Gooseberry variety Plum: description, advantages and disadvantages, care, yield, photo

History of variety development

This is an almost thornless domestic variety of gooseberry, obtained at the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after. I. V. Michurina. It was created in 1992 under the leadership of K. Sergeeva. When Plum and Plum 259-23 were crossed, a variety appeared that inherited unpretentiousness, vitality, unusual flavor and large berries from its parents.

Since the year of its creation, the Prune Plum variety has been recorded in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and was created for the regions: Central, Middle Volga and Ural.

Description of the variety

The bushes of the “Prune Plum” variety are not too spreading, of medium density, and grow to almost one and a half meters. The branches are directed to the sides, with a slight downward slope, young shoots stretch upward at a right angle. The spines are single, thick and sparse. Localized in the lower part of the shoot.

Inflorescences are formed from one or three medium-sized flowers. The variety is self-pollinating, with a mid-early ripening period. It has a long fruiting period.

The fruits are oval in shape and quite large in size - can reach 2 cm in diameter. The skin of the berries is dense, covered with a thin waxy coating. As the fruits ripen, their color changes: young berries are deep red in color, ripe fruits are almost black. The veins on the berry are sparse, have a lighter shade, and are almost invisible on mature dark-colored fruits.

Fruit sugar content ranges from 8.6 to 10.5%, acidity is about 2.2%. The berries taste sweet and sour with the taste and aroma of prunes, and have a sweet aftertaste.

Productivity

The yield of gooseberries "Prunes" is not very high. One bush produces no more than 4 kg of fruit over the summer. The harvest volume may vary from year to year, starting from 1.5 kg. But the fruits of this variety are never small.

Healthy! Despite the fact that gooseberries have the ability to self-pollinate, the presence of bushes of other varieties on the site can increase the volume of the harvest.

Advantages and disadvantages

This variety has many advantages:

• “Prune” is not susceptible to powdery mildew. It shows less, but very good resistance to anthracnose.
• Excellent frost resistance, bushes can survive temperatures down to -34°C.

Attention! However, reviews from those gardeners who have been growing this variety for several years claim that such temperature shocks affect gooseberry yields. The same can be said about hot summers.

• A small number of thorns and their location allows for comfortable harvesting.
• The Prune bush bears fruit for a long time.
• The successful balance of sugar and acid content in the fruit provides them with excellent taste.
• The original taste of berries distinguishes the variety from others.

The disadvantages include:

• Low yields.
• Harvest instability.

Characteristics

The gooseberry variety Prune Plum is characterized by the following features:

1. The variety is mid-season and universal, the use of which is varied.
2. One bush brings a harvest of up to 3-4 kg of berries, which depends on its age and size.
3. It stores well and can be transported over long distances.
4. Frost-resistant: able to withstand temperatures down to -34 o C.
5. According to the tasting assessment, out of 5 possible points, gooseberries score 4.2.
6. It has a taste vaguely similar to prunes (hence the name).
7. Brings a stable harvest only in favorable climatic conditions.
8. If not properly cared for, it gets sick, but is resistant to powdery mildew.

Productivity

The yield of Prune gooseberry is not stable and depends not only on climatic conditions, but also on proper and thoughtful care, and timely implementation of all necessary agrotechnical measures. It varies significantly in different years and ranges from 5.4 to 14 t/ha.

Drought resistance and winter hardiness

The gooseberry variety is winter-hardy and suitable for growing in central Russia. In snowy winters it does not require shelter and can withstand t = -34C. Prune plum is not a drought-resistant variety: during prolonged drought, the roots stop growing and the yield decreases. The earthen ball must be kept moist at all times, this is especially important during the ripening period of the berries.

Resistance to pests and diseases

Prune is rarely more susceptible to powdery mildew, but is not resistant to anthracnose. It is affected by pests, so constant preventive inspection of the plant is important.

Maturation period

Gooseberries have a medium ripening period, which is convenient for northern latitudes. Berry picking begins in mid-July if the summer is warm. In cool conditions, fruiting is delayed by 1-2 weeks.

Transportability

Due to the thick skin and dense pulp, the fruits of the Prune Plum variety are transported over considerable distances, keeping them unchanged.

Characteristics, description

The Plum gooseberry variety is a vigorous bush with a compact crown. The shrub grows with erect shoots with thick thorns located along the entire length. Gooseberry leaves are dark green, pubescent, with short teeth and a faint matte sheen (glossy ones are also found). Leaf platinum - 5-bladed.

The variety is large-fruited - ripe berries weigh up to 6.5 g. The fruits are round-oval, brown-red in color - they are also called red plum or prune (when overripe).

The skin is elastic, has weak veins and a light waxy coating, and the flesh is juicy. The fruit tastes sweet with a gentle sourness and has a plum aroma. According to the tasting scale, taste qualities are rated at 4.2 points out of 5 possible.

The special value of gooseberry fruits lies in their chemical composition and healing properties. The berry contains a large percentage of vitamins A, B, C, as well as useful minerals (manganese, potassium, copper, phosphorus).

At the same time, the calorie content of the product is quite low (44 kcal per 100 g), so it is prescribed for diets. It has been proven that gooseberries can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases by a third, and significantly strengthen the immune system.

