Gooseberry variety Black Negus
Black Negus is a mid-season gooseberry variety. The berries ripen at the end of June and the harvest is harvested within 3-4 weeks. The bushes begin to bear fruit 2-4 years after planting, the yield is 7-8 kg of berries per bush.
Fruits picked at the stage of technical maturity are stored in the refrigerator or cellar for 20-25 days, fully ripe berries - 3-4 days.
Brief history of origin and distribution
Gooseberry Black Negus was bred in the 20s. XX century biologist and breeder I.V. Michurin as a result of crossing the Krasilny and Anibut varieties.
Reference. The variety is not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation.
Features of the variety
Gooseberry Grushenka - features and characteristics
Gooseberries of the Black Negus variety begin to bloom in May. The berries will all ripen at the same time in late July - early August. During the ripening period, the bush looks very beautiful: black berries densely cover the branches of the gooseberry, do not crack from rain and can hang until late autumn.
Important! Black Negus begins to bear fruit early, with good care already in the second year. The yield of one bush can reach 7-8 kg.
Taste qualities
Black negus has an unusual taste: the berries are sweet and sour, similar to Isabella grapes, and have a bright aroma unique to this variety.
Drought and frost resistance
Since this gooseberry variety was bred in Russia, it is distinguished by its frost resistance. It is not afraid of the Russian winter: neither frosts down to −25 ° C, nor spring frosts, nor cold winds, so this variety has taken root in all regions of the country.
Black negus can rightfully be called a drought-resistant plant, but drying out of the soil affects the amount of harvest.
Resistance to diseases and pests
This black gooseberry acquired immunity to diseases and pests from its American “relative”. Spherotheca, rust and other fungal diseases are not capable of harming it
Use of berries
The bright color and original, rich taste of the Black Negus fruits have found their place in cooking. It is used as a food coloring; gooseberries are also used to make various wines and tinctures. Wine from Black Negus has a bright grape taste and aroma, as well as a velvety wine color.
Gooseberry jam
The berries of the Black Negus contain many useful substances, and the amount of vitamin C in it is greater than in ordinary gooseberries, so it is used for making juices, compotes and jam.
Note! Darker berries contain more nutrients.
Characteristics and description of bushes
The plant is a spreading bush, reaching 2 m in height and 3 m in width. The shoots are strong, durable, arched, grow vertically, covered with single shoots or collected in bunches of 2-3 pieces. sharp numerous spines 2 cm long.
The leaf blades are 3- or 5-lobed, large, pubescent, bright green in color with a slightly wrinkled upper surface. The petioles are thin, long, uncolored.
During flowering, which occurs in May, 1- or 2-flowered inflorescences appear on the bushes.
Temperature resistance
Bushes and fruit buds tolerate returning spring frosts and a decrease in air temperature in winter to -25°C, which indicates the possibility of successful cultivation of the variety both in central Russia and in northern regions with colder climates.
Moisture and drought resistance
Black Negus bushes experience short-term drought, but drying out of the soil negatively affects the quality and quantity of the harvest. Waterlogging of the soil leads to rotting of the root system.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to powdery mildew and rust, but as a result of violation of care rules or due to unfavorable weather conditions, it can be affected by scab, various types of spotting, and anthracnose. Among the pests that pose a danger to the Black Negus are spider mites, aphids, gall midges, moths, moths, sawflies, borers, cutworms, etc.
Diseases and pests
Grossular is resistant to powdery mildew and most viral diseases, but for prevention you can use the preparations “Topaz” and “Karaton” twice a year (before flowering and after harvesting).
Did you know? At the beginning of the last century, American powdery mildew destroyed almost all gooseberry plantings. But even after breeders developed new disease-resistant varieties, the shrub was unable to regain its former popularity.
But pests can actively attack this variety. The most dangerous include the following:
- Spider mite. It appears in the spring on the back of the leaf, then envelops the entire plant in a cobweb. It sucks out all the juice from the leaves, causing them to turn yellow and quickly wither. A mixture of soap and wormwood will help you cope with the parasite. Half a bucket of bitter wormwood is soaked in 10 liters of water, infused for 30 minutes and boiled. After cooling, the solution is mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio and 40 g of soap is added.
