In order for the gooseberry bush to develop well and bear fruit abundantly, it is necessary to provide good lighting, a sufficient level of humidity, and optimal soil structure. It is equally important to organize a favorable neighborhood of gooseberries with other plants, which, at a minimum, will not harm the plant, and, at best, will also improve its vital functions. Errors in planning the planting of shrubs can lead to increased disease and even death of the garden crop.
Gooseberries: properties, growth characteristics
Gooseberry is a perennial shrub that can reach 1–1.5 m in height. The above-ground part of the plant consists of branches of various ages, as well as basal shoots, which are formed from the buds of an underground stem, which has its own root system and is located at the base of the bush. The bush has thorns of leaf origin; young shoots have thin thorns. The berry has the shape of a ball or oval; the surface can be smooth or covered with bristles.
The veins are clearly visible. The color of the fruit can vary depending on the variety and can be white, green, yellow or red. The ripening period is from June to August. The highest level of productivity occurs from 3–4 to 6–9 years. The bushes are self-fertile, fruits can be set when pollinated by their own pollen, but the number of ovaries increases significantly if pollination occurs from a neighboring bush. Such pollination also helps to increase the size of the berries and improve their taste.
The root system of the shrub is very massive and can grow to a depth of 1.5–2 m, depending on the type of berry, soil characteristics and climate. In young bushes, 80% of the rhizome is located directly under the bush at a depth of 0.1–0.4 m, since the soil in such a place is as loose and moist as possible, and there is a lot of nutrients in the soil.
Important! Gooseberries do not grow well in areas of the garden where there are a large number of weeds. Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to thoroughly weed the area and remove all weeds that can take away nutrients.
Gooseberries can be grown in a variety of soils. However, this is a heat-loving plant that can suffer from various circumstances:
- from strong soil moisture in autumn;
- from the close occurrence of groundwater closer than 100–150 cm;
- cultivation in low-lying areas and wetlands is not recommended;
- from frost damage to vegetative shoots and fruit formations in conditions of little snow in winter;
- in windy areas of the garden, where it will not develop well;
- the root system is damaged when the temperature drops in winter in young bushes - at frosts of -3...-4°C, freezing - when it drops to -10°C;
- In summer, the plant does not tolerate drought well, fruiting decreases, and leaves fall off.
Gooseberries are beneficial due to their content:
- ascorbic acid;
- metal salts of potassium, iron and phosphorus;
- vitamins A, PP, group B;
- organic acids (up to 3%);
- sugar (up to 13%);
- tannins;
- biologically active substances useful for preventing the formation of cancerous tumors.
- Gooseberries are characterized by the following beneficial properties:
- prevention of bladder and kidney diseases;
- prevention of anemia;
- removal of accumulated radioactive substances from the body;
- strengthening blood vessels;
- treatment and prevention of diseases of the stomach and intestines;
- avitaminosis;
- prevention of radiation sickness, hypertension, vascular sclerosis;
- preventing heart attacks and strokes.
The berries are used both fresh and processed. Juices, jellies, and jams are prepared from them. The leaves of the bush are used to prepare decoctions that have hemostatic and diuretic properties. They are also used for colic in the stomach and intestines, and for indigestion.
Neighbors repelling pests
Premature flowering of gooseberries in the garden is presentable not only to pollinating insects, but also to pests. The danger is:
- sawfly;
- shoot aphid;
- spider mite;
- willow scale;
- false acacia scale insect, etc.
The beneficial proximity to herbs: sage, lemon balm, mint, basil helps to resist pests.
Much fewer harmful insects are found near tomato beds.
Gooseberry neighbors such as mint, coriander and mustard repel aphids. Slugs and snails cannot tolerate garlic and parsley.
By exploiting the beneficial characteristics of plants, it is possible to reduce the amount of chemicals used in pest control.
Why you can’t plant some plants nearby
It is better to plant plants in the garden and vegetable garden, focusing on the recommendations of allelopathy specialists who study the proximity of different crops and their influence on each other. Properly selected neighbors can make care easier, increase productivity, and reduce the risk of disease.
Choosing a place to plant shrubs on a site often raises many questions. Plants that have a similar list of such factors will successfully coexist:
- The need for similar nutrients can cause plants to compete with each other, so it is better that this parameter does not coincide among neighboring species.
- The depth of penetration of the rhizome and the scale of its growth should be different, because if the parameter is the same, the stronger neighbor will take more moisture, which can lead to the withering of the weaker plant. For example, if you plant raspberries next door, they may draw more nutrients from the soil for themselves, and other shrubs may suffer from a lack of energy.
- All living organisms have products of their vital activity: for example, during the process of growth and development, plants release a number of substances into the soil, which include amino acids, biologically active components, enzymes, etc. The composition of these substances can have both positive and negative effects on crops, growing nearby. In addition, certain volatile substances can be released from the leaves.
Important! The study of allelopathy, the science of the proximity of plant crops on a site, is important for obtaining a high-quality and large harvest.
