Russian yellow - a tasty and healthy gooseberry variety

Description of the bush and berries

Features of the Russian Yellow variety:

• medium-sized, slightly spreading shrub;
• height from 1 to 2 m;
• straight branches;
• average number of thorns, most of which are located in the lower part of the shoots;
• green, leathery leaves with slightly curved tips.

Description of berries of the Russian Yellow variety:

• large size;
• weight 5-7 g;
• oval shape;
• yellow color of the pulp;
• transparent skin with a waxy coating.

Due to the thick skin, the berries hang on the bushes for a long time and do not crack. They have tender flesh and a sweet and sour taste.

Characteristics

Main characteristics of the Russian Yellow variety:

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the Russian Yellow variety:

• high commercial and taste qualities of berries;
• resistance to diseases, drought and frost;
• good early pregnancy;
• universal use of fruits.

The disadvantages of Russian yellow gooseberries include:

• presence of sharp thorns;
• sour taste of berries.

Russian yellow gooseberry: reviews from gardeners

• Rimma Aleksandrovna, Samara region: “I think Russian yellow gooseberries are an excellent variety that is suitable for cultivation both on an industrial scale and in private plots. Gooseberries are sweet and aromatic. But this variety is unpretentious in care, which I really like, since other gooseberry varieties on my site need constant supervision.”
• Alexander Viktorovich, Chelyabinsk region: “I can’t say anything bad about the Russian Yellow gooseberry variety. The variety is winter-hardy and drought-resistant, the yield is excellent, the taste characteristics are pleasantly surprising, and I did not notice any particular difficulties in growing the variety. Try planting Russian yellow gooseberries on your plot, and they will definitely please you.”

Russian yellow gooseberry: video about the variety

Growing conditions

To successfully grow gooseberries, the following conditions are necessary:

• good natural light;
• absence of drafts;
• a site located on a hill or a gentle slope;
• light, fertile soil.

The yield and taste of the fruit depend on the illumination of the area. In the shade, the bush develops slowly, and the fruits take a long time to gain sugar.

It is best to plant gooseberries in an elevated place or in the middle of a slope. Moisture and cold air often accumulate in lowlands, which negatively affects crop growth.

Gooseberries prefer fertile soil: loam, sandy loam or sandy soil. When planting, coarse sand and compost are added to clay soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The variety has been studied for the North-Western and Ural regions and shows good results under different weather conditions, which provides important advantages when choosing a variety for planting.

Advantages:

• resistance to frost and lack of moisture;
• excellent taste;
• high immunity to powdery mildew;
• good safety during transportation;
• crop stability.

Flaws:

• the possibility of pest damage to fruit bushes;
• non-compact bush shape.

Landing Features

Gooseberries are planted in late autumn (September-October) or early spring (April-May). Work is carried out in dry and warm weather.

One- or two-year-old seedlings with several shoots and a healthy root system are suitable for planting. Planting material is purchased from nurseries or trusted suppliers. It is not recommended to use seedlings with traces of rotting, cracks and other defects.

Procedure for planting gooseberries:

1. The soil under the gooseberries is dug up and cleared of plant and other debris.
2. Then a planting hole is dug with a diameter of 40 cm and a depth of 50 cm. The hole is left for 3-4 weeks for shrinkage. When carrying out work in the spring, it is better to prepare the hole in the fall.
3. In clayey soil, sand or crushed stone is poured onto the bottom to create a drainage layer. Add 10 kg of humus, 50 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate to fertile soil.
4. The gooseberry is placed in a hole, and its roots are covered with earth.
5. The soil is compacted and the plant is watered abundantly with warm water.

After planting, the shoots are cut off and 5-6 buds are left on each. The soil is mulched with humus to retain moisture.

When planting several bushes, 1-1.5 m is left between them. If gooseberries are planted in rows, at least 3 m is kept between them.

Reproduction

When propagating varieties whose shoots lay easily, no problems arise, but erect varieties are more difficult to lay. However, if this is done in a timely manner, then there will be no difficulties either.

Thanks to its unpretentiousness, the variety reproduces quite easily.

The easiest way to reproduce is by layering . In this case, there will be little planting material, but all of it will be reliably rooted.