- Shoot aphid. Symptoms include deformation of the leaf blade and lumps of leaves on the tips of the shoots. It is in them that aphids live and reproduce. To combat the pest, the drugs “Fufanon”, “Iskra” or a mixture of 300 g of garlic and 10 liters of water are used.
- Gooseberry moth. Its caterpillars destroy the leaf down to the petioles, after which they leave for the winter. In this case, you need to carefully remove and burn fallen leaves. A good folk remedy is a tincture of tobacco and laundry soap. If there are a lot of pests, then it is better to use the Karbofos solution. The first spraying is carried out in early spring, the second - in summer, but only if new caterpillars appear.
Characteristics and description of fruits
The berries are pear-shaped, weigh no more than 2-2.5 g, covered with soft, hairless, greenish skin with a bluish waxy coating of medium thickness. After full ripening, the fruits become dark purple, almost black, matte.
The pulp is burgundy-red, characterized by a balanced sweet and slightly sour taste and a bright fruity aroma.
Areas of their application
Black negus forms fruits of universal use. The berries are consumed fresh, ground with sugar, and used to make jam, jam, juices, cocktails, compotes, liqueurs and wine.
Reference. Overripe fruits are suitable for making wine - they contain more sugar necessary for fermentation.
Rubric “Question-answer”
Question No. 1. When and how to plant gooseberries?
In order to plant gooseberries, buy two-year-old bushes or strong two-year-old cuttings. In this case, pay special attention to the roots, which should be no shorter than 20 centimeters. The bushes must have 2-3 strong shoots, the length of which is at least 30 centimeters, and several buds.
Tip #2. Many gardeners believe that autumn planting is much more effective. The best period for this is the end of September and the first ten days of October.
Question No. 2. Is it possible to plant bushes in both spring and autumn?
Before the onset of cold weather, the root system has time to get stronger and take root, so in the spring the bush begins to grow and develop rapidly. And the main thing with spring planting is not to be late. You need to plant the plant while it is dormant. " Gooseberry buds bloom very early, so planting should be done before the beginning of April. However, remember: after spring planting, the plant takes root much worse.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the Black Negus gooseberry:
- high degree of frost resistance;
- adaptability to different climatic conditions;
- resistance to powdery mildew, rust;
- high productivity;
- pleasant, balanced taste of berries;
- lack of tendency to cracking and crumbling;
- long and regular fruiting;
- transportability, shelf life, possibility of universal use of the crop.
Among the disadvantages of the variety, only small fruit and strong thorny shoots are noted, which complicates harvesting and caring for bushes.
Growing technology
One of the undeniable advantages of this gooseberry is its unpretentiousness. Caring for Black Negus bushes involves proper planting of seedlings and compliance with standard agrotechnical requirements: timely watering, fertilization, pruning and preventive treatment of plants against diseases and pests.
Optimal conditions
For planting, choose an open, well-lit place, protected from gusty winds, with a groundwater depth of 0.9-2 m. The ideal figure is 1.5 m.
The variety does not have any special requirements for soil composition, but develops better in light, loose, fertile soil with a neutral or weak degree of acidity. The best option is sandstones and loams. Coarse river sand is first added to soil with a high clay content.
Reference. Gooseberries are not planted after raspberries and currants; the best predecessors are tomatoes, corn, eggplants, peppers, peas, potatoes, beans, grains or green manure.
Landing dates and rules
Planting of the Black Negus is carried out in the fall, when the leaves begin to fall. Spring planting is acceptable, but in this case the plants take root less well and are more susceptible to frost.
When choosing planting material, preference is given to 2-year-old seedlings with strong roots, without signs of disease, pest damage, rot or other damage. A day before planting, the root system of seedlings is soaked in a nutrient solution (4 tablespoons of sodium humate per 5 liters of water or 250 ml of Zircon per 1 liter of water).
Landing rules:
- Within 2 weeks, clear the selected area of debris and plant debris and dig deep.
