Content
Caring for gooseberries in spring has its own characteristics, on which not only the quality of the growth of the shrub, but also the amount of the crop depends largely. Therefore, for beginners in gardening, it is important to know about certain rules for caring for a plant.
How to care for gooseberries in spring after winter
Many gardeners believe that caring for gooseberries is simple - just harvest on time and cut the branches occasionally. In fact, the shrub needs more serious care, especially in the spring, when its vegetative process starts.
Gooseberry care measures in spring consist of the following points:
- Removing the covering material and a layer of mulch.
- Shrub pruning.
- Loosening the soil and removing weeds.
- Watering.
- Mulch application.
- Fertilizer.
- Preventive measures aimed at destroying pests.
- Transfer.
Taking shelter
The start of work falls on the period when the snow layer will melt, and the air temperature will not drop below 5 degrees Celsius even at night. Usually, such a period in the middle lane falls on the second half of April.
First of all, it is necessary to remove the shelter from the bush, which protected it from winter frosts. In the northern regions, fruit bushes are insulated using wooden boxes, which are recommended to be removed at a temperature of 2 - 3 degrees Celsius.
In the middle lane, gooseberry insulation is carried out with a layer of mulch, which must be carefully raked out with a rake. Otherwise, a fungus may begin to develop under the bush, and various pests will attack it. Removing the cover will also allow the soil to warm up faster, which will be an incentive for the plant to start growing.
Cleaning the root zone
The root system should also be cleaned of various litter, including last year's foliage. It will also protect the shrub from pests and the occurrence of fungal and infectious diseases. All garbage must be taken out of the site, and ideally burned.
When examining a bush, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the shoots in order to timely identify frozen and broken bushes. If damaged parts of the culture are found, they are removed by cutting so that the plant does not waste its vitality on dead processes.
How to care for gooseberries in spring
Caring for gooseberries in the spring after winter is the key to a high harvest in autumn. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider this issue and follow all recommendations for growing a plant.
Watering, feeding
When the snow masses have completely melted and dry weather is established, the shrub should continue to receive moisture. Therefore, it should be watered occasionally, focusing on the presence of precipitation and dryness of the soil. This should be done with a little warm water, at least 1 time in 10 days.
If the spring is rainy, then the gooseberry does not need additional watering before the onset of steadily hot weather.
Another important measure for caring for gooseberries in early spring is feeding the bush.
- During the period of swelling of the kidneys, the introduction of nitrogen-containing preparations will help. This helps to build up green mass.
- Potassium and phosphorus must be added before flowering.
- After harvesting, re-feeding with phosphorus-containing preparations and potassium is required.
Weeding, loosening the soil
Caring for gooseberries in the spring in the country also means careful weeding. This event contributes to:
- oxygen supply to the roots;
- unhindered receipt of food and moisture by the bush.
After the weeds are removed, the soil must be thoroughly loosened. This should be done with extreme caution, since the gooseberry root system is superficial and can be damaged. Therefore, when loosening in the spring, they use special hoes or improvised means with which you can raise the earth with a layer of no more than 5 cm.
Root zone mulching
Gooseberries after winter require special care, which, among other things, implies the introduction of mulch in the spring. It is needed so that weeds do not grow, and also moisture does not evaporate so quickly.
The following materials can also be used as mulch in spring:
- cones;
- sawdust;
- straw;
- compost;
- humus;
- peat.
Preventive treatments
Spring gooseberry care also includes treatment against pests and diseases. In the spring, as a rule, boiling water is poured over the bush, but such an event is not always enough. Therefore, the bush is sprayed with special preparations intended for crops of this type.
How to care for gooseberry bushes in summer
Caring for gooseberries in the summer consists in watering, applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
- Watering is necessary for gooseberries only in case of dry weather and during the flowering period.
- Fertilizers are applied at the time of budding and after harvesting.
- Loosening of the soil is carried out every two weeks, at the same time weeds are removed.
The most important thing is to take care of the gooseberries in July, when flowering and fruit setting begins. During this period, it is necessary to inspect the shrub for the presence of pests and diseases, even if preventive treatment was carried out in the spring.
Gardening tips for caring for gooseberry bushes in spring
The advice of experienced gardeners will help to properly care for gooseberries, which can save beginners from a number of the most common mistakes:
- It is important not to miss the time to start processing the fruit shrub in the spring. You can start work after the air temperature does not drop below 5 degrees Celsius.
- Foliage and mulch left over from last year should be removed from the site. During the winter period, various pathogenic fungi could develop in them, which can spread to other plantations. Therefore, in the spring, all garbage and litter are taken out from the site and burned or buried in the ground.
- Pruning should be done before sap begins to flow in the gooseberries and buds form.
- Pruning is mandatory, as weak branches are a good target for fungal and viral diseases. If you feel sorry for the gooseberry bushes in the spring, then in the fall you may not get a large number of berries.
- It is necessary to process the plant after pruning and spilling the shrub with boiling water. Otherwise, gooseberries will not receive protection from pests and diseases.
- Top dressing is necessary for gooseberries not only in the fall, but also in the spring. The quality of the crop depends on how well the soil is fertilized.
- Each fertilizer has its own time. Nitrogen is required for foliage. Therefore, in the spring you need to feed the gooseberry with it. Then the plant needs phosphorus and potassium, which must be added twice more per season.
- Watering is important for gooseberries even in spring. This is especially true during periods when the weather is dry and warm. Therefore, you should not rely on moisture reserves in the ground, but water the bush at least once every 10 - 14 days.
- Gooseberry care in spring and summer consists of watering and removing weeds. Therefore, do not forget that even such an unpretentious plant will bear fruit and grow better on moist and clean soil.
- Timely loosening of the soil allows the gooseberry to be enriched with oxygen and nutrients. If the soil is covered with a dense crust, then the gooseberries will grow small and quite sour.
Observing the above tips, you can lay a reliable "foundation" for a rich harvest in the spring.
Conclusion
Caring for gooseberries in spring is no different from caring for currants or raspberries. The main thing is to protect the plant from pests and diseases, remove diseased shoots in a timely manner, apply fertilizer and adhere to the watering schedule. Responsible caring for gooseberries in the spring is the key to good growth.