Important! Eating gooseberries should be limited to people suffering from exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, ulcers and gastritis. It is also not recommended for nursing mothers to consume it, as gooseberries can cause flatulence in infants.

Landing Features

The gooseberry variety Prune, like any shrub, can be planted both in spring and autumn. In autumn, young bushes take root better, gradually adapting to a new place. Planting is carried out before cold weather for better rooting.

In the spring, propagation activities are carried out, rooting cuttings. To do this, shoots are cut off and placed in special conditions. By autumn, roots have formed and young plants are planted for permanent “residence”.

When planting Prune gooseberries, the following activities are carried out:

• select an open, well-lit area located at least 2 m from young trees or 1.5 m from the fence (fence);
• gooseberries love light soils without stagnant moisture, so the area for planting is prepared in advance;
• under the Prune bush, dig a 50x40 hole, into which a fertile mixture of compost, wood ash, sand, and peat is poured;
• before planting, the root system is treated with an antibacterial solution (Barrier, Ideal);
• a gooseberry bush is lowered into the hole, sprinkled with the same nutrient composition, not compacted, watered;
• the root collar is buried 5 cm;
• branches on bushes are cut, leaving up to 5 buds on each;
• On the eve of frost, Prune gooseberries are hilled up and mulched so that the root system does not freeze.

The root system of the bushes is located in one layer of soil, which has exhausted its supply of nutrients. In addition, gooseberries and raspberries suffer from the same diseases and spores can remain in the soil.

Features of seasonal care

Plum gooseberry does not require increased attention from humans. Nevertheless, in order to protect the crop from diseases and provide it with normal conditions for development and fruiting, care is necessary.

Soil care

Gooseberries are sensitive to moist soil, so they need periodic watering. After planting, the bushes are watered especially intensively - 10–12 liters of water for each planting 3 times a week.

Recommended reading

Spring gooseberry care: pruning, fertilizing and mulching, diseases and pests By the end of spring, if there is no drought, watering can be reduced to 1-2 times a week. Before budding, one moisture-charging watering will not hurt, when 20–25 liters of water are added to each plant.

In summer, watering depends on the amount of precipitation; you need to check the soil regularly - it should be moist, but not wet.

You can take a break during the fruiting period - excess soil moisture can give the berries a sour taste.

The soil under the bushes is loosened once every 2-3 weeks, but not deeply, so as not to damage the roots.

This is necessary so that a soil crust does not form and air flows freely to the rhizome. Simultaneously with loosening, the area is weeded, getting rid of weeds.

Preventative treatment

Preventive treatment of gooseberries is aimed at eliminating factors that can provoke crop disease. First of all, it’s about keeping the plantings in proper condition.

Throughout the season, the bushes should be inspected, thinned out so that they do not turn into thickets, watering rules should be followed, and fertilizing should be applied on time.

In addition to these basic points, periodic treatment of gooseberries with biological and chemical preparations is required. At the beginning of March, the bushes are sprayed with hot water (+70°C), and, a couple of weeks later, with a 2% solution of Bordeaux mixture.

In the fall, after pruning, the plants are treated with copper sulfate. Throughout the entire season (except for the fruiting period), drugs such as “Profilaktin” and “Fitoverm” can be used for prevention.

Feeding

Gooseberries are fertilized starting from the 2nd year . After winter sleep, the plant needs a lot of strength to grow shoots. During this period, the bushes need organic fertilizing - 6-7 kg of compost or manure is added to each bush.

Before budding begins, the soil near each bush is fertilized with 5 liters of mullein solution, which is prepared at the rate of 20 g of product per 10 liters of water.

After harvesting, plants that have lost a lot of strength during the season need mineral fertilizers. You can purchase complex formulations with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Support

Organizing the support will allow the gooseberry to develop better - the bush will look neat, be well ventilated and warmed up. During fruiting, the side stems can bend to the ground and take root, but the garter of the bush will not allow this.

Check out

Fencing (bush holder) for gooseberries: types, how to make
The support can be made in two ways.
The first is good for single-growing specimens: wooden stakes (4-5 pieces) are driven around the bush, which are wrapped in three rows of wire with the height of the upper tier about 1.5 m, and the lower one 50–60 cm from the ground.

Being in such a fence, the bush will significantly save space on the site.

The second method is trellis, used if several shrubs are planted in a row. Supports are driven in along the edges of the row, between which wire is also pulled in 3 rows.

As the shoots grow, they are evenly distributed along the trellis, secured with twine. This type of support makes harvesting easier.

Trimming

Starting from the age of 2 years, gooseberries need to be pruned. Two main procedures for trimming shrubs are carried out in autumn and spring. In the spring-summer period, the plant produces many new shoots and can turn into thickets in a couple of years without human intervention. As a result, the bush is poorly illuminated by the sun, the fruits become smaller, and diseases progress at full speed.

Did you know? Gooseberries can be grown in standard form, turning them into a decorative tree. To do this, you initially need to leave one strong shoot, which will eventually become a trunk, and constantly cut off the rest of the shoots.

