Ural thornless gooseberry: appearance, advantages and disadvantages

Description of the gooseberry variety Ural thornless

The gooseberry bush of the Ural thornless variety is vigorous, characterized by slight spreading and density. It can be grown in almost all climatic zones of Russia, including the regions of Siberia. The branches are directed vertically, but the side shoots can grow with a slight slope. The bark is yellow-gray in color. Annual branches are powerful, green, not pubescent. The buds are colored light brown. Thorns are absent or present, but in small quantities.

The leaves of the Ural thornless variety are three-lobed, the middle lobe is strongly pronounced. They have a glossy surface and dark green color. The leaf blade is concave, wrinkled in structure, with light veins. The petiole is about 2 cm in size, slightly pubescent.

The Ural thornless variety blooms in the second half of April or early May. The buds are painted bright crimson. The flowers are pink, but fade over time.

The Ural thornless gooseberry is a large-fruited variety - the berries weigh 8–9 g. They are oval in shape, bright green in color with a matte surface without pubescence. The fruits come off the branches easily. The skin is thick with a sour taste, the flesh inside is sweet and juicy. The veins are lighter than the color of the berry and are therefore clearly visible. The peduncle is green.

Characteristics of the variety

The description of the Ural thornless gooseberry variety contains mainly positive characteristics. It is endowed with properties that help withstand harsh climatic conditions and various diseases. There is no inconvenience during harvesting.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

According to the description of the variety, the Ural thornless gooseberry has high frost resistance and tolerates drought well. Withstands temperatures down to -30 °C.

Productivity and fruiting

The Ural thornless variety shows good yield. Young plants produce 5 kg, and bushes over 5 years old - 7–9 kg. Gooseberries have the highest performance when they are 6–7 years old.

Thanks to the sweet taste of the berries, Ural thornless is classified as a dessert variety. It is characterized by an average ripening period, but the berries are harvested a little earlier because they are prone to shedding.

Area of ​​application of fruits

The dessert taste of the Ural thornless fruit allows them to be used both fresh and for various preparations. Most often, jam is made from gooseberries. Since the berries are picked a little earlier, they tolerate transportation well and can be stored.

Ural thornless gooseberry is shown in the photo:

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Ural thornless gooseberry variety is resistant to septoria and powdery mildew. But the bush can be attacked by harmful insects.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages of the Ural thornless gooseberry variety:

• a large amount of useful substances in berries;
• dessert taste;
• absence of thorns;
• large fruits;
• disease resistance;
• frost resistance;
• high productivity;
• drought resistance.

The main disadvantage of the Ural Thornless variety is the significant shedding of the berries, which requires starting the harvest before they are fully ripe.

Gooseberry "Beryl"

The taste of this medium-ripening gooseberry variety turned out to be truly dessert-like and especially rich in taste for slightly overripe berries. Despite the slight sourness, “Beryl” can be called very sweet, which is not surprising - after all, its pulp contains 9.85% sugars.

Gooseberry "Beryl". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

The berries themselves were one of the largest among all the varieties I had (average weight from 5 to 9 g). The color of the fruit is bright green, and in fully ripe berries, covered with thin, delicate skin, slightly yellowish. At the same time, the Beryl gooseberry fruits have absolutely no pubescence.

As the breeders promised, and the variety was bred at the Ural Research Institute of Vegetable Growing, the gooseberry “Beryl” did not have any signs of American powdery mildew. However, after picking the berries, signs of another fungal disease appeared on the leaves - anthracnose. But, nevertheless, the lesions were insignificant, and after the crop had already been harvested, the use of chemical antifungal drugs was no longer so dangerous.

In general, this gooseberry variety can be called optimal in most respects: the size and taste of the berries, the insignificant presence of thorns and resistance to sphere library.

Disadvantages of the Beryl variety

One of the most significant disadvantages of the plant is the flat shape of the bushes with arched shoots that are literally spread out on the ground. This structure of the bush makes it very difficult to pick gooseberries - you constantly have to lift thorny branches, and the berries turn out to be dirty when they come into contact with the soil.

