Contents
Gooseberry Belarusian sugar is one of the most popular varieties of this type of plant. The plant is undemanding to care and growing conditions, however, in order for the fruiting to be plentiful and regular, you still have to follow a number of rules.
Description of the gooseberry variety Belarusian sugar
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry is a vigorous plant, the self-fertility of which exceeds 65%. The variety is recommended for growing in Belarus, Ukraine, the southern regions of Our Country, Siberia and the Urals. Bush pollinators are not required. As the description of the variety, photos and reviews shows, the Belarusian gooseberry is difficult to distinguish in appearance from other varieties. The height of the bush, as a rule, is about 1 m, but can reach 1,5 m.
Shrub shoots are relatively thin, but strong and durable, looking up. When the fruits ripen on the bush of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry, the branches densely strewn with berries bend to the ground under their weight. Thickened central shoots practically do not bend. The thorniness of the shoots of the culture is strong. Spikes can be single, double or triple. The bush itself is tall, but slightly sprawling.
The buds on the shoots begin to bloom with the advent of spring, and by the end of April the bush is usually completely covered with greenery. The medium-sized folded leaves consist of five lobes and are painted in a rich green hue. The leaf surface is glossy.
Flowering also begins very early; in central Our Country, it most often falls in mid-May. The flowers of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry are small, inconspicuous, bisexual and pollinated by insects.
The fruits of the Belarusian gooseberry are round-oval in shape, light green in color and are quite large. The weight of one berry can reach 9 g. The peel of the fruit is thin, dense, hairless. Their flesh is pale green, the juice is clear.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The gooseberry variety Belarusian sugar is perfectly adapted to an unstable climate with severe frosts in winter. The variety belongs to the frost resistance zone 5a, which means that the plant can withstand temperatures as low as 28,9 degrees below zero.
This gooseberry variety tolerates heat and drought calmly. After being in adverse conditions, plants quickly recover.
fruiting, productivity
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry is considered a mid-early variety. Ripening of berries should be expected at the end of July.
The yield of the variety from one bush is 4 – 5 kg. Every year the harvest is increasing. The duration of fruiting is 12 – 15 years. Gooseberry berries of the Belarusian sugar variety after ripening are able to remain on the shoots for a long time without crumbling and not baking in the sun.
The fruits of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry are very tender, sweet, have a barely pronounced sourness. According to the tasting scale, the variety deserved a rating of 4,8 points out of 5 maximum possible. The pulp of berries contains up to 14% sugars, about 2% acids, as well as a large amount of vitamin C. For jam from berries of this variety, a minimum amount of sugar is required. The fruits are also suitable for fresh consumption and wine making.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety:
- self-fertility;
- fruiting regularity;
- bush compactness;
- large size of berries;
- high yield;
- sweet, dessert fruits;
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- high frost resistance.
Disadvantages of the Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety:
- the problematic collection of fruits due to the strong thorniness of the shoots.
Features of reproduction
Gooseberries varieties Belarusian sugar can be propagated using several methods: cuttings and layering. The method of propagation by layering is considered the most effective. This procedure is carried out in the spring, only strong, healthy shoots should be used as layering. It is necessary to dig a hole, place the shoots in it and sprinkle it with earth on top, leaving only the top above the surface. Next autumn, young plants can be separated from the mother bush.
Propagation by cuttings is not as effective, since their survival rate is lower.
Planting and care
Landing can be done both in spring, in April, and in autumn, in October. Gooseberries of the Belarusian sugar variety should be placed in well-lit places. Insufficient lighting adversely affects the taste of the berries and may be the cause of a low yield.
Belarusian sugar gooseberries do not respond well to stagnant water in the soil. In flooded areas, it is necessary to provide the bush with good drainage, otherwise its development will be weak. With a long stay in waterlogged soil, the plant begins to hurt and may even die.
The soil for this gooseberry variety should be light, loamy or sandy, neutral or slightly acidic. The optimal level of acidity is 6 – 6,5 pH.
When choosing planting material, gooseberry seedlings should be carefully examined for the presence of diseases. It is best to purchase planting material in specialized nurseries and gardening stores. The seedling must have at least one shoot at least 5 mm thick and several skeletal roots at least 15 cm long.
For the comfortable development of the root system of the plant, a large space is needed. During planting, a distance of at least 2 m between adjacent rows and 1 m between bushes in rows should be observed.
The algorithm for planting gooseberries of the Belarusian sugar variety:
- Dig a hole for planting, the size of which is about 50 cm in diameter and about 60 cm deep.
- Place humus (10 kg), superphosphate (200 g) and potash fertilizers (20 g) in the pit.
- Pour about 3-5 liters of water into the hole. Wait until the liquid is completely absorbed, repeat the procedure.
- Place a seedling in the center of the pit, not forgetting to straighten the roots. Cover with earth, deepening the root neck by no more than 5 – 7 cm.
- The next day, slightly loosen the soil in the trunk circle and mulch. Otherwise, when the soil dries out, the roots may crack.
Growing rules
Getting a plentiful and regular harvest for many years is facilitated by proper plant care.
When the weather is warm and dry outside, watering is usually done once a week. Water the shrub directly under the root. During the formation of flowers, ovaries and fruits, the Belarusian sugar gooseberry needs more abundant watering.
Bird droppings, mullein or ready-made mineral complexes are usually used as fertilizers. If the land on which gooseberries grow is depleted, top dressing should be done annually. Fertile soil is fertilized every three years.
Pruning is recommended for Belarusian sugar gooseberries in the spring, before the buds open, or in the autumn, after the crop has already been harvested. Shrub shoots are quite plastic, so it is easy to give them any desired shape. You can grow a plant in the classical way, with a one-arm or two-arm cordon, as well as on a trellis. So that the shoots do not bend under the weight of the berries, it is best to tie them up.
Shelter for the winter, the plant, as a rule, is not required. However, if the winter turned out to be little snowy, the trunk circle should be mulched. Straw, manure and spruce sawdust are perfect for this.
To protect the gooseberry bush from rodents, during the autumn you need to dig up the ground between the rows and in the trunk circles to destroy their holes. After that, the trunk and skeletal branches should be tied with spruce branches.
Pests and diseases
The Belarusian sugar gooseberry variety is distinguished by high immunity to various diseases. To prevent diseases, the old layer of mulch is removed with the advent of spring, after watering the bush with hot water (3 – 5 l). The old layer is replaced with a new one.
An additional preventive measure is tillage under the bush with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. The procedure should be performed before bud break. Before the formation of buds, the bush is treated with Karbofos. This will protect the plant from insects such as aphids, gall midges and sawflies. You can get rid of the kidney mite with the help of colloidal sulfur (30 g per 10 liters of water).
Conclusion
Belarusian sugar gooseberry is one of the most popular varieties of green gooseberries among gardeners in Our Country. It is distinguished by high palatability, abundant fruiting, unpretentious care and high frost resistance.