Spring pruning is preventive and is carried out very early, before the start of active growing season. Dry, damaged branches are removed from the bush, and last year’s shoots are also shortened by a third.

In the fall, gardeners face more painstaking work. After a hot summer, when the shoots are actively growing and multiplying, young weak shoots are removed from the bushes, which will not have time to form good skeletal branches before winter, but will take away the necessary nutrients from the plant. Old shoots with shredded berries are also trimmed.

In addition to spring-autumn pruning, throughout the summer it is necessary to monitor the bush, remove dried, weak shoots or those affected by diseases.

Rules of care

Measures for caring for gooseberries of the Prune plum variety are traditional. The main ones are: watering, loosening, mulching, destruction of weeds. But this gooseberry variety, like any other, requires additional agrotechnical measures.

Support

The Prune gooseberry needs support when the bush grows and the lower branches end up on the ground. They also form berries that rot and become contaminated on the soil surface. The support options are different, but the result is the same: the bush becomes more compact, and the harvest is preserved in full.

Top dressing

For this variety, the recommended feeding regime is shown in the table:

Plant care

Timely and regular care of gooseberry seedlings of the Plum variety will ensure healthy growth and protect against adverse environmental influences. In addition, it should be remembered that the quality and quantity of the future harvest also depends on care.

Watering

Despite the high resistance of the Plum gooseberry to dry weather, it needs regular watering. This is especially true for the period of formation and ripening of fruits.

Insufficient watering will reduce the abundance of the harvest and affect the richness of the taste of the berries.

It is best to water the bushes before sunrise or after sunset. The amount of watering is determined depending on the frequency of rains. Do not allow puddles or stagnant water around the plants. 2-3 waterings per week, 1 bucket for each bush, will be enough.

Trimming

To trim gooseberries you will need well-sharpened tools, garden pitch and gloves.

Proper pruning not only forms a good crown, but also affects the quality and quantity of the future harvest.

Pruning is done with garden shears, and the cut areas are treated with garden pitch.

After the first pruning during planting, annual pruning of branches is carried out in the spring (before buds open) or in the fall (after leaf fall). All branches damaged by diseases or pests, as well as old branches lying on the ground, must be cut off at the base - without stumps.

The formation of the gooseberry crown occurs by thinning its inner part. A properly formed bush should have 3–5 skeletal branches for each year of life, but not older than 10 years.

Secrets of spring pruning gooseberries - video

Top dressing

All gooseberry fertilizers should be applied in a timely manner and in the required proportions. A lack of vitamins, as well as an excess of them, will not bring the desired benefits, will reduce productivity and lead to improper growth of the bush.

Fertilizer application - table

All fertilizers begin to be applied from the third year of the plant’s life.

Shelter for the winter

Plum gooseberry is a fairly frost-resistant variety. But in order not to reduce the amount of harvest, you should take care of reliable shelter from the cold.

1. Before sheltering, 2–3 days in advance, water-recharging watering should be carried out at the rate of 2–3 buckets of water for each bush, after a day, lightly loosen the soil, and then mulch.
2. Tie the gooseberry branches into a bundle using twine, bend them to the ground and tie them to specially dug hooks, cover with burlap or any other covering material and cover with a layer of earth about 6–8 cm on top.

In the absence of snow cover, the root system of young plants may freeze, so covering the bushes is an important element of caring for gooseberries

Planting and caring for Prune gooseberry varieties in the country

Today it is rare to find a summer cottage where gooseberries have not been planted. There is always a place in the garden for tasty and healthy berries, despite the fact that the bushes can grow greatly.

When growing gooseberries on a personal plot, every summer resident wants, first of all, to receive an excellent and high-quality harvest of fruits from the bushes. But, unfortunately, not all varieties of gooseberries can please with high yields. Therefore, before planting gooseberries at your dacha, you should clearly define the type and its characteristics.

Thus, many experienced gardeners have already tried in practice such a gooseberry variety as Prune (Grossularia reclinata Chernolivovyi).

Diseases and pests

Plum gooseberry is not a weak crop; it has especially good immunity to American powdery mildew. Despite this, improper care or maintenance of plantings in poor condition sometimes provokes the occurrence of fungal infections. Diseases can also be transmitted by insect pests that are not averse to eating gooseberries.

If you find that the plant is affected by diseases (powdery mildew, rust, spotting), it should be treated with Fundazol and Topaz fungicides. Insecticides “Confidor” and “Aktara” help against harmful insects (ticks, moths, aphids, scale insects).

Gooseberries are a wonderful berry crop, the fruits of which have a dessert taste and a rich vitamin composition. By planting the Plum variety on your plot, you will have the pleasure of receiving an excellent harvest every year without spending a lot of time and effort.

Details about Prune gooseberries

This type of gooseberry is quite young, bred in 1992 by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after. Michurina. The material for selection was the varieties Plum and Plum 259-23, bred much earlier. Prune gooseberry is adapted for cultivation in the Central, Ural and Middle Volga regions of Russia.

