History of origin of the variety
Work on developing a new frost-resistant, highly productive gooseberry variety began in the early 40s. The value of culture, from the point of view of vitamin content, could not be overestimated. That is why it was decided to direct efforts to develop new varieties based on the varieties released for the European part of the country. The success of the work of K. Sergeeva’s group began in 1952, when they managed to develop a number of varieties that generally met the requirements. The variety was finally bred in 1959 by the All-Russian All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin. The parent pair of the variety was Date and Black Negus.
Gooseberry Malachite
Gooseberry Malachite, the variety description of which is enshrined in the register of varieties, is characterized as a gooseberry of medium early ripening with a short growing season and a long productive fruiting period - up to 15 years.
Characteristics of bushes
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The bushes are characterized as tall, with a large number of shoots. The shoots are straight, elastic, and tend to intertwine inside the bush as they grow.
Attention! The standard height of the bush is 0.9-1 meter. The thorns are sharp, located along the entire length of the branches, the arrangement is sparse, asymmetrical. The root system is highly productive; shoot rejuvenation per year with proper care can reach 25-30%.
Gooseberry malachite has large, larger than average-sized leaves. The leaf blade is smooth, during the fruiting period the leaves become matte, the color ranges from soft green in spring to deep green-grass color in summer. The top of the leaf blade is pointed, has five lobes, the leaf itself is symmetrical with a concave central part and hanging edges.
Characteristics of berries
The variety has good productivity. The berries are spherical, round in shape with an abundance of pronounced veins, white or pale green. The peel is thin, the inside is replete with seeds. The weight of the berries during the period of productive fruiting is 5-6 grams, in the young period it can be higher up to 8-9. In recent years, the size has decreased to 4 grams.
Important! The flowers do not require additional pollination, since the crop is self-fertile and does not require a pollinator.
Ripe berries on the branches
Features of the variety
Gooseberry Malachite has its own characteristics that distinguish it from other varieties.
Ripening period and yield
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Flowering occurs in the first half of May. The berry ripening period is late June early July. Mass harvest with 80-90% ripeness of berries of commercial quality occurs at the end of July. For propagation by seeds, the berries are picked in early August.
The bush gives its first harvest in the third year after planting. The active phase begins at 3-4 years of age and ends after 8-9 years. After 12 years, the bush begins to lose its qualities and degenerates. By 15-16 years, the yield level decreases from peak to 30-40%. The average yield at productive age is up to 4 kg of berries per bush.
Taste qualities
The pulp is juicy, with a pronounced sour tone and a sugary aftertaste. They have a strong berry aroma. Even overripe berries give off a distinctly sour flavor.
Drought and frost resistance
For this variety, severe frosts down to -25 degrees are not critically difficult. The variety was bred for cultivation in regions with mild, cool summers and long winters with frequent thaws. Malachite is perfectly adapted to the conditions of central Russia. It is not afraid of winds, icing and heavy snow cover.
Important! During dry periods, gooseberries require additional care - timely feeding, watering and treatment with protective drugs against pests and diseases.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The main pests of gooseberries in the middle zone and Moscow region are pests of the local area. Among others, the greatest dangers are:
- aphids - affects both individual bushes and entire plantings;
- moths;
- sawflies - dangerous damage to productive shoots 2-3 years old.
Control methods include timely thinning, treatment with chemicals, and mandatory rejuvenation of the bush. Compliance with the rules for disposal of affected shoots.
Attention! A one-time application of an aqueous solution of iron sulfate in April-May will help strengthen the protection of the bush in the spring-summer period.
The variety is relatively resistant to biological factors, but despite its ability to resist powdery mildew, it can be affected by:
- anthracosis;
- septoria;
- rust.
Methods of prevention and treatment:
- compliance with all conditions of agricultural technology - autumn harvesting of leaves, spring pruning and fertilizing, mulching;
- watering in dry weather; The critical month is July.
- treatment with protective compounds in the fall, treatment with Bordeaux mixture in the spring.
- during the growing season - with systemic immunostimulating drugs.
Advice! It is necessary to constantly loosen the soil under the bush, this will increase gas exchange and minimize the likelihood of spores developing in the soil; this is another operation of what needs to be done with gooseberries after picking the berries.
Use of berries
Commercial berries with the maximum sugar content are suitable for consumption. In culinary recipes, gooseberries are used as a filling for pies; they are used to make jelly, jam, and compotes.
For exotic lovers, there are recipes for homemade Malachite gooseberry wine and liqueur. The wine has a bright berry aroma and a viscous consistency. And the liqueur is a rich malachite color. And the taste, and the bouquet!
Berry harvest
Uses of gooseberries
Gooseberries are widely used in cooking. It is used fresh for food, preparing light fruit salads, as well as processed. The berries are used to make delicious preparations for the winter: jams, preserves, marmalade, and fruit drinks. The berries are frozen.
