Russian red gooseberry: secrets of getting a bountiful harvest

Description of Russian red gooseberry variety

The shrub reaches a height of 1.5–1.8 meters. The shoots are spreading, covered with thorns in the lower part. The leaves are green, pubescent. After flowering, clusters with one or two fruits covered with a waxy coating are formed on the branches.

The weight of tender and aromatic berries varies between 3–6 grams. Their shape is oval, the skin color is dark red, the taste is sweet and sour. Pronounced pink veins run along the entire length of the fruit. Ripe berries have the ability to hang on the branches for a long time without falling off.

Thornless varieties

It's a shame when crops are left on the branches because they are difficult to harvest. The gooseberry reliably protects itself with sharp thorns. However, breeders were able to develop varieties completely without thorns.

African

In addition to resistance to harsh conditions and diseases, this gooseberry variety boasts another advantage - it has a record low number of thorns on its branches. The bush is low and spreading. The fruits are small (2-2.5 g), dark purple in color, ripen in mid-July. The taste is mediocre, with sourness, notes of black currant, but a very bright aroma. Suitable for making wine.

With an average yield of about 5 kg per plant, the variety is characterized by early fruiting and can begin to bear fruit as early as 1 year after planting. It is affected by anthracnose and can withstand frosts down to -30 °C.

Grushenka

The variety is characterized by good frost resistance. Resistant to almost all known viral and fungal diseases of gooseberries. Completely self-fertile, yield reaches 7 kg per plant.

The bushes are medium-sized, spreading, shoots practically without thorns. The berries have a characteristic round shape that resembles a pear. The ripe fruits are dark purple in color, weighing 4–5 g. The harvest begins in July.

Naughty

The best of the thornless ones. It differs from its fellows in the complete absence of thorns. It produces a rich harvest (up to 7 kg), the fruits are yellowish-green and reach 8 g. They have a thick skin, so it is better to process the hard, sweet and sour Shalun berries for processing - you get aromatic jam.

Due to its unpretentiousness and frost resistance, it is excellent for regions with unstable climates. Fruits from the age of 3 years.

The variety is self-fertile, medium ripening, resistant to powdery mildew.

Chernomor

Tall spreading bushes of this thornless variety reach 1.5 m in height and require constant thinning. The berries are medium-sized (4 g), dark red, black when fully ripe, oval in shape.

Ripe fruits with a sweet and sour taste and thin skin. The ripe crop does not fall from the branches, but quickly bakes in the sun. Advantages include high winter hardiness, resistance to powdery mildew and drought. The variety has a medium-late ripening period; 3–4 kg of berries can be harvested from the plant per season.

Kolobok

A very fruitful variety of medium ripening, the yield per bush with proper care reaches 8–9 kg. The fruits are large (6–8 g) and medium (4 g) dark red in color. The tearing is easy, the berries do not fall off. The bushes are spreading, tall and dense. The shoots are curved, almost without thorns.

Among the disadvantages - Kolobok is not resistant to heat, it reacts poorly to frequent thaws followed by cold snaps.

Pax

The best early ripening hybrid, capable of growing on trellises. The first two years it develops with thorns, then they fall off. The fruits are large (10 g), oval-shaped, bright red, with veining. The variety is high-yielding, even in unfavorable conditions it produces up to 5 kg of berries per bush.

Pax tolerates both dry, hot summers and frosty winters. Resistant to powdery mildew and fungal diseases. One of the peculiarities of care is that it requires constant thinning of branches, as it tends to overgrow.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of Russian red gooseberries include the following characteristics:

• unpretentiousness in cultivation;
• the ability to bear fruit abundantly for 15 years;
• good immunity;
• drought and frost resistance;
• high productivity;
• versatility of berries;
• self-fertility.

No negative qualities were noted.

Diseases and pests

Despite its resistance to powdery mildew, the Russian Yellow gooseberry variety requires preventive measures.

Timely prevention will minimize the susceptibility of shrubs to diseases and attacks by insect pests.

Preventative treatment

Fungicides, insecticides, insectofungicides, urea or boiling water - any remedy in early spring will help the seedlings resist diseases and parasites. Treatment with both chemical and biological preparations will provide the plant with enhanced immunity.

Landing Features

To plant Russian red gooseberries, select a well-lit place. Since crops can be affected by fungal diseases when moisture stagnates, groundwater should not come closer than 1.5 meters to the soil surface.

Deadlines

You can plant gooseberries in open ground in spring and autumn. The advantage of spring planting is that the bushes have time to take root before the onset of frost. When carrying out the procedure in the fall, the tree trunk circle around the seedling is mulched.

Site preparation

The area intended for planting gooseberries is cleared of debris. Dig a hole 50 centimeters deep and wide. If several shrubs are planted, an interval of at least 1.4 meters is left between the holes.

Selection of seedlings

You need to purchase planting material from specialized stores or plant nurseries. Seedlings should be 1–2 years old. On high-quality bushes, 3–4 shoots are formed, the root system is well developed.

Step by step process

Gooseberries are planted as follows:

1. A drainage of small stones is laid at the bottom of the hole.
2. A layer of loose, fertile soil is poured on top.
3. The roots of the plant are lightly trimmed and the seedling is placed in the hole at a slight angle.
4. Cover the gooseberries with soil, which is then lightly compacted.
5. The tree trunk circle is watered abundantly.

