Gooseberry is one of the most popular garden shrubs. The fruits of this plant contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals, organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, pectin and other biologically active compounds. One of the most delicious and nutrient-rich varieties is the Belarusian sugar gooseberry, which has virtually no disadvantages and will be discussed in this article.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: description of the variety
About the bush.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry is a fairly tall shrub, its self-fertility exceeds the mark of sixty-five percent. Experienced breeders recommend growing this variety in the following areas: 1) Belarus; 2) Ukraine; 3) in the southern regions of Russia; 4) in the Siberian parts of the country; 5) in the Urals. An interesting nuance when growing is that it does not require pollinating insects. Its height reaches approximately one hundred centimeters, but some special specimens can reach one hundred and fifty centimeters.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: photo of variety
About shoots and branches.
The shoots and branches of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety grow upward; we can say that they are thin, but still quite strong in practice. But it is also worth noting that due to the heaviness of ripened fruits, the branches can shrink towards the soil. It is also worth noting that the plump shoots that grow in the center practically do not bend. There are thorns on this shrub, they can be: 1) single; 2) double; 3) triple. The bush itself is quite tall, but its branches are not spreading.
About the leafy part.
Dormant buds begin to bloom with the arrival of the spring period, and already in the twentieth of the second month of the spring period, the bush can be seen completely green. The foliage itself is medium in size, includes five parts, and has a bright green color. The surface of the leaf plate itself is glossy, with oval, non-pointed notches.
About flowering.
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry begins to bloom quite early. Approximately in the tenth day of the last month of the spring period. The inflorescences are quite small, not bright, whitish in color. Most of them are bisexual and can be pollinated by pollinating insects.
About berries.
The color of the berries of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety is soft greenish and quite large. One berry can reach nine grams. The skin of the fruit is quite thin, but durable and does not fluff. The internal pulp is a soft greenish hue, the secreted juice is colorless.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: photo of variety
Frost resistance.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry is quite resistant to harsh winter conditions. It can withstand up to twenty-eight to thirty degrees of negative temperature.
Heat and drought resistance.
This species is well adapted to hot weather and summer heat. It should also be noted that after unfavorable weather conditions, the crop quickly regenerates.
About productivity.
The yield of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety is good. On average, you can collect four to five kilograms from one bush. As the bush matures and develops, its yield increases. This specimen bears fruit for twelve to fifteen years. It is also worth noting that ripe fruits do not fall off the branches and do not bake in the sun.
About fruiting.
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety is distinguished by its mid-early fruiting time. Its berries ripen on the twentieth of the second month of the summer period. The berries themselves have quite tender pulp and a sweet and sour taste. The pulp of the fruit will contain up to fourteen percent sugar, also about two percent acid, and it also boasts a high concentration of vitamin C. To make jam from this variety, you will need very little sugar. The berries can also be consumed fresh and wine drinks can be made from them. The berries of this variety are well stored and can withstand transportation. But if there is a long transportation ahead, it is better to pick the berries slightly under-ripe.
Characteristics, description
Shrub 1 m high, with an average degree of branching. The leaf blades are light green, with wavy edges, and have 3–5 oval or ovoid lobes. Annual shoots are brown. The branches have a medium degree of thorniness - the spines can be single, double or triple.
The berry is large, reaching a weight of 10 g. The color of the fruit is light green, with barely noticeable stripes. The shape is spherical, slightly elongated towards the base. The pulp has a juicy structure, the taste is sweet and sour. The skin is thin and smooth to the touch.
Did you know? During breeding work in the 70s of the last century, a plant called yoshta was bred - a hybrid of black currant and gooseberry.
Advantages of this variety.
- This variety is self-fertile.
- This variety bears fruit consistently, regardless of weather conditions.
- The bush itself is not tall, and its branches are not spreading, that is, it does not take up much space.
- The berries of this variety are large, that is, on average the weight of one berry will reach nine grams.
- The Belarusian sugar variety has a high yield level, that is, four to five kilograms can be harvested from one bush. And he will also increase the amount of harvest as he matures.
- This variety can be classified as a dessert variety, as its berries are quite sweet.
- This variety is highly resistant to various fungal infections.
- Belarusian sugar gooseberry tolerates sub-zero temperatures well in winter.
- This variety can easily withstand hot weather and summer heat.