To smooth out this feature a little, every spring you have to tie the “Beryl” gooseberry to a support, and at the same time it is very difficult not to prick your hands. But in winter, the flat habit allows the plant to be completely covered with snow for protection from cold winds and abnormal frosts. Still, in our area the variety does not have a very high yield, and on the south side the berries get a little baked in the sun.

Rules for planting gooseberries

When planting gooseberries, it is recommended to follow certain rules. This will allow the young plant to take root better and subsequently produce larger yields. Failure to follow these rules can cause harm to the gooseberry bush.

Recommended timing

Gooseberries of the Ural thornless variety are planted in the fall, which allows you to get a harvest next year. Recommended dates are the end of September and the entire first half of October. It is also worth focusing on the onset of frost in a particular region so that the gooseberries have time to take root and survive the winter normally. Some gardeners also practice spring planting, but then you need to do it before the buds open.

Choosing a suitable location

For planting, choose a flat, sunny area. Gooseberries can tolerate slight shade. It is necessary to ensure that groundwater does not pass near the surface of the earth in this place.

Gooseberries are undemanding when it comes to soil, but they cannot be planted next to paths because the roots cannot tolerate compaction. In Siberia, it is recommended to plant bushes where more snow cover forms.

Selection and preparation of planting material

It is better to purchase gooseberry seedlings that are 1–2 years old and have 3–4 shoots at least 20 cm long. The root system of the bush should be well developed.

It is recommended to plant gooseberries immediately after purchase. If this cannot be done, then it is better to carry out a number of preparatory measures:

• the roots are wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a bag;
• if transportation is needed, the seedling is given a strictly vertical position;
• to avoid drying out the roots, they should be dipped in a clay mixture or sprinkled with wet sawdust;
• immediately before planting in the ground, it is necessary to remove leaves, damaged and dry parts of the roots, and also shorten the shoots to 20 cm.

Landing algorithm

The area for planting is prepared in advance - 2 months. If the soil is loamy, add sand. The landing algorithm looks like this:

• Dig a hole measuring 50x70 cm, while laying the top layer of fertile soil and the lower layers in different directions. If planting is done on black soil, then the dimensions can be reduced to 40x40. Manure, humus, and potassium salt still need to be added to the less fertile land.
• Wood chips are placed at the bottom of the pit, which will serve as drainage, and water is poured in the amount of one bucket.
• If there are several bushes, then maintain a distance of at least 1 m between them, because the feeding area of ​​the gooseberry root system is 2 square meters. m.
• A circle is formed around the bush for watering. And after a day, the soil is mulched with peat or sawdust.

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Landing

Designed for growing in difficult weather conditions of the Urals and Siberia, the Ural Emerald gooseberry bush easily tolerates frosts of -30 degrees and is not so demanding of sunlight. It is noteworthy that its bushes feel great even in the rows of the orchard.

1. Apple trees growing at a distance of at least 1.5 m perfectly protect berry bushes from the winds, which contributes to better winter hardiness and good pollination in the summer. It is advisable to plant gooseberries on the south side of the apple trees: a lack of sunlight suppresses the process of photosynthesis and the formation of sugars - the berries will be sour and smaller than normal.
2. For the Ural emerald, it is recommended to use a slightly denser planting pattern - the distance between bushes in a row is 1.0...1.2 m. Dense planting promotes more complete pollination and increases productivity.

It is very useful to plant a pollinating variety – Commander or Beryl – next to the Ural emerald. The hero of our article belongs to the self-fertile varieties, so it will produce crops even without pollinators, however, pollinators will be very useful for obtaining record yields.

Site requirements:

To obtain the best results of seedling survival, the authors of the variety recommend planting the Ural Emerald in a permanent place in the fall: approximately 3 weeks before the first frost. For the Central region, the best planting time is the 2nd half of September, for Siberia and the Urals - the 1st half of the month.

Even in the absence of leaves in late autumn and throughout the winter, the root system develops slowly. The more additional roots are formed during the winter period, the faster the bush will begin to bear fruit.

