the lower part of the shoot at a height of 20 cm from the root.
- Leaves are opposite, five-lobed with wavy edges, fixed on long light cuttings. The surface of the leaf plate is dark green, slightly corrugated, glossy with pronounced veins, pubescent from the bottom.
- The flowers are cone-shaped, drooping, yellow with burgundy blotches, abundant flowering. Formed by 2-3 pieces in each leaf node, opposite sex.
- The berries are oval, without pubescence, the surface is smooth with a light waxy bloom. Unripe fruits are green, at the stage of biological ripeness they are yellow with a light pink fragment on the sides. The peel is firm, thin. The pulp is green with a few small brown seeds. The mass of berries on the bush is uneven from 4 g to 7 g.
Gooseberry variety Rodnik is a dioecious, self-pollinated plant. The fruiting level does not depend on weather conditions.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
From the parent varieties Gooseberry Rodnik received high frost resistance. The plant tolerates a drop in temperature to -35 ° C without loss, the optimal indicator for a thermophilic culture. According to the description for the variety and gardeners' reviews, the spring gooseberry grows rapidly and intensively forms young shoots, therefore, in case of freezing of the stems during the growing season, it completely restores the green mass and the root system.
The drought resistance of the Rodnik gooseberry is average, which is typical for almost all biological species with a superficial root system. The lack of moisture primarily affects the berries, they lose weight, density, and become sour.
Fruiting, productivity
The Rodnik variety blooms in the second half of May, the fruits ripen unevenly, the first ripe berries are harvested at the end of June, fruiting is extended for 2 weeks. It is recommended to pick berries immediately after ripening, the variety is prone to shedding. With a sufficient amount of moisture, gooseberries are not baked in the sun. Cracking of the fruit is possible during the rainy season.
The Rodnik variety blooms in the second year of growth, the yield is insignificant. After 4 years, the gooseberry begins to bear fruit fully. 10-12 kg of berries are harvested from 1 bush. During a short ripening period, gooseberries accumulate a sufficient amount of sugars, the taste of the fruits is sweet with a low acid content. The berries are universal in use, they are consumed fresh, frozen, processed into jam, added to the fruit platter compote.
The peel of the Rodnik variety is strong, immune to mechanical damage, and tolerates transportation well. Therefore, the high-yielding gooseberry is grown on an industrial scale.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the Rodnik gooseberry include:
- frost resistance;
- stable fruiting;
- high productivity;
- long-term storage of the crop;
- transportability;
- resistance of berries to cracking and baking;
- pleasant fruit taste;
- suitable for growing in temperate climates;
- strong immunity to fungal and viral infections;
- weak studding.
The disadvantages include average drought resistance. After ripening, berries are prone to shedding.
Breeding features
Gooseberry variety Spring is propagated only vegetatively or by dividing the bush. The last method is the most productive. The plant calmly reacts to the transfer, takes root quickly. The bushes are separated by at least four years of age, the work is carried out in the spring, approximately in mid-May.
The Rodnik variety is propagated by cuttings, they are harvested in the second half of June (from last year's shoots). The next season, the rooted material is planted on the site. You can propagate the gooseberry Spring by layering; to obtain planting material, a strong lateral shoot is bent to the ground and covered with soil. The following spring, fragments with rooted buds are cut and planted.
Planting and leaving
In the spring, the Rodnik variety is planted after the soil warms up to +6 0C, so for each region the time will be different: for central Russia - in mid-May, in the South - in April. In autumn, planting is carried out a month before the onset of frost, in a temperate climate in early September, in warm regions in mid-October. This time is enough for the spring gooseberry for rooting.
The place for planting the Rodnik variety is chosen open or semi-shaded. The composition of the soil is neutral, slightly acidic. Light, aerated, drained soil. Lowlands and wetlands are not suitable for gooseberries.
The seedling is taken with a developed root and the presence of 3-4 shoots without mechanical or infectious damage. The sequence of actions when planting gooseberries:
- The root of the seedling is placed in a growth stimulator solution, the concentration of the agent and the processing time are carried out according to the instructions for the preparation.
- For planting, a mixture of organic matter, peat, sand, wood ash is prepared.
- Dig a hole 50 cm deep and 45 cm in diameter.
- The bottom of the recess is covered with a drainage pad.
- Pour ½ part of the nutrient substrate on top.
- The seedling is placed vertically in the center.
- Pour out the rest of the mixture, compact.
- Watering, mulching.
The root collar is deepened by 3 cm. The stems are cut to 4 fruit buds.
Growing rules
Gooseberry Spring has been bearing fruit for more than 15 years; in order to obtain a consistently high yield, the variety requires certain care, it consists of the following activities:
- From the second year of the growing season in the spring, gooseberries are fed with nitrogen-based products, during the ripening of the berries, organic fertilizers are applied.
- Sprinkle gooseberries Spring in the morning or in the evening with a small amount of water, the trunk circle should not be allowed to dry out, the frequency of watering depends on seasonal precipitation.
- The bush is formed with 10-13 stems. After harvesting, they thin out, remove old, deformed shoots, in the spring they carry out health-improving cleaning, remove dry and frozen fragments.
- To prevent gooseberry stalks from damaging mice or other small rodents, special chemicals are laid out around the perimeter of the root circle at the end of summer.
- For the winter, the branches of the bush are collected in a bunch and secured with a rope. This measure is necessary so that the stems do not break under the weight of the snow. Carry out water charging irrigation, spud, cover with a layer of mulch on top.
Pests and diseases
All breeding varieties are highly resistant to infection; Rodnik gooseberries are no exception. The variety is very rarely sick. If the summer is cold and rainy, a fungal infection may develop, it manifests itself with a bluish bloom on the berries. Eliminate the fungus by treating the shrub with Oxyhom or Topaz. To prevent the disease in the spring, gooseberries are sprayed with a solution of potassium hydroxide and copper sulfate.
Aphids are the only pest parasitizing the Rodnik variety. The bush is completely watered with soapy water, get rid of the anthills. With a strong accumulation of pests, the gooseberry Rodnik is treated with herbicides.
Conclusion
Gooseberry Rodnik is a high-yielding selection variety of early fruiting. Shrub of medium height, compact, with a high degree of frost resistance. The culture is grown in a temperate and warm climate. The berries on a 5-point scale received a tasting score of 4.9 points. The fruits are stored for a long time, the variety is suitable for commercial cultivation.