Features of reproduction
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety can be propagated using several methods: cuttings and layering. The most effective method of propagation is layering. 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 soil on top, leaving only the top above the surface. Next autumn, young plants can be separated from the mother bush.
Propagation by cuttings is not as effective, since their survival rate is lower.
Nuances in the propagation of Belarusian sugar gooseberries
For this variety, two methods of propagation are considered the most optimal: 1) using cuttings; 2) using layering.
Reproduction method using layering.
This method is considered the most productive. This event should be held in the spring. To do this, you need to choose only strong, dense and healthy young shoots. To plant, you need to dig a small planting hole, place the selected layer there, and then cover it with soil. Leave it at soil level, only the top part is needed. With the arrival of the next autumn period, you will already have a new independent plant that needs to be separated from the mother specimen.
Reproduction method using cuttings.
This method is not as productive. This is due to the fact that the cuttings adapt poorly, that is, they do not take root so often.
Common gooseberry 'Belarusian sugar'
Latin name: ribes uva-crispa 'belorusskiu saharniy'
Main genus: Common gooseberry
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Expand all properties
Description of the plant:
Common gooseberry 'Belarusian sugar' is the result of crossing the varieties 'Belorusskiy' and 'White large'. The variety was bred at the Belarusian Research Institute of Potato and Horticulture.
Recommended for testing in the North-Western and Central regions. Refers to promising.
Dimensions and growth form:
The bush is tall, compact or slightly spreading. The shoots are straight, thick, directed upward and to the sides. The spikiness is average. The spines are single and double, less often triple, of medium length, green or light brown.
Leaves:
The leaves are three-lobed, large, flat, round or round-oval, grayish-green, smooth, matte. On the shoot, the leaf is directed obliquely upward.
Flowers and fruits:
Representatives of the 'Belarusian Sugar' variety have large and very large berries, weighing 4.1–8.5 g, round-oval, pubescent, smooth, greenish-white in color. The skin is dense and thin. The pulp has a good, sweet dessert taste.
Dessert fruits.
Precocity, ripening time, yield:
Mid-early ripening. The variety is highly self-fertile and productive.
Winter hardiness:
The variety has high winter hardiness.
Disease resistance:
Common gooseberry 'Belarusian sugar' is relatively resistant to powdery mildew.
Important rules for planting and care.
When to plant.
Experienced gardeners say that this variety can be planted both in the spring, for example in the second place, and in the autumn, for example in the second place.
About lighting.
For the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety, well-lit places are excellent. If proper lighting is not enough, the harvest may be small and not sweet.
Choosing a location.
Belarusian sugar gooseberries must be protected from cold drafts and strong winds. That is, it is better to choose places next to a fence or some kind of hedge. This gooseberry will not like waterlogged soils, because such soil can have a detrimental effect on the root system of the plant. If you only have a flooded area in mind, then you need to make sure that there is a good drainage layer there. If this is not done, the bush will grow slowly and develop poorly. If such a plant is left in waterlogged soil for a long time, it can contract fungal infections and eventually die.
About suitable soil.
What soils are suitable for this variety: 1) light soil; 2) loamy soil; 3) sandy loam soil. It is also important to note that it should be either neutral-acidic or slightly acidic. Acidity should not be higher than six to six and a half.
How to choose the right planting material.
When purchasing planting material, you should pay special attention to its appearance. You need to find out whether the plant is sick or healthy. It is recommended to purchase seedlings from trusted nurseries and specialized stores. The selected seedling must have a young shoot that is no thinner than five millimeters, and its roots should not be less than fifteen centimeters.
How to check the quality of planting material.
It's very easy to do. On the selected spine, you need to make a vertical cut. If the color of the cut is light, it means the plant is healthy. If the color of the cut is black, or brown, or gray, then this is a cause for concern, because most likely the plant is sick.
About the root system.
In order for the root system to actively grow and develop, it needs a large soil space.
Required landing distance.
When planting several specimens at once, there should be a distance of two hundred centimeters between adjacent beds, and a hundred centimeters between holes.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: photo of variety
Harvesting and storage
Harvesting is carried out in July, from the moment the fruits ripen. Collection is carried out in dry weather, after the dew has dried. The berries are picked along with the stalk and placed in several layers in a small container.