1. On the eve of planting, it is advisable to treat a purchased seedling with a root formation stimulator such as Kornevin or heteroauxin according to the instructions.
2. The soil on the site should be dug up in advance (1 month in advance) and the roots of perennial weeds should be removed.
3. Add humus or compost to the soil for digging, 1 bucket per 1 m2.
4. Immediately before planting, the roots of gooseberry seedlings are slightly trimmed. The cuttings are planted with a slight depth (3-4 cm) - this stimulates the formation of additional shoots.
5. The seedling is watered with plenty of water (up to 10 liters).

To improve survival rate, it is recommended to cut off the above-ground part of the bush, leaving 3-4 buds, and cover the root zone with organic mulch with a layer of at least 5-7 cm.

The Ural emerald will reach its peak yield 3-4 years after planting.

Follow-up care for gooseberries

In the first year after planting, no fertilizer will be required. In the second year, fertilizing with organic matter is necessary. In the third year, wood ash and superphosphate are used. Next, you need to feed the gooseberries once every 2-3 years.

The plant requires the following care measures:

• watering;
• weed removal;
• loosening;
• feeding;
• treatment against pests and diseases;
• pruning;
• mulching.

When watering under a bush, it is enough to pour a bucket of water as the soil dries out, even if the plant has recently been planted.

The next year after planting the bush, pruning is carried out. In this way, the productivity of the plant can be increased. First, zero shoots are removed, leaving the 5–6 strongest ones. The bush should have branches of different ages, with the exception of those that are more than 7 years old. Old and diseased parts of the plant must be removed. Anti-aging pruning is carried out when the crop reaches 10 years of age.

In Siberia, gooseberries must be covered for the winter by bending the branches to the ground. In warmer climates it will survive cold weather without problems.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

The Ural thornless gooseberry variety has strong immunity to most diseases, but can be attacked by pests. Preventive measures are carried out twice per season - in spring and autumn.

There are many pest control products on the market, but experienced gardeners also recommend using traditional methods. It will be effective to quickly pour water on the bush at the beginning of April, heated to a temperature of +80 ° C. After this procedure, all debris from under the bush should be collected and burned.

At the beginning of budding, gooseberries should be sprayed with Rovikurt. This will protect the bush from aphids, gall midges and sawflies. A solution of colloidal sulfur will be effective against pests that damage buds.

In autumn, sanitary treatment of gooseberry bushes is mandatory. Sick and damaged leaves and shoots are removed. The plant itself and the ground around it must be treated with nitrophen, then watered abundantly and mulched with a thick layer of peat.

General characteristics, yield

Let's look at the characteristics of this variety:

• The height of the bush is up to one and a half meters. Dense crown.
• The foliage has five lobes, the base is uneven, there is wavyness at the edges, the size is medium. The color is deep green.
• The inflorescences are pale pink, medium size, bisexual, solitary. An ovary forms on all flowers; there are no empty flowers.
• The fruits are of different sizes, the weight of one berry ranges from three and a half to seven and a half grams. Inside the gooseberry there is yellow-green thick pulp and black small seeds. The fruits hold tightly to the bush and do not fall off on their own.
• The yield is high: up to six or more kilograms can be harvested from one bush.
• Strong immunity to plant diseases, does not become infected with powdery mildew, and is not susceptible to attack by pine sawfly and butterfly moths.
• Calmly tolerates cold and the harsh Siberian climate.
• Can be transported.

The characteristics are positive, so the variety is most in demand among similar crops.

Peculiarities

Of course, breeders have not yet managed to develop varieties that are completely devoid of thorns. Gardeners continue to argue about the taste characteristics of thornless varieties. Many are sure that their berries are sweeter than those of other types of their favorite crop. Experts believe that the taste of the fruit directly depends on the characteristics of each of the many varieties.

As for the description of the Ural thornless gooseberry bush, its bushes have an average degree of density, are vigorous and medium spreading. Branches usually grow in a vertical direction. The shoots are also medium thick and grayish-yellow in color. Single buds of light brown color with a sharp tip appear on them. The description of the foliage is as follows. It is green in color, has no pubescence on its surface, is wrinkled and rather leathery. The leaves are somewhat wavy and three-lobed. The leaf petiole is about 2 cm long. On this best of the thornless varieties you can see flowers measuring about 12 mm in size. The buds are usually colored a beautiful crimson shade.