In order for gooseberries to feel good in your garden and to be able to grow and bear fruit successfully, it is necessary to create certain conditions for it:
- the area should be without shading, since a lack of light can negatively affect the development of the bush;
- the planting of shrubs should not be too thick, since a lack of lighting can affect the color and taste of the berries;
- you need to create proper garden care: provide the amount of nutrients and moisture in accordance with the needs of each plant, so that there is no competition with nearby growing crops.
Positive Neighborhood
You can plant various fruit trees and shrubs next to gooseberry bushes.
So, the following will have a beneficial effect on the development of this bush:
- other varieties of the same berry;
- cherry;
- red currant, since the two types of berry bushes have the same many parameters of biological activity, they require similar agrotechnical care, but they do not compete in nutrition and they have different pests;
- honeysuckle;
- herbs: sage, lemon balm, mint, basil.
Neutral neighborhood
Gooseberries can successfully coexist with fruit trees, for example, these can be:
- Apple tree;
- plum;
- cherries;
- pear.
Such neighbors have a more massive root system, which is located deeper, so there will be no competition for nutrient moisture and substances. However, when choosing a place for planting, you should know that the crown of trees should not obscure the planting of gooseberries, the bushes of which should receive a sufficient amount of light.
Did you know? Gooseberries contain a large amount of pectins that can actively remove toxins, radioactive substances, heavy metal salts and waste from the body, and their concentration is maximum in green fruits.
It should also be remembered that such a neighborhood can last quite a long time, since a perennial gooseberry bush can bear fruit for 25 years, and during this period the tree will grow significantly.
Oppressive neighborhood
Garden crops such as:
- strawberry;
- raspberries;
- grape;
- black currant.
All of these crops have common pests and diseases that can be transferred from crops growing nearby. The massive spread of diseases or parasites may lead to the need to destroy plants, since their treatment or prevention will be ineffective.
Compatibility of grapes with other crops
What can you plant next to the cherry tree?
Grapes are one of the most light-loving fruit crops. It should not be grown between tall tree crops, as they will certainly shade the grapes.
Additional information : It is better to cultivate low-growing, shade-tolerant vegetation near grapes.
When growing grapes with other neighbors, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the plant’s root system. If the proximity is incorrect, the roots of different crops will overlap, which will impede the supply of moisture and nutrients. In this regard, legumes, for example, would be good neighbors for grapes, while corn is not suitable for joint cultivation.
Grapes belong to the category of moisture-loving crops that form a high-quality harvest only with regular irrigation. For it, it is necessary to select appropriate neighbors, including on this basis.
What to plant next to gooseberries to improve productivity
To increase productivity and improve the quality of fruits, you should first of all choose the right site for cultivation, and then perform proper care in spring, summer and autumn. It is worth considering various varieties of gooseberries as ideal neighbors. This will improve pollination and, therefore, get a large harvest of larger berries.
Find out when gooseberries begin to bear fruit after planting the seedlings.
What absolutely cannot be planted close to gooseberries
Crops that can negatively affect the gooseberry harvest include:
- hyssop;
- fennel.
These plants release a number of substances into the soil that have a detrimental effect on the rhizome of the plant and, consequently, on the growth and development of the bush itself.
Planting vegetables
To rationally use the space under the birch tree, you can plant various vegetable crops there. The most suitable are various beans - peas, chickpeas, beans (regular and green), lentils.
Another good option is green crops that take root well in the shade. Such crops include the following:
When choosing plants for planting near a birch tree, gardeners recommend giving preference to crops that have a shallow root system. It is important that plants can safely tolerate both light deficiency and lack of moisture. It is not worth planting moisture- and light-loving plants in the garden under a birch tree, since this vigorous tree will inhibit their development and growth.
Source
Soil selection
Gooseberries are not too picky about the composition of the soil. But to obtain a good harvest, it is desirable that the soil has a sufficient layer of black soil or humus, is medium loamy, breathable and moderately moist. Therefore, when planting in sandy soil, you need to add clay, and then constantly apply fertilizer. And, conversely, add sand to the clay soil and loosen it as often as possible.
If the soil is highly acidic, the pH value is above 5.5 (medium acid soil), then you need to add ground limestone or burnt lime to neutralize it.
In autumn or spring, before planting bushes, the earth is dug up to the depth of a spade, loosened and cleared of weed roots.
Currants grow in the sun and will help in the shade
Naturally, shade-loving fruit bushes for the garden planted in sunny places will bear fruit much better, but in the absence of an alternative, these are optimal crops that can grow well in the shade.
Currant is one of the shrubs most adapted for growing in the shade. Unpretentious in care, it reproduces easily and quickly in all its varieties. Compact bushes of such high-yielding varieties as Pygmy, Rusalka, Yadrenaya will delight you with large berries.
Alpine currant is a beautiful tall (about 2 meters) shrub characterized by yellow flowers and graceful leaves. Flowering occurs in May, and in July the crop is already able to please with appetizing-looking red berries, which are actually completely tasteless. Currants are a winter-hardy plant, which can be attributed to the advantage of such a crop.