We recommend reading about the properties of gooseberries for the human body.
The ripe harvest is stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +4°C for 5 days. Fruits that are collected before they are ripe can be stored for 14 to 20 days at a temperature of +4°C.
Gardeners should pay attention to the Belarusian sugar gooseberry. The variety has excellent winter hardiness and is also immune to fungal diseases.
Stages of planting Belarusian sugar gooseberries
First stage.
It is necessary to dig a planting hole. Its diameter should be approximately fifty centimeters, and its depth should be approximately sixty centimeters.
Second phase.
The planting hole must be stratified. That is, you need to add: 1) ten kilograms of organic humus; 2) two hundred grams - superphosphate; 3) twenty grams of potash fertilizers.
Third stage.
For each hole you need to allocate approximately three to five liters of clean water at room temperature. Then you need to wait until it absorbs everything, and then repeat watering.
Fourth stage.
The seedling should be placed directly in the center of the hole. The root system must be carefully straightened. Carefully sprinkle all this with soil and compact it lightly. The neck of the root system should be five to seven centimeters above the ground level.
Fifth stage.
After twenty-four hours, the soil in the tree trunk circle of the plant must be carefully loosened and then sprinkled with mulch. This will save the root system of the bush from cracking during drought.
March
Regulate melt water flow
The time for thaws and melt waters is coming. If your site is located on a slope, make banks of snow to retain water that can wash away the fertile layer of soil. In low-lying areas where there is a risk of flooding, be sure to clean the grooves for drainage and drainage of water. This will help avoid stagnation in the root zone. Berry bushes, including gooseberries, do not tolerate prolonged waterlogging.
At the end of the month, if the condition of the site allows and the snow has already melted, you can begin pruning the bushes. Its goal is to form a light bush without thickening, with strong shoots of different ages. Early-growing gooseberry varieties with strong branching and numerous shoots form a bush in 2-3 years. The pruning plan depends on the age and condition of the bush. Trim the shoots of young seedlings, leaving 4-5 buds, remove weak and dried branches. On 2-3 year old bushes, leave about 3-5 well-developed, well-placed shoots. On older (3-4 years) bushes, leave 10-12 branches of different ages, including several annual ones. Mature fruiting bushes can have about 20 branches of different ages.
Trim and shape gooseberry bushes
Gooseberries form their main harvest on last year's growths and 2-3-year-old fruits, so it is recommended to remove branches older than 5 years. Thin out the crown, avoiding thickening, cut out old branches from the middle of the bush. In a thickened gooseberry bush, diseases arise more quickly, shoots and buds ripen worse, which weakens the winter hardiness of the plant. Be sure to remove shoots with traces of last year's powdery mildew (felt coating with black dots).
For bushes with weak branching and a small number of shoots, remove weak, lodging and damaged shoots.
Before the buds open, treat the gooseberry bushes with preparations against the wintering stages of pests (leaf rollers, aphids, scale insects, mites). The drug Profilaktin is suitable for early spring treatment; use it at an air temperature of at least 4°C.
Treat bushes against wintering pests
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: variety care
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: photo of variety
You will receive an abundant and regular harvest for many years if you provide the bush with comfortable conditions and quality care.
About watering rules.
If the weather is favorable, that is, warm, dry, without precipitation, then the shrub requires watering once every seven days. Watering should be done directly to the root. Also, the frequency and volume of watering should be increased moderately at the time when the buds are forming. Also, ten to fourteen days before harvest, watering should be stopped. And after you harvest, you need to return to the previous watering regime. This method will provide you with high fruiting of the bush next year.
About fertilizers and fertilizing.
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety can be fed with organic as well as mineral fertilizers. Suitable organic matter: 1) bird droppings; 2) mullein; 3) organic humus. As mineral fertilizers you can use: complex universal mineral fertilizers for fruit and berry crops. If the soil on which the shrub grows is not very rich in microelements, macroelements and nutrients, then the plant needs to be fed annually. If the soil is sufficiently fertile and rich, then fertilizing can be done once every thirty-six months.
About pruning.
Belarusian sugar gooseberry: photo of variety
The procedure for pruning Belarusian sugar gooseberries can be done either in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom, or in the autumn, when the entire harvest has already been harvested. Based on the fact that the shoots and branches of the bush are quite elastic and durable, you can give the plant the shape you want.