5–7 buds are left above the surface of the earth, the rest are removed.

Plant care

In order for gooseberries to grow quickly and bear fruit abundantly, they require care: watering, loosening the soil, fertilizing, pruning. To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, it must be sprayed with fungicides and insecticides.

Watering

Gooseberries require moderate watering. At different stages of development, the plant has different needs for moisture. The crop especially needs watering during the following periods:

• in spring, during the active growth of young shoots;
• after flowering;
• at the initial stage of fruit formation;
• after harvest.

During the rainy season, the crop does not need watering.

Top dressing

They begin to fertilize the bushes in early spring. For this purpose, nitrogen-containing substances are used, which give impetus to the growth of shoots. The next feeding is done before flowering with potassium fertilizers. After flowering and harvesting, organic matter is used.

Trimming

The next year after planting, the shoots are cut off by half. Gooseberries tolerate pruning well: many new branches form on it over the summer. Dry, damaged stems are constantly removed. All branches older than 5 years are cut to the stump.

Shelter for the winter

Russian red is a frost-resistant gooseberry variety. Only young seedlings require shelter. In order for the shrub to safely overwinter, it is fed after harvesting and watered abundantly in late autumn. When cold weather sets in, the tree trunk circle is mulched with horse humus.

Diseases and pests

Russian red gooseberry has good immunity. Bushes can become infected with pathogenic microorganisms only due to errors in care on the part of the gardener, as well as under unfavorable climatic conditions throughout the season. Most often, plants are affected by the following diseases and pests:

1. Anthracnose . A sign of the disease is the appearance of small brown spots on the leaf blades. Gradually, the spots grow, the leaf withers and falls off. Copper-containing preparations are used to prevent and treat anthracnose.
2. Mosaic . Light yellow spots appear along the veins of the leaf blades with this disease. Then the leaf becomes smaller and wrinkles. If signs of mosaic appear on the bush, they need to be uprooted and burned: viral diseases cannot be treated. To increase immunity, gooseberries are fertilized several times a season.
3. Aphid . Small insects feed on the sap of the leaves, weakening the plants. To destroy them, folk remedies are used: garlic infusion, soap solution. If there are too many pests, insecticides are used.

To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, fallen leaves are removed from the tree trunk circle, a disinfected tool is used for pruning, and the bushes are sprayed with copper-containing preparations in the spring.

Characteristic

Russian yellow is one of the most productive varieties. It is winter-hardy and tolerates drought well. The variety loves sunny weather and does not tolerate frequent watering.

The bush of “Russian Yellow” is quite spreading and requires staking or support. On the one hand, this is a minus, on the other hand, it is a plus, since you can grow the plant upward, thereby saving space on the site.

The shoots of the bush are straight, they do not spread to the side. There are thorns on the stems and, unfortunately, they make harvesting difficult, especially in hard-to-reach places.

The leaves are medium sized and bright green. The edges are slightly curved, the sheet itself is a little shiny. The structure of the leaf plate is very dense, leather-like. This structure is perhaps the main reason why the variety is rarely affected by powdery mildew.

The berries of Russian Yellow are universal. They can be used either raw or made into fruit drinks, wine, jams, preserves, etc.

On average, a berry weighs from 6 to 8 grams. Moreover, all the fruits have a beautiful, even shape, which is especially valued in the market. The shape of the berries is rounded and elongated, resembling an ellipse. There is no pubescence on the surface, but there is a light waxy coating.

The skin is very thin. When the berry is fully ripe, its internal structure becomes visible. But despite this type of skin, the berries are still easy to transport without losing their marketable qualities.

The variety is classified as mid-season. But despite this, the berries can remain on the bush for a long time without losing their qualities. Long-term fruiting, resistance to cracking and shedding allow the berry to be consumed for about 30 days.

In addition, the variety has fairly good immunity. It is protected from most fungal diseases and is also very rarely attacked by insects.

Harvesting

According to reviews from summer residents, in the central zone berries begin to ripen from the 20th of July. When they turn dark red, they begin to harvest. The weather during the procedure should be warm and sunny. 3–5 kilograms of fruits are collected from one bush.

After harvesting, the berries are sorted and dry and spoiled ones are discarded. Gooseberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The fruits can be used to make compote, jam, use for baking confectionery, dry, or freeze.

Russian red gooseberries are popular because of their delicious berries, frost resistance, and ease of care. Having studied information about growing crops and applying knowledge in practice, the gardener will soon be able to harvest the first harvest of fragrant fruits from the bush.

• Author: le68na
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Reviews from gardeners

Angelina Igorevna, Voronezh, 43 years old.

Last year I tried Russian yellow. The color of the fruit is green-yellow, the shape is oval, not elongated. I really liked the taste, so delicate, sourish-sweet. Out of 5 points I would easily give 4.5. This year I’m thinking of growing it on my site.

Igor Viktorovich, Kyiv, 32 years old.

I have been growing Russian Yellow for 4 years now. The variety is excellent. The berries are suitable both for fresh consumption and for storing for the winter. Another thing I like is that the berries last a very long time in the refrigerator. Over time, the bush grows and becomes spreading. Every spring I normalize it, thanks to this the berries grow larger. There are thorns on the branches, but not very many of them, so picking gooseberries is difficult, but not critical. By the way, there are no thorns on the young branches. I recommend the variety.