Here are just a few options for using processed gooseberries:
- pie filling;
- syrup;
- paste;
- marmalade;
- jelly.
Preparation recipes!
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Gooseberries add piquancy to meat and fish dishes, as well as poultry and fish dishes.
The berries are used to prepare alcoholic beverages: wine, liqueur, liqueur.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Malachite variety
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In comparison with other varieties of the mid-early ripening group zoned for the conditions of the middle zone, it should be noted:
- high frost resistance;
- consistently high productivity;
- excellent taste of berries, full of vitamins and microelements;
- the fruits, unlike other varieties, do not fall off and remain on the branches until completely dry;
- The berries tolerate transportation well without losing their appearance or taste.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages:
- mediocre resistance to anthracose;
- the need for timely watering during dry periods.
Reviews
I’m not chasing new products; my mother grew Malachite gooseberries, as well as Malinovka tomatoes and Libella cucumbers. The list could go on for a long time, people don’t look for good from good, so I tried to adopt all the best and instead of constant experiments, enjoy a rich harvest and be confident in the result. “Malachite” is always large-fruited and productive for me. The bushes are tall, powerful, and winter well without shelter (I live in Samara). Every year I make gooseberry jam, which is swept away by the household first.
I would like to note the resistance of the Malachite variety to powdery mildew. This is not the first gooseberry variety that I plant in my garden. Many varieties simply have some kind of problem with powdery mildew, anthracnose and septoria. But Malachite is not affected by these diseases. I’m a little guilty of the fact that I previously took the seedlings from one nursery, and took Malachite from a neighbor. Maybe the nursery itself is a breeding ground for diseases, or maybe it’s all due to the varietal characteristics.
Gooseberries are a plant for the lazy. I planted it and forgot, but the harvest will not be long in coming. At least I don't do anything with culture. The articles list fertilizing, mulching, and watering. I just remove weeds and spread manure around the area every spring. No spraying, complicated pruning or anything else. At the same time, from 5 Malachite bushes I feed 3 families with both fresh berries and all sorts of preparations.
The gooseberry variety Malachite is distinguished by high winter hardiness, simple agricultural technology, and fruits of excellent taste and presentation. Malachite berries contain a lot of iron, vitamin C and pectin. It is not for nothing that gardeners in the Middle Zone fell in love with the variety and have been growing it for more than 60 years.
Planting young seedlings on the site
In order for the planting to be successful and the young bushes to take root, a number of rules must be followed.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
For planting, 1-2 year old seedlings with a well-developed root system are used. Before planting, the seedlings are pruned from dry branches and the rhizomes are rejuvenated. Before planting, it is recommended to soak for 4-6 hours in a solution of root or other preparations to accelerate rooting.
Time and landing pattern
Autumn is the most favorable period for planting bushes. It is by autumn that young shoots turn into independent plants, manage to take root well and be completely independent of the parent bush.
Attention! An experienced gardener focuses on September-October. This is the time when the cold has not yet set in and the weather allows watering; at this time it is more convenient to care for new plantings.
The spring planting period is focused on stable warm weather, when active swelling of the buds begins.
The planting pattern is ordinary, with an interval between bushes of 1-1.5 meters. This is a tall, spreading bush and requires room to maneuver during work.
Choosing a landing site
For planting it is recommended:
- sunny side of the site, open to the sun throughout the day;
- absence of drafts;
- the soil on the site is preferable to neutral or slightly acidic acidity;
- loamy and clayey soil, and the ideal place for growth is loose, saturated soil.
Attention! Contraindications for planting are low-lying, flooded and swampy areas, places with high groundwater levels.
Planting a bush
Site preparation
Site preparation consists of clearing the area of old plantings, leveling the surface, laying out the planting pattern in rows, and maintaining row spacing.
Planting process
Planting holes are prepared 7-10 days before planting. Size 50x50 cm, depth 55-60 cm. The bottom is covered with humus or manure. A layer of 2-5 cm, after which 5 cm of fertile soil. Before planting, water abundantly. The seedling is placed in the middle of the hole. Before this, the roots are straightened so that there is as large an area of the root system as possible.
Backfilling is carried out with constant compaction to prevent the occurrence of voids. After planting, trim the tops to a height of 15-17 cm and water with 10-12 liters of water.
Advice! It is recommended to leave no more than 5-6 buds above the ground surface. This will ensure maximum branch growth for the next year. And the first winter will allow you to cover branches of this height with a layer of snow from frost.
Features of seasonal watering and care
Caring for bushes differs in different seasons.
Watering and fertilizing
The timing of the first watering and fertilizing is the end of April - the beginning of May before the flowering period. For feeding, it is recommended to use iron sulfate or an organic solution.