When purchasing gooseberry seedlings in specialized stores, every second summer resident is faced with a description of the Prune gooseberry variety:

• characteristics of the bushes - medium-sized with an inclined direction of not dense branches; young shoots are thick, often straight, light green in color; old branches are light brown in color; the branches practically do not contain thorns; those present are located on the lower parts of the branches, very rare and short;
• the foliage of the variety is round in shape, medium or small in size, quite dense, does not create pubescence on the bush;
• inflorescences are of medium size, having the property of self-pollination;
• fruits are medium-sized oval or pear-shaped berries, during ripening they have a dark red tint, at the moment of full ripeness they become black in color, the berries have a waxy coating;
• the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour berries with a plum aroma and taste; used for consumption fresh or processed, as infusions, compotes, jams, wines and juices;
• yield indicator – one and a half to four kilograms per bush;
• degree of disease resistance – average;
• resistance to natural and climatic conditions - intended for cultivation in harsh conditions, winter-hardy.

Assessing all the advantages according to the description of the Prune gooseberry, few experienced summer residents refuse to plant it in their garden. However, in order to get a harvest of up to four kilograms from one bush, you need, firstly, to plant it correctly, and, secondly, subsequently learn how to care for it and properly care for it.

Fruit

The berries are medium in size, weighing on average 4–5 grams, oval-shaped, sometimes pear-shaped. The skin is rich in color, from bright red to dark purple, almost black. It is dense with a slight bluish tinge. The flesh is dark red. Prune gooseberries have an excellent taste - they are very sweet (sugar content up to 10.6%), with an unusual plum aroma and taste.

It is worth noting the beneficial properties of this variety. Traditional healers use berries to treat vitamin deficiencies, anemia, digestive disorders and other diseases. The dense peel allows the berries to be preserved for a long time; they are easily transported over long distances. The author of the variety recommends Prune gooseberries for universal use - the berries are very useful when eaten fresh, adding an original taste to jams, fruit drinks, juices, tinctures and wines.

The variety is frost-resistant, but prefers not very frosty winters, as well as not too hot summer months. At a soil temperature of +1°C, the root system is in an active state. It dies when the temperature drops to -3°C.

Features of the variety include:

• faint, almost invisible spines;
• resistance to infection by powdery mildew and spheroteca;
• high productivity, increasing every year;
• propagation by both cuttings and seedlings;
• drought and frost resistance;
• presence of a period of rest.

Correct fit

This gooseberry variety does not like shaded areas at all, so it is recommended to plant Prune gooseberries in well-lit sunny plantations. In no case should seedlings be placed under the developed crowns of old trees. Planting between young trees is allowed at a distance of up to two meters from them.

An excellent place for the development of gooseberries can be a strip along the fence at a distance of one and a half meters from it.

Prunes do not take root well in areas where the predecessors were raspberries or currants; they greatly deplete the soil. Such areas can also be the cause of the development of many diseases that are common to these types of fruit bushes.

The Prune gooseberry variety is very responsive to fertile, well-drained soils; it is not recommended to plant it in lowlands with an excess of moisture.

It is recommended to plant Prune gooseberries in the autumn (late September - early October); the winter-hardy seedling has time to strengthen and take root before the onset of cold weather.

However, you can plant gooseberries in early spring before the buds open. It is in the spring that the method of planting using cuttings is effective.

How to care

Gooseberry Date, like the Prune variety, is not capricious, but for a stable harvest it needs to be provided with favorable growing conditions. Gooseberries do not like dark conditions or waterlogged soil. At the same time, it needs abundant watering during the formation of fruits and ovaries. Feeding “out of schedule” is carried out in case of yellowing and curling of the leaves. If the plant has been affected by fungus or pests, appropriate treatment is carried out. But how to care for the Grushenka gooseberry variety, and what you should pay attention to, is outlined here.

Important nuances of growing:

• Loosening must be carried out frequently, but at a short distance from the surface. The root system is located quite high, so there is a high risk of damaging it when digging.
• Branches are pruned as needed. Old shoots and dry branches are removed, the bush itself must be thinned out from time to time so that all the berries have enough sunlight. It is best to prune at the beginning and end of the season. During periods of active flowering and fruit ripening, pruning will be unnecessary stress for the plant. But you can learn from the article how to prune raspberries and how to care for the bushes in the spring.

  
  Trimming

  Read also:  Unpretentious and productive Gusar raspberries: growing tips
• Feeding is carried out three times per season. At the beginning of spring, the plant needs nitrogen, and during the formation of buds and ovaries - phosphorus and potassium. (If you want to learn more about phosphorus fertilizers, you should follow the link) After harvesting, it is also necessary to use fertilizers, preferably organic matter or complex fertilizers.

  
  Top dressing

• Usually, gooseberries of this variety do not need winter shelter, but many gardeners prefer to play it safe . Film shelters are often constructed for young seedlings. Well-rooted bushes are simply sprinkled with sawdust or straw. But this information will help you understand how to choose covering material for beds.
• In the fall, it is imperative to clean up leaves and grass in the root zone. Mulch is removed, as well as old branches. It is advisable to loosen the soil well (shallow) so that overwintering larvae or fungal spores appear on the surface. But how to make fertilizer from weeds is described in great detail here.

