Gooseberry Malachite - what to do with the plant after picking berries

Gooseberry has long been one of the favorite plants of gardeners. It is not surprising that it was him in the post-war years that they began to cultivate as an indispensable element of berry planting in summer cottages. After all, berries contain just a huge amount of vitamins. In addition, many varieties, as it turned out, tolerate frost perfectly, which expanded the distribution area far to the north.

History of the origin of the variety

Work on the development of a new frost-resistant, highly productive gooseberry variety began in the early 1940s. The value of the culture, in terms of the content of vitamins, could hardly be overestimated. That is why it was decided to focus efforts on the development of new varieties, based on the varieties released for the European part of the country. The success of the work of the group of K. Sergeeva was outlined in 1952, when it was possible to develop a number of varieties that generally meet the requirements. Finally, the variety was bred in 1959 by the All-Russian All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin. The parental pair of the variety was Date and Black Negus.

Gooseberry Malachite

Gooseberry Malachite, the description of the variety of which is fixed in the register of varieties, is characterized as a gooseberry of medium early ripening with a short growing season and a long productive period of fruiting - up to 15 years.

Characteristics of the bushes

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The bushes are characterized as tall with a lot of shoots. Shoots are straight, resilient, prone to intertwining within the bush during growth.

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; in a year, shoot rejuvenation with proper care can reach 25-30%.

Gooseberry malachite has large, more than medium-sized leaves. The leaf plate is smooth, during the fruiting period the leaves become dull, the color from pale green in spring to deep green-grassy in summer. The top of the leaf plate 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 of white or pale green color. The peel is thin, the inside is rich in seeds. The weight of 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! Additional pollination is not required for the flowers, since the culture is self-fertile, and the pollinator is not needed for it.

Ripe berries on the branches

Features of the variety

The 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 berries ripen at the end of June and beginning of July. Mass harvest with 80-90% ripeness of commercial quality berries occurs at the end of July. For breeding by seeds, the berries are picked at the beginning of 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 the age of 15-16, the yield decreases from peak to 30-40%. The average yield at the productive age is up to 4 kg of berries from a bush.

Taste qualities

The pulp is juicy, with a pronounced sour tone and a sugar aftertaste. They have a strong berry aroma. Even overripe berries clearly give a sour flavor.

Drought resistance and frost resistance

For this variety, severe frosts down to -25 degrees are not critically difficult. The variety was bred with the expectation of growing in regions with a small cool summer and long winters with frequent thaws. Malachite is perfectly adapted to the conditions of central Russia. Winds, icing and large snow cover are not afraid of him.

Important! In dry periods, gooseberries require additional care - timely feeding, watering and treatment with protective drugs against pests and diseases.

Disease and pest resistance

The main pests of gooseberries in the middle lane and the Moscow region are pests of the local range. Among others, the greatest danger is posed by:

aphids - affects both individual bushes and entire plantings;
moths;
sawers - damage to productive shoots of 2-3 years of age is dangerous.

Control methods - timely thinning, treatment with chemicals, mandatory rejuvenation of the bush. Compliance with the rules for the disposal of affected shoots.

Attention! A single application of an aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate in April-May will help strengthen the protection of the bush in the spring and summer.

The variety has relative resistance to biological factors, however, despite the ability to withstand powdery mildew, it can be affected by:

anthracosis;
septoria;
rust.

Prevention and treatment methods:

compliance with all conditions of agricultural technology - autumn harvesting of leaves, spring pruning and feeding, mulching;
watering in dry weather; the critical month is July.
treatment in the fall with protective compounds, in the spring treatment with a Bordeaux mixture.
during the growing season - systemic immunostimulating drugs.

Advice! It is necessary to constantly loosen the ground under the bush, this will increase gas exchange and reduce to a minimum the likelihood of developing spores in the soil, this is another operation of what needs to be done with gooseberries after picking berries.

Using berries

Commercial berries with a maximum sugar content are suitable for eating. In culinary recipes, gooseberries are used as filling in pies, they make jelly, jam, and compotes from it.

For exotic lovers, there are recipes for homemade gooseberry Malachite wine and liqueurs. The wine has a bright berry aroma, it has a viscous consistency. And the liqueur is a rich malachite color scheme. And the taste, and the bouquet!

Harvesting berries

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 lane, it should be noted:

high frost resistance;
consistently high yield;
excellent taste of berries, full of vitamins and microelements;
fruits, unlike other varieties, do not crumble, but stay on the branches until they are completely dry;
berries tolerate transportation well without losing their appearance and taste.

Alas, there are also disadvantages:

mediocre resistance to anthracosis;
the need for timely watering during dry periods.

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, seedlings of 1-2 years old with a well-developed root system are used. Before planting, the seedlings are cut from dry twigs and the rejuvenation of the rhizome is done. Before planting, it is recommended to soak for 4-6 hours in a solution of root or other preparations for accelerated rooting.