Large berries appear on the bush, each weighing about 8 grams. If we talk about the description, they have an oval shape, a matte surface and are emerald green. Covered with thick skin. The pulp of the Ural gooseberry, which belongs to the thornless varieties, is endowed with a pleasant dessert taste.

The peculiarities of this type of crop include the rich chemical composition of the fruit. It contains dry substances in the amount of 12.8%, sugars - about 9.9%, P-active substances - 234.0 mg per 100 grams, ascorbic acid - 23.5 mg per 100 grams, titratable acidity is 2.1 %. Also, the advantages of this one of the best varieties of rose hips are excellent winter hardiness (even in harsh winters its indicator is 2 points), large fruit, excellent taste of berries, resistance to various diseases, high yield - by the age of 5 years it can reach 5.5 kg and up to 7 - 9 from each adult plant. The beginning of fruiting of the Ural variety shrub should be expected already 2 - 3 years from the moment of planting. The purpose of the fruits of such a crop is universal. They are equally good when eaten fresh and for preparing a variety of preparations for the winter.

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Video “Description”

From the video you will learn a description of gooseberry varieties.

Planting new bushes of Ural rosehip, as well as Chelyabinsk, and many other thornless varieties, begins in late September - mid-October. For the seedling, dig a hole measuring 40 by 40 by 40 cm. It is recommended to fill it with 1 kg of complex mineral fertilizer, 1 bucket of rotted manure, 2 - 3 spoons of wood ash. This composition needs to be mixed well. After it is filled in, the seedling is placed in the hole.

Mulching is carried out a day after planting seedlings and watering. This procedure is very important because it allows you to retain a sufficient amount of moisture in the soil and reduce the number of weedings. Peat or pine bark are well suited for creating mulch. If the planting procedure was carried out correctly, then in the first year of the bush’s life, fertilization will not be required. In the second year, a mixture of manure and water should be added in the spring in a ratio of 1:8. In the third year, you will need to add fertilizer made from 6 kg of manure, half a glass of wood ash and 20 grams of superphosphate per square meter of soil. Further, the frequency of fertilizing is once every 2–3 years. It is mandatory to add fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to the soil, which will help the plants to fully grow and develop. This fertilizing is applied after all the snow on the site has melted.

Rules of care

Regardless of the varieties, all types of thornless gooseberries do not require special care. As for others, compliance with certain rules for our variety will guarantee its normal growth and a rich harvest of delicious berries in the future. Comprehensive care includes the procedure of weeding and loosening the soil. Watering on particularly hot days and in the absence of natural precipitation is carried out at the rate of 1 bucket for each bush. This is if the crops were planted recently. For those who are already consistently producing fruit, 3–4 buckets are required for each bush. Shortly before the start of harvesting, watering must be stopped. If this is not done, the berries will most likely become sour.

Formative pruning allows you to get a rich harvest of your favorite berries. It should be carried out the next year after planting. To do this, you need to cut out zero shoots, leaving no more than 5 of the most developed ones.

As practice shows, most fruits can be collected from 4-6 year old branches. Old, diseased, drying, small branches are subject to mandatory pruning. Normally, an adult representative of the species should have about 10–14 branches, different in age, but not older than 7 years. This will serve as the key to good fruiting.

When the bush turns 10 years old, it requires anti-aging pruning. It is recommended to plan it for the end of autumn.

During the work, all branches must be removed, with the exception of young shoots. In order to increase the frost resistance of the variety, it is customary to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers to the soil in the fall. If properly cared for, any bush has the ability to bear fruit for up to 30–40 years. Remember that gooseberries are endowed with excellent anti-inflammatory, anti-sclerotic and tonic properties.

How do consumers respond to gooseberries?

Irina: Not a gooseberry, but a godsend. The bushes are neat, the variety tolerates frost well, more than four kilograms of harvest were harvested from one bush. I make compotes and jam, it’s delicious in winter. Igor: Gooseberries have been growing in the garden for more than six years, and all these years they have pleased us with good fruiting. Some care is required, but the result is worth all the effort!

So, gooseberry Emerald has virtually no drawbacks. If you love this berry, then this variety is ideal for growing.

