Contents
The well-known and modern varieties, which are distinguished by rare “thorns” and resistance to powdery mildew, include Beryl gooseberries, it is also characterized by a rich, stable harvest.
History of breeding varieties
Variety Beryl was created on the territory of our country in the 70s of the last century. It was obtained by crossing varieties Malachite and Nugget. He owes his appearance to the doctor of agricultural sciences V. S. Ilyin. The scientist is the successor of the work of A.P. Gubenko, a breeder who obtained new varieties and varieties of gooseberries. The result turned out to be extraordinary: the created variety in many respects surpassed the parental forms in terms of its performance.
Description of the bush and berries
Beryl gooseberry is characterized by medium height and medium spreading, dense crown and a small number of thorns, which are located singly in the lower part of the shoot. Usually they “look” down, rarely move away from the branches at an angle of 90 degrees.
The leaves of the Beryl variety are large, five-lobed, pale green in color, the edges of which are framed by elongated teeth. The leaves are not pubescent, with a shiny leaf blade.
Gooseberry shoots are curved and hang down. The flowers of this variety are goblet-shaped, they form a two-color inflorescence. Emerging fruits are light green in color, with a smooth surface and a thin, transparent skin.
Dessert gooseberries have a sweet taste with sourness, have a high tasting score. They differ in large sizes – up to 9 g (larger than cherries). This is the maximum size, and the average size is 4 g. The berries are sweet due to the content of monosaccharides in their composition, and ascorbic acid and a number of other organic acids give them sourness. In the process of ripening on gooseberry bushes, they become sweeter and acquire an amber-green hue.
General characteristics of the Beryl gooseberry variety are presented in the video:
Advantages and disadvantages
The Beryl variety has many positive qualities, but there are also minor disadvantages, which are shown in the table.
Pros | Cons |
frost resistance: withstands temperatures down to -38 ° C | poor resistance to septoria |
powdery mildew resistance | |
peculiar, special taste of berries, their large size | |
high yield | |
self-fertile (no need for pollinators) | |
few spikes | |
good transportability |
Features
Beryl gooseberry is characterized by a number of indicators that speak of its main qualities and make it possible to select a variety for growing in a summer cottage.
Productivity
An adult gooseberry bush has a high yield: it produces 3-10 kg of berries per season. Moreover, the collection can begin as early as mid-July, since Beryl belongs to varieties with an average ripening period. Fruits steadily in different weather conditions. The yield directly depends on the care and age of the gooseberry.
Drought and winter hardiness
Gooseberries of this variety are winter-hardy, withstand low temperatures, and therefore do not require shelter for the winter. Beryl is suitable for the regions of the Urals and Western Siberia. It is drought-resistant, can survive short dry periods, but does not tolerate excess moisture.
Ripening period
The berries are large and have a high tasting score due to their excellent taste.
Disease and pest resistance
Gooseberries are resistant to pests and diseases, but are easily affected by septoria, a fungal disease in which gray or rusty spots with a yellow border form on the leaves.
With a strong defeat, the shoots dry out, the leaves fall from the bush.
Transportability
Despite the thin skin, the berries tolerate transportation well, which facilitates their sale in different regions. Stored for several days.
Growing conditions
Beryl does not create special growing conditions for gooseberries. It can be planted on clay and loamy, sandy and sandy soil. It will not grow on acidic, swampy, cold soils. On loams with a high content of humus, this variety has the best fruiting.
An open, well-lit place is suitable for landing. When thickening the gooseberry bush, thinning is important so that each shoot is provided with access to sunlight and air.
He does not need special methods of care and only in case of illness requires a more attentive attitude towards himself.
Features of landing
Gooseberries are planted in the spring, and more often in the autumn, 3-4 weeks before the start of frost to adapt the root system. Choose an open and illuminated area on a hill, where there are no northern winds. The close location of groundwater is unacceptable.
Before planting, the soil is prepared for gooseberries, for which it is necessary:
- reduce acidity at high pH by adding lime or dolomite flour;
- clear of weeds and dig up;
- lighten heavy soil by adding humus (compost), peat, sand;
- add 1 m2 a bucket of humus, 30 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium phosphate and a glass of wood ash.