The second feeding during the period when the berries begin to ripen is the first ten days of June. July is usually limited to watering every 7-10 days. Caring for gooseberries after harvesting involves watering to maintain water balance and to strengthen branches during rooting.
Attention! Gooseberries should not be watered with cold water.
Mulching and loosening
Mulching is carried out using several methods. In the autumn, after harvesting, pine bark is used. In the spring it is removed and disposed of. Instead, straw or hay is placed. During the flowering and fruiting period, it is recommended to use freshly cut grass. The chopped grass is placed under the bush, and after a week, when loosening, a new portion of mulch is added. Loosening is recommended to be done 4-5 days after watering.
Preventative treatment
In winter, the branches are sprayed with anti-spore preparations and paint to protect them from the sun. After the snow melts, treatment with the drug is repeated. Before leafing out, spray with Bordeaux mixture. In June-July, but no later than 14 days before picking the berries, treatment with a complex preparation is carried out. In case of disease, use complex drugs.
Using supports
To prevent the branches from bending to the ground, make supports for the bush. They are made from wooden planks or plastic pipes 25-30 cm high from the ground or using a central support and a wire hoop with a diameter of 6-8 mm with 4-5 rope guys.
Plastic pipe fencing option
Trimming
Preventive pruning is carried out from May to July. There are no pruning plans for August. What you need to do with gooseberries after picking the berries in September-October is to form a bush and remove shoots older than 4 years. In spring, dead branches are removed down to living tissue.
Preparing for winter
First of all, you need to increase the frost resistance of the cuttings - they need to be covered with a layer of foliage or reeds. Before leaving for the winter, you need to remove diseased and dead branches. Clear the area of gooseberry leaves and mulch with bark.
Reproduction
There are several ways to propagate gooseberries: cuttings, division, layering and grafting. The most labor-intensive and time-consuming method is with seeds.
Cuttings
For cuttings, use twigs with 5-6 leaf nodes. Heading is done in early May. Before planting, soak in a rooting agent solution. After this, the cuttings are placed in the greenhouse. After 21 days, the greenhouse opens and the cutting is kept open.
Important! Planting must be done in the fall before frost sets in.
By division
For propagation, bushes older than 5-6 years are used. A year before the procedure, all old shoots are removed. In spring or autumn, the bush is dug up, and young shoots with the root system are separated. Disembarkation is made to a new location.
By layering
A green young 1-2 year old shoot bends to the ground in the spring and is fixed with 2 metal brackets. A layer of soil is poured on top. The rooting site is watered once every 3-4 days. After 21 days, fertilizing with urea is done. The layering is ready after planting in spring after 1 year.
Vaccinations
A new variety can be developed by grafting. Lignified shoots are taken for grafting. The vaccination is done before the kidneys begin to swell. The probability of a successful result is up to 40%.
Seeds
Seeds from ripe berries are slightly dried and planted in a pot with soil mixture. For the winter, the pot is buried or taken to the cellar. Germinates in spring.
Attention! The disadvantage of this technology is the low probability of obtaining a plant with pronounced maternal characteristics.
Preparing for the winter season
Malachite is a fairly frost-resistant variety, but this does not mean that preparatory work for wintering needs to be canceled.
Even before the onset of cold weather, the bushes are earthed up, creating additional protection for the root system. When growing in harsh climates, it is not a bad idea to insulate the plant from agrofibre or canvas fabric. The branches are tied at the roots and wrapped with prepared material. All this is secured with rope.
Even before the plant awakens in the spring, it is necessary to remove the blanket and loosen the soil well.
Pest and disease control
The key to success in pest control is proper care of plants and the use of complex preparations to protect them. Proper care includes mulching, sanitary pruning, fertilizing and watering. In conditions of chemical treatment, spraying in autumn and spring against spores. And in the summer to protect against pests and diseases.
If you carry out all the processes and operations for caring for Malachite gooseberries, there is a high probability that the bushes will delight you with a consistently large harvest. It’s not for nothing that this variety with a 60-year history is still popular among gardeners.
How to water gooseberries
Malachite is watered as needed. A sign for watering is dry soil. The shrub reacts very sensitively to drought, so you need to be especially careful about this point.
There are three periods when gooseberries are especially sensitive to lack of water:
- formation, growth of young branches;
- formation of ovaries;
- pouring and the berries reaching full ripeness.
In conditions of no rain, gooseberries should be watered once every 7 days.
. One bush requires at least 10 liters of water.
To reduce the number of waterings and simplify the maintenance process, experienced gardeners recommend covering the root area with mulch. Organic is perfect as mulch for gooseberries. It noticeably slows down the growth of weeds and supplies the bush with nutrients as needed.