On the video - how to care for gooseberries:

“Prune” is an excellent variety of domestic selection. It is characterized by the original taste of berries, as well as resistance to freezing and fungal attacks. With proper care, the bushes actively bear fruit for a long period. The features of growing and planting this variety are discussed in the information in our article.

Gooseberry variety Prune

Among the thornless varieties of gooseberries, there are varieties that are distinguished by their taste and excellent characteristics. Among them is Prune. K.D. worked on its creation. Sergeeva and T.S. Zvyagina. Plum and Plum 259−23 were taken as parent forms. The applicant of the new product in 1979 was the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Scientific Center named after. I.V. Michurina." Since 1992, the variety has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia in the following regions: Central, Middle Volga, Ural. By the way, it is in the Urals that culture is able to show its best characteristics. Can be used not only in amateur but also in industrial plantings.

Choosing a landing site

A description of the Prune gooseberry today can be found in all gardening reference books. All sources position it as a light-loving plant. It does not tolerate even partial shade, so it cannot be planted in the garden between trees. If you do not have the opportunity to plant bushes in an open and well-lit area, then plant them along the fence at a distance of one and a half meters from it.

Prune gooseberry does not tolerate excessive soil moisture; in such conditions it often gets sick. For this reason, try to avoid low-lying areas, especially if they are close to groundwater.

Description

The plant is a medium-sized bush about 1.5 meters high. The degree of branching and foliage of Prune is moderate. The basal shoots of the variety are straight or slightly curved, with hanging tops, thick, pubescent, with light green bark bearing traces of anthocyanin coloring. Lignified gooseberry shoots are medium-sized, their bark is light. The direction of the branches is slightly inclined. The shoots are weakly thorny. The spines are single, short or medium in length, of moderate thickness, dark-colored, matte, sparse, located in the lower part of the shoot, growing perpendicular to the shoot. The buds are oblong, with a blunt apex, pubescent, light, of normal size, growing close to the shoot. Leaves are small to medium in size. To the touch they are quite dense, green in color, hairless, with a slightly shiny and slightly wrinkled surface. The shape is three- or five-bladed, the cutouts between the blades are deep. The middle blade rises above the lateral ones, it has a blunt tip, and the lateral edges are cut straight to the base. The lateral lobes are not too long, the angle between the veins is acute. The basal lobes are poorly developed, their veins are spread out. The variety has no coloration of the main veins. The teeth are medium sized, blunt, slightly curved. The base of the gooseberry leaf is straight, sometimes convex. The petiole is of normal length, thick, covered in the lower part with sparse glandular pubescence, located at an angle of 30° to the shoot. The angle between the base of the leaf and the petiole is often obtuse. The leaf scar has a rounded shape. Small flowers of Prune are collected in one-, two- or three-flowered inflorescences. The sepals are large, light, free, bent upward.

The berries are pubescent, medium or large, weighing 4.0 grams or more. The shape of the fruit is oval or pear-shaped. The calyx is long, full, closed or semi-open. The color of the fruit is dark red, almost black at the stage of consumer ripeness. The skin is dense, with a waxy coating. The venation is weak, the veins are slightly branched, they are colored in a light color compared to the main color, and at the stage of full ripeness they are practically indistinguishable. Gooseberry pulp is juicy, tender, with a moderate amount of seeds and a high content of ascorbic acid. The correlation between the weight of the Prune berry and the number of seeds is 0.48. The taste is sweet and sour, with a specific aroma and taste of plums, or rather prunes, which is why the variety got its name. To enjoy this unusual taste, the fruits need to be picked only when they are well ripe. Taster rating: from 4.2 to 5 points. The peduncle is short, thin, green. 100 grams of raw product contains: titratable acids - 1.7 - 2.2%, total sugars - 8.6 - 10.5%, ascorbic acid - 31.0 - 44.1 mg.

Description of the variety

Very briefly about the variety: high winter hardiness, resistance to powdery mildew, large fruits rich in pectin, the disadvantages are the unstable weight of berries over the years and weak resistance to anthracnose

Prune is one of the first Russian gooseberry varieties. Bred in 1992 at the State Institution All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after. I. V. Michurina by crossing the Plum variety and the hybrid form Plum 259-23 obtained from the same variety. The resulting variety inherited the best parental qualities: large fruit and resistance to diseases characteristic of gooseberries. First of all, we are talking about powdery mildew. Declared for cultivation in the Central, Ural and Middle Volga regions, but due to its high frost resistance, it has proven itself well in more northern regions.

Short description:

• the bush is medium-sized (no higher than 1.5 m), not prone to thickening;
• the shoots are thick, slightly spreading, practically without thorns (thorns are located only in the lower part of the stems), grow vertically, but after the berries ripen they bend to the ground under the weight of the crop;
• medium-sized berries (about 4-5 g), usually oval, but sometimes pear-shaped, the variety’s yield is up to 140 c/ha;
• the peel of the fruit is medium in thickness, dark, in the full ripening phase almost black, without pubescence, with a thick waxy coating;
• The berries are sweet in taste, with notes of prunes, which is why this variety of gooseberry got its name.

Prune gooseberry is a mid-season variety and ripens in the 2nd half of July. The fruits are stored for a long time, maintaining their good presentation, and are easily transported. They can be eaten fresh or used to make various sweet preserves.