Landing time and 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 come and the weather allows watering, at this time it is more convenient to take care of new plantings.

The spring planting period is focused on stable warm weather, when active swelling of the buds begins.

The planting scheme is ordinary, with an interval between the bushes of 1-1.5 meters. It is a tall, sprawling bush and needs room to maneuver while working.

Choosing a landing site

Recommended for plantation:

sunny side of the site, open to the sun throughout the day;
lack 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! Contraindication to planting - lowland, flooded and swampy areas, places with a high level of groundwater.

Planting a bush

Site preparation

Site preparation consists in clearing the place from old plantings, leveling the surface, breaking down the planting pattern in rows, observing the row spacing.

Planting process

Planting pits are prepared 7-10 days before planting. Size 50x50 cm in depth 55-60 cm. The bottom is covered with humus or manure. Layer 2-5 cm, followed by 5 cm of fertile soil. Water plentifully before planting. The seedling is set in the middle of the hole. Before this, the roots are straightened so that there is as much area of the root system as possible.

Backfilling is carried out with a constant ramming to eliminate the formation of voids. After planting, pruning the tops to a height of 15-17 cm and watering with 10-12 liters of water.

Advice! It is recommended to leave no more than 5-6 buds above the ground. This will ensure the maximum growth of the branch for the next year. And the first winter will allow you to cover the branches of such a height with a layer of snow from frost.

Features of seasonal watering and care

In different seasons, caring for the bushes is different.

Watering and feeding

The dates of the first watering and top dressing are late April - early May before the flowering period. For feeding, it is recommended to use iron vitriol or organic solution.

The second top dressing at the beginning of berry ripening is the first decade of June. July is usually limited to watering every 7-10 days. Post-harvest gooseberry care consists of watering to maintain water balance and to strengthen the branches during rooting.

Attention! Gooseberries should not be watered with cold water.

Mulching and loosening

Mulching is carried out in several ways. Pine bark is used in autumn after harvest. In the spring, it is removed and disposed of. Instead, straw or hay is stacked. In the period of flowering and fruiting, it is recommended to use freshly cut grass. The chopped grass is placed under the bush, a week later, when loosening, a new portion of mulch is added. Loosening is recommended 4-5 days after watering.

Preventive treatment

For the winter, the branches are sprayed with anti-spore preparations with paint to protect them from the sun. After the snow melts, the preparation is repeated. Before loosening the leaves, sprinkle with Bordeaux mixture. In June-July, but no later than 14 days before picking berries, a complex preparation is applied. In case of damage to diseases, the use of drugs of complex action.

Using supports

So that the branches do not bent to the ground, they 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 ropes.

Plastic pipe fencing option

Pruning

Prophylactic pruning runs from May to July. No pruning is planned for August. What to do with gooseberries after picking berries in September-October is to form a bush and remove shoots older than 4 years. In the spring, dead branches are removed to live tissue.

Preparing for winter

First of all, you need to increase the frost resistance of the layers - they need to be covered with a layer of foliage or reeds. Before hibernation, diseased and dead branches must be removed. Remove the gooseberry leaves and mulch with bark.

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate gooseberries: cuttings, division, layering and grafting. The most laborious and long-lasting is by seeds.

Cuttings

For grafting, twigs with 5-6 leaf nodes are used. The headline is done in early May. Before planting, soaking is done in a rooting solution. After that, the trim is placed in the greenhouse. After 21 days, the greenhouse opens and the stalk is kept open.

Important! Disembarkation must be carried out in the fall before the onset of frost.

By dividing

For reproduction, bushes older than 5-6 years are used. All old shoots are removed one year before the procedure. In spring or autumn, the bush is dug up, and young shoots with a root system are separated. The disembarkation is done at a new location.

Layers

A green young 1-2 year old shoot is bent to the ground in spring and 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, top dressing is done with urea. The readiness of the layering at the spring laying in 1 year.

Vaccinations

You can bring a new variety by grafting. Lignified shoots are taken for inoculation. The vaccination is done before the onset of the swelling of the kidneys. 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 in or carried away to the cellar. Germinates in the spring.

Attention! The disadvantage of this technology is the low probability of obtaining a plant with pronounced maternal characteristics.

Pest and disease control

The key to success in pest control is the correct care of plants and the use of complex preparations for their protection. Proper care includes mulching, sanitary pruning, fertilizing and watering. In the condition of chemical treatment, spraying in autumn and spring against spores. And in the summer for protection from pests and diseases.

If you carry out all the processes and operations for caring for the Malachite gooseberry, there is a high probability that the bushes will delight with a consistently large harvest. It is not for nothing that this variety with a 60-year history is still popular with gardeners.