- Form planting holes measuring 50x50 cm.
- Mix the excavated soil with humus or compost, add nitrogen and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, for example nitrophoska at the rate of 250 ml per 1 bush.
- Pour the resulting soil mixture into the holes, place the seedling in the center, straighten its roots, sprinkle with soil, deepening the root collar by 5-6 cm.
- Water the plants, mulch the ground with a mixture of peat, sand and humus or freshly cut grass.
- Trim the shoots, leaving branches no more than 10 cm long with 5-6 buds.
The distance between bushes should be at least 1.5 m.
Further care
During dry periods, gooseberries are watered 3-5 times a month at the rate of 10 liters of water for each bush, with sufficient rainfall several times per season: during flowering, at the beginning of berry formation, after harvesting and before wintering.
Reference. The sprinkling method is not used; water is poured strictly under the roots of the bushes.
Fertilizers are applied according to the following scheme:
- spring - ammonium nitrate or urea (15-20 g per 1 sq. m);
- summer - wood ash (250 ml per 1 sq. m), potassium sulfate (20 g per 1 sq. m) or superphosphate (30 g per 1 sq. m);
- autumn - humus (5-6 kg per 1 sq. m).
During the formation of berries, foliar feeding is used: 2 g of copper sulfate, 2.5 g of boric acid, 10 g of manganese sulfate, 3 g of zinc sulfate, 3 g of ammonium molybdate per 10 liters of water. Consumption - 2-3 per bush.
Due to the strong thorniness of the shoots and the high density of plants, it is difficult to care for them and harvest them, so they use the standard method of forming bushes. To do this, keep 1 vertical shoot as a conductor, cut off others near the ground, and then allow branching to be no lower than a height of 25-30 cm, removing the lower buds and root shoots. With this forming, the gooseberry is unstable, so it is tied to a support.
Standard pruning is also allowed, in which several shoots are preserved and periodically renewed. In the spring, to stimulate the growth of bushes, the central branches are shortened by 30%.
Sanitary pruning involves removing all old, weak, damaged shoots that grow inside the crown.
Possible problems, diseases, pests
Despite strong immunity, unfavorable weather conditions and violation of the rules of care lead to damage to the bushes by scab, rust, various spots, anthracnose and other diseases. Gooseberries suffer from attacks by pests: spider mites, aphids, gall midges, moths, moths, sawflies, borers, cutworms, etc.
To prevent the development of diseases and pest attacks after the snow melts during the swelling of the buds and before the start of flowering, the bushes are sprayed with preparations with fungicidal, insecticidal and acaricidal effects: urea, copper sulfate, colloidal sulfur or biological products such as “Gaupsin”, “Trichodermin”, “ Bitoxibacillin”, “Phytodoctor”, etc.
Wintering
Black Negus bushes do not need winter shelter. Pre-winter preparation for this variety of gooseberry consists of clearing the ground of fallen leaves, berries, weeds and other organic residues, abundant watering (at least 20 liters of water for each bush), digging the trunk circle with half a spade and mulching.
Features of seasonal care
Black negus needs rare but abundant watering: 3-5 times per season, up to 10-30 liters of water at the root of each bush. If the summer is dry, then the plant needs to be watered more often.
They begin to fertilize gooseberries 1-2 years after planting. Fertilizing is done 2 times a year: in the spring, until the buds open, and in the fall.
Black gooseberry is a very prickly plant, therefore, to get rid of frequent loosening and weeding, the tree trunk circles are covered with mulch.
Growing gooseberries on trellises
Growing gooseberries on trellises makes harvesting easier and speeds up the ripening of the berries. The branches of the bush are arranged in a fan, directing them upward evenly along the surface of the trellis at a distance of approximately 20 cm from each other.
Spraying the bush with an infusion of orange peels, onion peels, or a solution of the Baikal-EM-1 preparation will protect it from aphids.
In early spring and on the eve of winter, the Black Negus needs to be pruned, all weakened branches, small shoots and non-fruiting shoots must be promptly removed. For branches aged from 2 to 7 years, anti-aging pruning should be carried out. In spring, it is advisable to shorten the top of the bush by 1/3.