Sometimes the nutrient composition is added directly during planting. They dig a hole 50 × 50, pour fertile soil into the bottom, carefully place the root system of a bush of this variety on top and sprinkle it with earth, periodically trampling it so that there are no voids in the earth. The root neck is not deepened and is located above the ground level.
For planting, 2-year-old Beryl gooseberry seedlings are selected with a formed root system and lignified roots up to 25 cm. The seedling should ideally have 3-4 strong shoots. Before planting, they cut off the leaves and shorten the shoots. The planted plant is watered abundantly, a trunk circle is created and the soil surface is mulched.
Care instructions
Despite the ease of care, the Beryl variety requires compliance with a number of agrotechnical measures.
Pruning of bushes
Without pruning, Beryl actively develops shoots, and after 2-3 years the gooseberry bush will be very thickened. At the same time, due to lack of nutrition, young shoots develop poorly. In the spring, before the end of the dormant period, it is important to cut out the old, twisted, diseased branches completely. The shoots of the current year are shortened by a third, and the 4 strongest ones are selected and left from the root ones. By the peak of fruiting (5-7 years), the bush should be formed by 18-20 branches of different ages.
Loosening
Beryl gooseberry is spudded and loosened up to 5 times per season. This technique delivers air to the roots and eliminates weeds. After it, the soil in the trunk circle must be mulched.
Additional fertilizing
A necessary procedure, since the Beryl variety bears fruit well only on fertilized soil. Therefore, even when planting in a soil rich in useful components, in a few years the soil will be depleted, and the yield will fall.
Gooseberries are fed sequentially:
- in spring, the soil around the bush is mulched with a nutrient substrate;
- until June, nitrogen fertilization is needed so that the bush actively grows;
- Beryl gooseberries are fed with organic matter: mullein or chicken manure;
- after flowering, gooseberries “in the diet” should be introduced potassium and phosphorus, which is introduced in the form of superphosphate and potassium phosphate, infusion of wood ash (2 dressings are enough until the fruits ripen);
- before the onset of frost, the bush is fed with 30 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium and magnesium phosphate, which is important for survival in the winter and subsequent fruiting.
Watering
Moisture is necessary for gooseberries, but the Beryl variety does not tolerate its excess. Excessive watering does not benefit the plant. In the spring, the growth of the bush begins due to melt water. And during dry periods, additional watering is necessary. Water is needed during periods of flowering and fruit set Beryl. The last time gooseberries are watered when 2 weeks remain before picking berries. Watering is done under the root, it is undesirable to wet the leaves.
Reproduction
Since the Beryl gooseberry belongs to shrubs, it propagates in the traditional ways for them: cuttings, grafting, dividing the bush. Each gardener chooses the most practical method in a particular situation.
Support
Support is necessary not only for the formation of a compact bush, but also prevents branches and stems from lodging. With good support, the branches will not break during strong winds or snowfall. The support facilitates the care of gooseberries: mulching, watering, loosening becomes easier.
Preparation for winter
Old leaves and branches need to be collected and burned, dig up the soil so that wintering pests die. During digging, you need to make phosphorus and potassium supplements and water the gooseberries abundantly. It is important to remove old shoots that have reached 5 years.
Pest and disease control
Most often, gooseberries of the Beryl variety affect septoria. The disease is caused by a fungus that develops on the leaves in the form of spots. Then they merge and the leaf falls off. Dark blotches form on the spots – these are fungal spores that, falling on the berries, infect them. The disease is actively developing and “attacks” the variety in wet weather, thickened gooseberry plantings also contribute to its development. Septoria has a strong effect on the subsequent harvest.
Control measures:
- cleaning and burning fallen gooseberry leaves;
- digging the soil;
- thinning thickened branches;
- fertilizer application, which increases resistance to disease;
- treatment with antifungal drugs.
Of the pests, the Beryl gooseberry bush is most often visited by aphids, moths, and sawflies. With timely detection, it is enough to treat the bushes with ash-soap solutions or Bordeaux mixture.
Conclusion
Gooseberry Beryl, thanks to a number of advantages, has found many admirers-gardeners who grow it in their garden plots and enjoy a bountiful harvest and fragrant jam obtained from berries.