How to grow plants.
To grow this plant, there are three most common methods: 1) the classic method; 2) one-arm method; 3) two-arm cordon; 4) on a trellis.
About the need for a garter.
Since we know that the fruits of this berry are quite heavy, one berry can weigh on average nine grams. Because of this, shoots can bend and lean towards the ground. If they are not trimmed in time, there is a possibility that they will break. Therefore, dressing for this variety is a mandatory procedure.
About the winter period.
Usually this variety is not covered for the winter. But if you live in a region where there is little snow in winter, then it is best to mulch the plant’s trunk circle. This can be done using: 1) dry straw; 2) rotted manure; 3) sawdust from pine trees.
Reviews
For many years I have been growing Belarusian saccharin in the Moscow region. My bushes have never frozen yet; they are very easy to care for.
My Belarusian Sugar got mildew. I had to pull out several bushes. In one of the descriptions I saw figures that gooseberries are watered 2-3 times a week, so I began to constantly water them with water. Consequently, this catastrophe occurred. Only then did I realize that I was reading alternative sources and asking neighbors. My neighbors don’t water their gooseberries at all, and most sources indicate that watering is carried out, but not more than once a week, and only if the weather is dry. Therefore, trust the Internet.
I mulch my gooseberries with spruce needles, and there are no pests in my garden. I read this method in the magazine “Homesteading”, it really works. Apparently, the smell repels insects, or maybe it has something else to do with it; by the way, spruce needles do not affect the acidity of the soil.
Belarusian specialists have created many unpretentious, high-yielding gooseberry varieties that do not require complex agricultural technology. One of the best varieties is Belarusian Sahara with large berries of high nutritional value.
About possible diseases
This gooseberry variety has a good immune system, that is, it is resistant to many possible diseases.
Prevention from diseases.
For preventive purposes, you need to remove the old mulch layer with the arrival of spring. But before this, it is very important to water the bush with hot water, about three to five liters are required. The old layer that was removed must be replaced with a new, fresh one.
About possible insect pests and preventive control measures.
For preventive purposes, you can treat the plant’s soil with Bordeaux mixture in a one percent concentration. This must be done before the buds open. Also, before the buds begin to form, the bush needs to be treated with karbofos. This will help protect the crop from various insects, such as: 1) aphids; 2) gall midge; 3) sawyer.
How to get rid of kidney mites.
To get rid of kidney mites, you need to prepare a solution with colloidal sulfur. To do this you need: dilute thirty grams of colloidal sulfur in ten liters of water.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The disadvantages of Belarusian sugar gardeners include the presence of thorns, low resistance to anthracnose and powdery mildew. There are many more advantages.
Positive characteristics of the variety:
- Frost resistance down to -29°C:
- adaptability to adverse weather conditions, rapid recovery from drought, freezing;
- high productivity;
- sweet taste, thin skin of the fruit;
- versatility of purpose;
- large-fruited.
The advantages of gooseberries include ease of care and 65 percent self-pollination.
April
Plant gooseberry seedlings
In the earliest possible time, before the buds begin to bloom, you can still have time to plant gooseberry seedlings if you were unable to do this in the fall. For berry bushes in the middle zone, planting in the fall is most favorable, but, as a last resort, you can do this in early spring.
Fill the planting site with fertilizers - 4-5 kg of humus or compost, 50-80 g of superphosphate, 30-40 g of ammonium nitrate, 20-30 g of potassium sulfate or 100-120 g of complex mineral fertilizer. You can add ash and, if necessary (on acidic soils), lime materials. Dig up the soil with fertilizers to a depth of 20-25 cm, dig a hole 30-40 cm deep and about 50 cm wide. At the same time, set the top fertile layer of soil aside, and then place it at the bottom of the hole, filling it about 3/4 full.
Before planting, inspect the roots, trim the dried roots and place the seedling in water for 2-3 hours. If the root system is weak, treat the plant with any root formation stimulator, according to the instructions (add the drug to the water or sprinkle the roots with powder). When planting, deepen the bush by 6-8 cm, this stimulates the growth of additional roots and shoots. Fill the space between the roots with soil, water (5-10 liters of water per bush) and mulch the surface with peat and sawdust to retain moisture. Trim the seedling, leaving 4-5 buds on each shoot.