Note! To increase the size of the berries, you can trim the green shoots in the summer, leaving 5-7 leaves on them.
To prepare gooseberries for winter, it is enough to prune and water the plant generously. The amount of water on the eve of frost increases the heat capacity of the soil, and the soil freezes more slowly.
Autumn pruning of gooseberries
Reproduction
Gooseberry Black negus is propagated vegetatively:
- By layering. Select a strong, healthy young shoot growing at the bottom of the bush, bend it to the ground and sprinkle it with soil. After roots have formed on the layering at the site of bud formation, it is separated from the parent plant and planted in a permanent place.
- By shoots. On bushes older than 9 years, branches growing close to the base are cut off, and then they are rooted.
- Dividing the bush. A mother plant older than 8 years is dug up, divided into several parts so that each has a root system, and then planted in a permanent place.
Gooseberry diseases
Resistant to powdery mildew and fungal diseases, Prune gooseberry is susceptible to anthracnose and goblet rust. The latter is manifested by orange-brown pads appearing on the leaves, and anthracnose - by numerous small, but rapidly increasing brown spots. When the first signs of this disease appear, the plant is treated with insecticides containing copper, for example, copper sulfate and Bordeaux mixture. If the damage is severe, the branches must be removed and burned.
It is necessary to keep the beds and tree trunks clean, free of weeds and plant debris. According to many gardeners, it is very effective to water the gooseberries with boiling water, or rather hot water (80–90°C), in early spring before the buds open. This will destroy pest larvae and fungal spores that overwinter on the plant and in the soil. After watering the plant with boiling water, the tree trunk circle should be covered with film and the covering should not be removed until mid-June. This will delay the flight of moths, moths, and gooseberry sawflies living in the ground.
When aphids, currant borers or glass borers appear on the shoots, it is necessary to use a solution of laundry soap with ash.
Reviews from summer residents
Gardeners fell in love with this gooseberry variety, which is confirmed by positive reviews.
Ekaterina, Bryansk : “A neighbor gave me several seedlings of the Black Negus. I planted them at the end of summer, and they did well until frost. Already 3 years after planting, we tried the berries of this gooseberry. It is not difficult to care for the bushes, but you need to get used to it because of the thorns. Overall, I’m satisfied with the variety.”
Maxim, Murmansk : “We have been growing this gooseberry for a long time - more than 10 years. The berries are small, of course, but this is a very minor drawback compared to the advantages of the variety. It’s not difficult to care for the bushes, they begin to bear fruit quickly and do so for a long time, the berries are tasty and sweet.”
Irina, Podolsk : “My godfather bought seedlings of the Black Negus, and I also decided to take a couple. I planted them in early September and by winter they had taken root well. The first harvest, although very small, was harvested in the 4th year, and then there were much more berries. Gooseberries are very tasty, my grandchildren adore them.”
Feeding and watering
Despite the fact that black gooseberries do not like excessive moisture, they need to be watered. Watering is especially important in the first year of a plant’s life. In the first year, gooseberries require abundant and systematic watering. To determine soil moisture, you need to make a small hole next to the gooseberry and remove a small lump of soil from it. It needs to be squeezed tightly in your hand, then raised above the ground about a meter and dropped down. If the lump remains intact or falls apart into several large parts, the soil is sufficiently moist. If the lump has fallen apart into many small pieces, the soil is dry and requires watering.
Adult gooseberry bushes should be watered well until the berries begin to swell, after which the gooseberries are watered minimally. This is done so that the fruits are sweet.
Complex mineral fertilizers, which contain an optimal, balanced amount of nutrients, are ideal for feeding black gooseberries. All fertilizing can be divided into spring, summer and autumn. Spring feeding is carried out twice. The first feeding is carried out even before the buds begin to bloom, approximately in March-April. The second feeding is carried out before the gooseberries begin to bloom, in May. Summer feeding is carried out in June. Autumn feeding is carried out in the second half of September or early October.