Description of the variety

The Ural thornless gooseberry variety was bred by Russian breeder V.S. Ilyin .

The bush is distinguished by an average degree of spreading and density, with good branching.

• The plant is vigorous with vertical branches. Side branches may have a slight angle of inclination.
• Lignified rosehip shoots are gray-yellow in color and of medium thickness.
• Green annuals are quite powerful, without characteristic pubescence.

Buds and thorns

“Ural thornless” is a gooseberry with a “soft character”.

• The buds of the bush are light brown, medium and oblong with a slightly pointed top without pubescence. They are diverted from the main shoot by 40–45° .
• Apical bud of free type.
• There are practically no thorns.

Gooseberry leaves are three-lobed, small in size with a pronounced middle lobe.

Dark green leaves without pubescence.

• They are characterized by a rich dark green hue and a glossy surface.
• The structure of the leaf plate is wrinkled, the shape is concave.
• There are small teeth along the edge, the top is slightly rounded.
• The veins on the leaf blade are light green.
• The base is slightly rounded with a shallow open notch.
• The petiole is no more than 2 cm, green with thickening, located at an angle of 40–45° relative to the shoot, the pubescence of the petiole is weak.

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Flowering begins in late April or early May.

• The flowers of the shrub are small, 10–12 mm in diameter.
• Initially, the buds have a bright crimson color with intensely colored sepals.
• Over time, they turn pale, the sepals are colored more evenly and do not intersect with each other.
• The pink tint of the flowers subsequently fades.

Productivity and berries

The Ural thornless variety demonstrates good performance. At the age of up to 5 years, the yield is 5.5 kg, after which it reaches 7–9 kg.

The variety begins to bear fruit at 2–3 years.

• Gooseberries are large ( 7–9 grams ), oval in shape, rich emerald hue, without pubescence with a beautiful matte sheen.
• Fruit detachment is easy. The pulp is juicy and sweet, the skin contains notes of sourness, and it itself is quite dense.
• The color of the veins is lighter than the main tone.
• The peduncle is bright green. The variety is characterized by strong crumbling.

The highest yields are demonstrated by 5–6 year old plants.

Varieties that are suitable for central Russia

Unfortunately, not all varieties of thornless gooseberries take root and bear fruit in the conditions of central Russia. But thanks to scientists, berry bushes have been developed that are adapted to the necessary climate conditions.

Grushenka

Frost-resistant gooseberry variety with purple berries weighing up to 5 g, pear-shaped. The main feature of the fruit bush is very rare spines on the shoots.

The variety easily tolerates spring frosts and has increased immunity to fungal infections and pests. One bush produces up to 6 kg of ripe berries.

Russian yellow

Russian yellow variety of medium ripening period. The first berries appear in mid-July. The fruits are large, up to 5.5 g, elongated, yellowish-greenish in color with sweet, juicy pulp.

The berry crop is resistant to low temperatures and some diseases. Although the variety is recommended as thornless, there are thorns on the bushes, but they are concentrated deep in the crown of the plant.

Amber

One of the most proven gooseberry varieties, bred in the middle of the last century. A tall berry bush with a spreading crown and sparse but very sharp thorns.

The berries are large, up to 5 g, beautiful amber in color with a sweet taste.

The fruit crop is resistant to frost and some diseases. From one plant you get from 7 to 10 kg of ripe berries.

Kolobok

Tall, spreading berry bush, there are practically no thorns on the shoots, medium ripening period. Dark red, large up to 7 g, sweet and sour berries ripen by mid-July.

The variety easily survives winter frosts, but reacts painfully to sudden temperature changes. Also, gooseberries of the Kolobok variety do not tolerate prolonged drought.

Sirius

A compact fruit shrub grows up to 1 m. Ripe berries are large, sweet, weighing up to 5 g, cherry in color. The variety is resistant to frost, spring frosts, fungal infections and pests.

The main advantage of the Sirius gooseberry is its rare thorns on the shoots, which do not pose a danger during plant care and when harvesting berries.

Chelyabinsk

Chelyabinsk gooseberries have earned popularity for the unusual color of the fruit, high yield and a small number of spines located deep in the crown of the plant.

