Gooseberry Grushenka - features and characteristics

Gooseberry is a favorite shrub of gardeners. Unpretentious varieties with a stable yield are especially appreciated. This is the gooseberry Grushenka. It is popular for its strong immunity, unpretentious cultivation and easy berry picking. The variety gives a bountiful harvest that is easy to harvest due to the lack of sharp thorns on the plant.

Origin story

The gooseberry variety Grushenka is the result of the work of a group of breeders. In 1980, scientists set themselves the task of developing a hybrid with sweet massive fruits. At the same time, this species should have been different for the better - not to have thorns and to be more resistant to the cold climate of Russia. All this worked out, but another feature of the culture was the unusual elongated shape of the berries, which made them look like a pear in miniature. Because of this nuance, the variety got its name.

Gooseberry variety Grushenka

Characteristics of berries and bushes

Description of the bushes:

• gooseberry leaf shape is rectangular;
• falling shoots;
• average height of about 200 cm;
• the branches have a dense green mass;
• leaves with a classic glossy surface and reticular veins;
• inflorescences appear in 2-3 buds.

Description of berries:

• oval shape, elongated, slightly expanding at the bottom of the fruit;
• average yield per year - 6 kg;
• the weight of each berry reaches 5 g.

The color of the berries changes during ripening from green to red-purple

Features of the variety

Description of Grushenka gooseberry:

• ripening period - from late July to early August. The variety belongs to early flowering crops. The berries appear early. At this time, the fruits have a pink tint, turning into a rich purple color by the end of July;
• resistance to weather conditions. The variety is characterized by increased frost resistance. Grushenka easily tolerates frosts and sudden changes in temperature. Also, the hybrid does not lend itself to viral and bacterial diseases, in particular, powdery mildew;
• taste qualities. The fruits have a pronounced sweet taste with a sour note. The pulp of the fruit is juicy, fleshy. Fruiting culture lasts up to 20 years. During the season, you can collect about 6 kg of the crop from the bush;
• the use of berries. Usually, gooseberry fruits are used in cooking for making jams, fruit drinks, compotes and desserts. They also found application in medicine and cosmetology due to their beneficial effect on the body.

The advantages of the variety:

• resistance to cold and heat;
• early fruiting;
• during transportation, the pulp is not damaged due to the dense skin;
• high productivity;
• unpretentiousness in growing and care;
• immunity to disease;
• lack of thorny thorns.

Disadvantages:

• due to the high yield, the heavy mass of the berries pulls the branches down. After rain, a wet bush may break;
• due to the high yield, the berries lose their taste. The more fruits, the more sour the taste of the berries can be;
• berries quickly fall off the branches. Accordingly, the gardener has to control this process and harvest as quickly as possible.

Planting young seedlings on the site

Experienced gardeners recommend choosing the autumn period for planting gooseberry seedlings in a permanent place.Three months is enough for the plant to take root and gain strength for wintering in the harsh climatic conditions of Russia. When planting in the spring, they choose the time when the growing season begins, and the soil will have time to thaw.

The planting scheme should be chosen such that the plants are no closer than 1 m from each other. This option will prevent the intertwining of the branches, and the root system will develop normally.

What seedlings to choose:

• a one-year-old plant should have small roots without damage or rot;
• if two-year-old seedlings are purchased, you should choose a bush with a piece of soil on the roots. Moreover, such a plant should already have branches with emerging buds;
• the average height of the seedling should be 10 cm.

Features of seasonal care

This variety is unpretentious in care and does not require special attention. To obtain the desired amount of fruit, the bush should be systematically watered, fed and pruned.

Thin branches can break under the influence of the wind, so the seedlings should be tied to special supports, which are located 20 cm from the roots.

Mineral fertilizers should be applied once or twice a year. They will be enough for the entire ripening period. If the soil is acidic, you should add special fertilizers to normalize the indicator.

When caring for gooseberries, remember that they need formative and sanitary pruning. In early spring, cut off a third of the bush and remove damaged branches.

Before the onset of winter, several more procedures should be carried out:

• do another trim;
• get rid of diseased sprouts;
• treat shrubs with special solutions that will scare away insects;
• remove fallen leaves and other debris;
• fertilize the soil.

3-4 supports are enough to support the bush

Reproduction

Gooseberry propagation occurs by cuttings. The procedure is carried out in the middle of the season, that is, in the summer. To do this, cut off a shoot about 15 cm long from an adult bush. The cut site is treated with a solution for the growth of the root system. When planting, the cutting is deepened at an angle of 45 °. Before the shoots appear on the plant, regular watering is required.

A simpler option is to propagate by layering. It is enough to tilt one branch to the ground, pinch it with metal clothespins, sprinkle it with soil and water it abundantly. After a few days, the cuttings will take root, and it can be separated from the mother bush, and then transplanted to the chosen place.

The Grushenka variety is popular for its bountiful harvest, ease of care and fruit picking. Berries have the ability to change color as they ripen from green to purple. The variety is frost-resistant and easily tolerates winter.