Chemical composition of fruits:

• acids: 2.0-2.2%
• sugar 8-10.5%
• ascorbic acid 40 mg/100g.

Characteristics

• The first harvest from Prunes can be collected 2 - 3 years after planting. Moreover, the yield increases every year;
• ripening period is average. The period of harvesting maturity begins in the second half of July. The berries do not ripen immediately, but gradually;
• the average yield of the variety, according to VNIISKK, ranges from 5.4 to 14 t/ha or 1.6 - 4.2 kg per bush. I would like to note the numerous enthusiastic reviews of the gooseberry bush hung with fruits, which looks simply fantastically attractive;
• Fruiting is annual, but periodically the mass of berries can be unstable and become very small, which leads to a decrease in yield;
• The variety is moderately self-fertile; when planted alone, the plant is capable of producing about 20 - 30% of the possible harvest. To increase this indicator, a suitable pollinator is planted nearby; for Prune Plum, the best one is the Lefort Seedling;
• The variety has excellent plasticity, which makes it resistant to low temperatures, heat and drought. I would like to say separately about winter hardiness, because the bush without shelter winters well at -34°C;
• Gooseberries have good immunity; the species is especially valued for its genetic resistance to powdery mildew. But it can be affected by anthracnose in unfavorable years. Often subject to pest attacks;
• the transportability of the fruit is very good, despite the not too thick skin, the berries do not wrinkle and can be delivered to their destination without losing their presentation;
• The use of the crop is universal. Thanks to their unusual flavor combination, berries in their natural form can serve as an excellent dessert, especially since they contain many useful substances. In addition, the harvest is processed into preserves, jams, marmalade, juices, and gooseberry wine is made.

Harvest and storage

The Plum gooseberry variety is distinguished by the rapid ripening of fruits in late July - early August. About 4.5–5 kg of gooseberries are harvested from one bush.

Plum gooseberry - high-yielding variety

Thanks to their thick skin, the berries are well stored in a cool, dry place for at least a week, and also tolerate transportation well. In this regard, Plum is successfully grown on an industrial scale for commercial sale. The berries do not lose their consumer qualities and presentation for about 4–5 days, provided they are collected at the stage of technical maturity.

Jams, jellies, jelly, wines and marmalade are made from Plum gooseberries. To eat berries fresh, you need to pick them after they are fully ripe.

Planting and care

It is recommended to plant Prune plum seedlings in early autumn so that the plant has time to take root before the onset of cold weather. If the gardener prefers spring as the planting period, in this case the greatest survival effect can be achieved by planting cuttings. Select a sunny site for the variety, the distance to neighboring bushes is at least 1 meter, and preferably 1.5. The soil should be loose and nutritious. Avoid low areas, especially closed basins - not only cold air, but also excess moisture accumulates in them. The combination of these factors prevents the gooseberry from developing normally. From the direction of the prevailing winds, it is desirable to have shelter in the form of dense plantings or buildings. Care fits within the framework of standard agricultural technology. The main waterings are carried out during the period of active growth of shoots and the formation of green ovaries. Balanced mineral fertilizers and organic matter are used as food. The crop is especially good at handling slurry. The formation of a bush begins from the moment of planting. Subsequently, thinning pruning is carried out to help maintain the balance of branches of different ages in the bush.

Prune plum is valued for its excellent winter hardiness and resistance to the main enemy of the crop - powdery mildew. The yield is also encouraging, but sometimes there are years when the berries ripen too small. Most gardeners speak positively about the unusual taste of the variety, and their hands will remain safe when harvesting. For its good characteristics, of which there are undoubtedly many more, the variety has earned high praise from gooseberry lovers.

How and when to plant

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of location. To do this, seedlings are usually placed in the southern part of the garden, away from tall trees and buildings. It is advisable to plant in one line near the fence, which is then used to tie up the bushes. You should not plant gooseberries in place of currants or raspberries. The root system of these plants is located at the same level, which means the soil is already depleted. In addition, these crops have many common pests and diseases, which can have a detrimental effect on the plant. It is also worth learning more about how gooseberries are planted in the spring.

Landing algorithm:

1. It is best to plant in early spring or a month before frost. Autumn planting is considered more successful, but it is necessary to give the plant enough time to take root.
   Planting gooseberries in spring
2. The soil is pre-fertilized, dug up and limed if necessary (gooseberries do not like acidic soils). But this information will help you understand how to care for gooseberries of the Rodnik variety.
3. The holes also need to be dug in advance; humus mixed with mineral fertilizers or ash is placed at the bottom.

   
   Distance between plants

4. The seedling must be kept in the stimulating solution for about a day so that the plant can better take root in its new location. But how to treat gooseberries against powdery mildew, and what the best means are, will help you understand the information at the link.
5. Before planting, it is necessary to trim the root shoots, then straighten them well and install them in the hole . The root collar is deepened, the hole is filled and compacted with soil.
6. A depression is made on the surface for watering, and the top layer near the roots is mulched. It is also worth learning more about how to care for Amber gooseberries.