The variety is resistant to low temperatures and diseases, which makes it possible to grow fruit shrubs even in northern climates.

Features of the thornless Ural

In addition to the main feature - the absence of thorns, the variety is distinguished by a sweet dessert taste.

The bush is practically devoid of thorns, and the berries have a dessert taste.

But the rich chemical composition of gooseberries should also be mentioned. He contains:

• P-active substances;
• ascorbic acid;
• microelements (chrome, iodine, copper, zinc, iron, fluorine, manganese);
• macroelements (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium);
• sucrose;
• malic, tartaric and citric acid;
• tannin;
• nitrogen compounds.

Pectin substances and anthocyanins remove harmful substances and heavy metal salts from the body.

Planting of young seedlings is carried out from the end of September to mid-October. The main advantage of planting in the autumn season is the beginning of fruiting in the spring of the next year.

Preparing the soil for planting begins in the spring or at least 2–2.5 months before the planting process. If the soil is loamy, sand is added to the soil; if it is sandy loam, clay is added.

Preparation of planting mixture.

The planting hole is 2 shovels deep.

Wood ash can be used as fertilizer.

When planted, the growing point of a seedling deepens below the soil surface.

The bottom of the planting hole is lined with a layer of wood chips in advance. This is necessary to organize drainage, stimulating the nutrition of the root system of the shrub. And also before the seedling is lowered into the hole, a bucket of water is poured into it.

The soil in the hole is thoroughly compacted.

Distance

The distance between bushes can be 1–1.5 meters , between rows – 1.5–2 meters .

This is due to the plant’s feeding area, which is sometimes 2–2.2 meters.

The soil around the planted seedlings is compacted tightly and a small hole is made through which watering is carried out.

A day after watering, the soil is mulched. This is necessary to maintain the water balance of the soil, as well as to control weeds. Peat, sawdust, and tree bark are used as mulch. For mass planting, the trench method is used.

Requirements for planting and care

Planting is carried out in spring or autumn, the main thing is a month before the first frost, so that the roots have time to take root.

Action plan:

• The hole is prepared 14 days before planting. Depth and width fifty centimeters.
• Top soil is taken and fertilizers are added: 250 grams of superphosphate, forty grams of potassium sulfate, 20 liters of humus.
• Everything is mixed and poured into the center.
• When planting, the roots are straightened and evenly covered. The plant is watered.
• Mulch with humus or peat.
• Plant the crop in the sun.

Care consists of the following procedures: rationing, fertilizing, watering (carried out a couple of times during the summer, about three buckets of water are poured out at a time), weeding and pruning.

Let's watch the video and use tips on caring for the plant and pruning it:

Agricultural technology varieties

If planting is carried out correctly in the first year, fertilizing will not be required, since all the necessary nutrients were added to the seedling hole.

In the second year, it is worth adding organic fertilizers such as manure, which is rich in nitrogen. In the third year, it is permissible to use wood ash and superphosphate. In the future, fertilization is carried out once every 2–3 years .

To protect gooseberries from pests and diseases, it is better to use biological products.

Comprehensive shrub care includes:

• watering;
• weeding;
• loosening;
• treatment and prevention of diseases and pest attacks;
• feeding;
• pruning;
• mulching.

On hot days, the variety requires an average of 1 bucket per bush, provided there is no precipitation, but only if the gooseberries were recently planted.

If the plant is fruit-bearing, then the watering rate increases to 3-4 buckets . However, watering the plants must be stopped several days before the fruiting period, otherwise the taste of the berries will be spoiled by the increased sourness.

You can increase the yield by timely pruning the bushes. The procedure is carried out the next year after planting the plant.

• First of all, zero shoots are cut out, among which 5–6 of the most powerful ones .
• Old, dried out and diseased branches of the bush must be pruned.
• Normally, a gooseberry bush should have 10–14 branches of different ages , and among them there should be no branches older than 7 years.
• Only in this case will the culture demonstrate the highest performance.
• Anti-aging pruning is done when the plant reaches 10 years .

Gardeners who grow the Ural thornless variety in their garden plots talk about the excellent taste of the shrub and the ease of harvesting.

But they also note the good productivity and versatility of the fruit, which can be used both in home canning and freezing.