1. Experienced gardeners, wanting to propagate the variety by layering, begin to do this in the spring. To do this, they choose a side shoot that is 1–2 years old.
2. Clear the area near the bush where the shoot will be placed and make a groove about 10 cm deep.
3. The ditch is well watered and the shoot is laid, pressing tightly to the surface of the soil.
4. For a tighter fit, staples are used. The laid shoot is sprinkled with soil only a little, 1–2 cm .
5. Very soon, vertical shoots will begin to appear from the buds of the mother shoot.
6. When their height is about 10 cm, they need to be hilled. To do this, garden soil is mixed with compost or mature humus and half of it is added under each shoot.
7. After 2–3 weeks, hilling is repeated. At this point, the soil will already be above the furrow.

Useful tips

The main conditions for successful reproduction will be:

1. Constantly moist soil on the shoot (throughout summer and autumn);
2. Clean from weeds;
3. The soil should be loose and nutritious.

The bush reproduces remarkably well by arc layering.

Propagation can be carried out using lignified cuttings and arc layering, but for novice gardeners these methods are unacceptable due to the difficulty of rooting.

Dividing the bush

Those who have dealt with “Yellow Russian” say that this variety tolerates bush division very well . When the bush grows strongly, it is dug up in late autumn and, using a saw or ax, cut into two or more parts, and care must be taken to ensure that the parts are even.

Such parts are planted 5–6 cm deeper than the mother bush grew. Thorough watering will ensure that the soil adheres tightly, and in the spring it is necessary to lightly hill up.

Rules of care

The growth and fruiting of the Russian Yellow variety depends on care. The bush needs feeding and pruning. In cold regions, gooseberries are prepared for winter.

Support

The slightly spreading shrub of the Russian Yellow variety is able to grow without additional support. Its branches often bend to the ground under the weight of berries. Due to the support, the process of harvesting and caring for the bush is simplified.

Therefore, it is recommended to install a support made of wooden planks around the bush. You can use metal pipes and stretch wire between them.

Top dressing

When applying fertilizers to the planting hole, Russian yellow gooseberries do not need additional feeding for the next 3-4 years.

Adult bushes are fed according to the following scheme:

• in early spring;
• when flowering;
• 3 weeks after flowering.

For the first feeding, prepare a natural solution consisting of mullein or bird droppings. The bush is watered at the root after the snow melts before the buds open. Fertilizer saturates the soil with nitrogen, which is necessary for shoot growth.

During the flowering period, prepare a complex fertilizer based on phosphorus and potassium. To 10 liters of water add 50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate.

After the gooseberries bloom, potassium-phosphorus fertilizing is repeated. Fertilizers can be incorporated dry into the soil around the bush.

Bush pruning

Gooseberries are pruned before or after sap flow. It is best to choose the autumn period, since gooseberries awaken early after winter. Pruning is carried out annually.

Important! Be sure to remove dry, broken and frozen branches. If the shoots thicken the bush and bear little fruit, then they are also cut out.

Branches older than 8 years become unproductive and must be removed. Such shoots are identified by the dark brown color of the bark.

Reproduction

If you have a bush of the Russian Yellow variety, you can get seedlings yourself. Methods for propagating gooseberries:

• By cuttings. In the fall, the required number of shoots 20 cm long are cut off. The cuttings are kept for 2 hours in a Fitosporin solution, then placed in the cellar for the winter. In February, gooseberries are rooted in containers with soil. When the seedlings have roots, they are transferred to a permanent place.
• By layering. In the spring, strong shoots are selected from gooseberries, which are lowered and attached to the ground. In the middle part, the branches are hilled and mulched with humus. In the fall, the cuttings are separated from the bush and planted in a new location.
• Dividing the bush. When transplanting gooseberries, its rhizome can be divided into several parts. Each seedling is left with several healthy roots. The cut areas are sprinkled with charcoal.

Preparing for winter

The Russian Yellow variety has high winter hardiness. In late autumn, abundant winter watering is carried out, which helps protect the gooseberries from freezing.

Young bushes need protection for the winter. Their shoots are covered with earth, a layer of humus 10 cm thick is poured on top. Spruce branches are tied to the branches. In winter, after snow falls, a snowdrift is thrown over the bush.

Pest and disease control

The main diseases to which gooseberries are susceptible are given in the table:

The most common gooseberry pests are listed in the table:

Description of the Russian Yellow variety

• medium-sized shrub, height reaches 1.2 meters, with medium spreading;
• young shoots are green, and fruiting shoots are light brown;
• a few thorns are located on the lower part of the branch;
• leaves are five-lobed, light green in color;
• the flowers are small, pale pink, 1-2 pcs. on the brush.