Video shows how to plant gooseberries:

After planting, leave the plant alone, water if necessary and loosen the soil at the roots. This year there is no need to fertilize. To ensure that the seedlings do not interfere with each other, they must be placed at a distance of at least a meter. If a tree grows nearby, the gap is increased.

Description of the variety and its characteristics

The Prune Plum variety is a unique type of crop created in the late 80s of the last century by breeder K. Sergeev. The scientist set out to create a high-yielding, winter-hardy hybrid, characterized by large fruit and excellent taste.

His efforts were crowned with success - Prunes contained all the qualities of the mother varieties. This species is registered in the State Register for cultivation over a wide area.

Description of the bush

The hybrid bush is highly decorative:

• Prune plants grow of medium size (up to 1.5 m). They are compact and very beautiful;
• Thick and strong branches and shoots form a spreading, sparse crown. Young shoots are light green, and perennial shoots are light brown;
• there are sparse and short thorns on the branches;
• small or medium-sized rich green leaves - openwork and shiny, without pubescence;
• the flowers are also small and white. They are collected in panicle inflorescences;
• the bushes have flowers of both sexes, so the variety is self-pollinating and does not need pollinators;
• flowering and fruiting are extended. The first flowers appear in early May;
• The bushes begin to produce berries already 2-3 years after planting.

Gooseberry blossom.

Description of berries and their chemical composition

The fruits of this variety are somewhat different from the berries of other types of crops in taste and appearance:

• fruit size - large and medium. The weight of one berry can reach 5 g. The shape of the berries is oval;
• The color of the berries when fully ripe is almost black;
• juicy, tender, but dense pulp is covered with a thick skin with a waxy coating;
• the berries contain several seeds that are practically not felt when eating;
• the taste is rich, refreshing, sweet, with a pleasant sourness.

100 g of pulp contains:

• sugars - no more than 11%;
• acids - 2.2%;
• vitamin C - about 50 mg.

In addition, gooseberries are rich in:

• vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, PP;
• folic acid;
• fiber;
• pectin;
• carotene;
• tannins;
• macro- and microelements - phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, sodium, fluorine, etc.

Gooseberry fruits contain:

• fat - 0.2 g;
• proteins - 0.7 g;
• carbohydrates - 12 g.

Calorie content 100 g - 43 kcal.

On a five-point scale, the taste of the fruit is rated at 4.2 points.

Usage

Hybrid berries are very tasty fresh. They are a favorite delicacy of both children and adults. Delicious preserves and jams are prepared from gooseberries. It is frozen and added to baked goods and desserts. Lovers of home winemaking use the berries of this variety to make delicious wines and liqueurs.

Ripening and harvesting dates

Prune gooseberry is a medium-ripening hybrid. Its fruiting lasts for 1-1.5 months. The first berries ripen at the end of June. Fruit ripening lasts until the second half of August. The harvest is harvested as it ripens. If the berries are not collected in time, they hang on the branches without falling off until autumn.

Productivity

This type of gooseberry is quite high-yielding. The bushes begin to bear fruit after 2-3 years of growth. From one adult plant they harvest from 1.5 to 5 kg of juicy, beautiful berries, and from one hectare during mass cultivation - from 5.5 to 16 tons of fruits.

Shelf life and transportability

Due to the presence of dense pulp and thick skin, the hybrid berries have a long shelf life. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Thanks to this, the variety perfectly tolerates transportation over long distances without losing its presentation and taste, for which it is valued by both producers and consumers.

Pest and disease control

Prune gooseberry is prone to goblet rust. Much less often, the plant is affected by anthracnose. A sign of rust is the appearance of orange, swollen spots on the leaves. With anthracnose, brown spots form on the foliage and tend to grow.

The prevention of these diseases is the timely removal of weeds, the autumn collection of fallen leaves and old mulch. At the first signs of damage, you should cut off the affected parts and treat the bush with copper sulfate.

Among the pests, the Prune gooseberry is threatened by the yellow gooseberry sawfly and the moth, which wait out the winter near the roots. They can be destroyed by dousing the bushes with boiling water or spraying with Bordeaux mixture.

Advice! If you cover the space around the trunk with oilcloth and remove it at the end of June, the pests will die without ever reaching the surface.

Description of the variety

Obtained as a result of crossing two varieties with similar characteristics: “Plum” and “Plum 259-23”. From its “parents” it borrowed the amazing taste of berries, as well as good vitality. It is distinguished by its large fruit size and ease of care.

Gooseberry Prune

Main characteristics:

• The compact bush reaches one and a half meters in height, the branches are medium spreading, the thorns are few and located at the base of the main branches.
• The berries are medium and large, average weight is 4.5 - 6 grams.
• The color of the berries varies from bright red to almost black when fully ripe.
• The chemical composition is perfectly balanced . The acid content is within 2.2%, sugar from 8.6 to 10.5%, ascorbic acid almost 44 mg/100 grams of fruit.
• Refers to varieties of medium ripening.
• Productivity is from 3 to 4 kilograms per bush.
• It is characterized by a high degree of resistance to powdery mildew and fungus . Average resistance to anthracnose.
• The fruits tolerate transportation well and can be stored for a long time.
• Good frost resistance - can withstand temperatures down to -34 degrees.

If you follow the link, you can learn more about how the Kolobok gooseberry variety is grown.

The tasting score of the fruit is 4.2 points (the maximum possible is 5 points). The berries have a thick skin, so they are used for preservation and reduction, and are often grown on an industrial scale. Of interest is the original sweet and sour taste with subtle notes of prunes (hence the name). The harvest is stable, but for cultivation, like the Komandor gooseberry, favorable conditions are necessary.

Despite its resistance to common diseases, it is often susceptible to infection due to improper care.

Reviews from gardeners about the variety

Plum is not only tasty, but also early, but terribly prickly. I removed this variety; it is difficult not only to harvest, but also to trim such thorny bushes.

Plum is a disease-resistant variety. The berries are large and tasty.

Dmitry Feodosievich

Plum is a mid-early variety. Highly winter-hardy, resistant to powdery mildew. The yield is high and stable - from 10 kg per bush. The berries are large, oval, dark red in color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch{q}v=IJC08aCkZJI

Plum gooseberry is a medium-early ripening variety that is resistant to frost and drought. Brings regular abundant harvests of berries with high taste. Due to its unpretentiousness in care, the variety is widespread among private gardeners and is grown in agricultural production for processing and preservation.

• Victor: “Gooseberries of this variety have been growing on my plot for a long time. It does not bring any particular trouble and is characterized by stable productivity. The berries are very interesting, I make a good liqueur with them. They are also suitable for jam, but they are best used fresh and for compote.”
• Julia: “I recently tried these berries while visiting a friend, I really liked them and was immediately inspired to plant them at my place. She gave me five seedlings, I hope they will take root. There are no special secrets for growing, the main thing is to prune on time and water well. During all the time, she was not affected by diseases, only once attacked by aphids, but that year everyone really had a lot of them.”

Antonina Afanasyevna, 56 years old, Moscow

I planted this gooseberry variety about five years ago. The harvest appeared only in the second year. The berries are really large, juicy, with a thick skin. They do not fall off until early autumn.

Elena Rubchenko, 32 years old, Novosibirsk

The prune gooseberries in my dacha even survived severe Siberian frosts! And the jam it makes is simply amazing, you can’t even drag the children away by force. Now all my friends are asking for cuttings.

Evgenia Markova, 44 years old, Tver

Prune is a good variety, it grows and grows. Does not require special care. We don’t even cover it for the winter, we just cut off the old branches. The harvest is always plentiful; we collect from 4 to 6 kg of berries from a bush.

Tags: gooseberry, plum, variety

About the author: admin4ik

« Previous entry

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.

Gooseberry variety Plum - fragrant berries on your site

Despite the main drawback of the crop - prickly thorns, which cause some discomfort during harvesting, gooseberries have a special, incomparable taste.
The Plum gooseberry variety is distinguished by its ease of care and the amazing aroma of ripe plums. Plum gooseberry is a medium-early ripening variety. It was bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin. The author of the variety is K. D. Sergeeva. In 1986, Plum was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements, approved for use in the Central Black Earth, Middle Volga and Ural regions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch{q}v=pSV1MG6Ymo0

The main distinctive features of this variety of gooseberries are their dark color and rich plum aroma of ripe berries.

The gooseberry bush is compact, reaches a height of 90–100 cm. The spreading of the branches is small, the crown is of medium density. The shoots are thick, straight or slightly curved, dark green in color. The thorniness of the shoots is strong.

The spines are single, double and triple, of medium length, thick, straight, directed downwards and located along the entire length of the shoot. The leaves are large, leathery, rich green, matte, five-lobed. The leaf petiole is long, of medium thickness, located at an angle of 45 degrees to the shoot. The flowers are medium-sized, brightly colored.

The bush is vigorous, the crown is raised, the branches are directed vertically

The berries are large, round or oval-pear-shaped with a thin but fairly dense skin, hairless, with a waxy coating. The weight of one berry is 6–10 g. The color is dark red; when fully ripe, the fruits acquire a black and burgundy hue.

The pulp of the berries has a specific plum aroma

Description of the bush and berries

The gooseberry bush of the Prune Plum variety is classified as medium-sized and medium-spreading with an average density of branching. The shoots are thick and form a straight or curved woody frame. They have no pubescence and are colored light green.

The trunk and shoots are covered with rare, medium-sized thorns. They are dark in color and directed away from the shoot to the sides. Usually located in its lower part.

The 3-5-lobed, small to medium-sized leaf blade is shiny and slightly wrinkled. Along its edges there are blunt teeth. The venation on the leaf is invisible. Small flowers are surrounded by large light sepals. The inflorescence is formed by several flowers, the pollination of which produces an oval-shaped ovary.

The berries are distinguished by:

• medium size (average – 4.5 g);
• oval or slightly pear-shaped;
• burgundy, and in the technical ripeness phase – black;
• lack of pubescence;
• wax layer;
• fairly thick peel;
• average number of seeds;
• sweet and sour taste and special aftertaste.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Prune gooseberry variety has a lot of advantages, which is noted by most gardeners.

The video shows general information about the Prune Plum gooseberry variety: