Gooseberry Grushenka

In search of an unpretentious gooseberry that consistently yields delicious berries, you should pay attention to the Grushenka variety. The shrub attracts gardeners with excellent immunity, low demands on soil and care. One of the important advantages of the variety is the absence of thorns, which greatly simplifies harvesting.

History of breeding varieties

The gooseberry variety Grushenka was bred by breeders in the 80s of the last century. The main goal pursued by scientists was to create a frost-resistant shrub variety with large, sweet berries and no thorns. As a result of selection work, it was possible to create such a variety. It got its name due to the specific shape of the fruit, resembling miniature pears.

Description of the bush and berries

The gooseberry bush has an average height and drooping shoots. The branches of the plant are densely covered with glossy green foliage. Inflorescences of 2-3 buds are formed on the shoots. The shape of the berries is rounded, expanding towards the bottom. In the process of ripening, the peel changes color from light green with a reddish bloom to purple. The average weight of Grushenka berries is 4-5 gr. In favorable conditions, up to 6 kg of sweet gooseberries can be harvested per season.

Advantages and disadvantages

Variety Grushenka fell in love with gardeners for unpretentiousness and an abundance of sweet and sour berries. Gooseberries can bear fruit in a wide variety of climatic zones. Before buying a seedling, you should consider the main positive and negative qualities of the variety.

Characterization

The hybrid Grushenka belongs to the varieties of gooseberries that even novice gardeners can grow. An undemanding variety is suitable for planting in a summer cottage and does not need daily care. At the same time, the culture is characterized by a stable yield and high immunity.

Productivity

Gooseberry bushes are literally strewn with berries along the entire length of the shoots. The variety is characterized by the ability to quickly grow young shoots with a large number of fruit buds. The berries are tied both on annual branches of Grushenka and on adult shoots. The average yield of a bush often exceeds 6 kg. A large number of fruits forces gardeners to tie up heavy, leaning branches to the ground.

Drought and winter hardiness

Variety Grushenka is recognized as a leader in the ability to tolerate low and high temperatures. Gooseberry bushes, even without additional shelter, can withstand 30 ° frost. Flowering branches of the crop also withstand short-term frosts, which makes it possible to grow a variety in regions with a cold climate. Grushenka is not afraid of dry, hot weather.

Disease and pest resistance

The variety is highly resistant to various diseases. Experts note that the Grushenka gooseberry is practically not affected by powdery mildew, septoria and viral diseases. This characteristic of the variety allows you to save cultivation efforts and get an environmentally friendly crop without the use of chemicals.

Sometimes the hybrid is attacked by pests. One of the most common is the spider mite. The pest infects the plant in dry weather. In addition, the variety suffers from aphids and moths.

Ripening period

Gooseberry Grushenka belongs to mid-season varieties. Flowering culture begins in late spring. Berries begin to ripen in the second half of July. Fruiting continues until mid-August. Due to the dense skin, the berries do not crack for a long time on the branches. This allows gardeners to harvest fruits at a convenient time without fear of losing the crop.

Transportability

Easy care and abundant fruiting contribute to the fact that many gardeners grow a variety for further sale. Berries retain their integrity and presentation for a long time. The peel protects the berries from mechanical damage, which makes the Grushenka variety suitable for transportation and prolongs the commercial properties.

Growing conditions

Gooseberry variety Grushenka is grown on almost any soil composition. The most preferred soil is loam. It is advisable to plant gooseberries in loose, nutritious soil with neutral acidity.

An adult plant does not tolerate transplanting well, so you should immediately take care of choosing a permanent place. The shrub is planted in a lighted place, light partial shade is allowed. To protect seedlings from wind and drafts, Grushenka’s plantings can be placed along the fence. Vegetable crops are considered the best predecessors of gooseberries. Bushes should not be planted after currants.

Features of landing

The preferred time for planting seedlings in a permanent place is the autumn months. Gooseberries should be planted 1-1,5 months before the onset of frost. During this time, he will have time to take root for a successful wintering. Spring planting is carried out between the thawing of the soil and the beginning of the growing season.

Grushenka seedlings are located at a distance of 1-1,5 m from each other. Such a planting scheme will allow the gooseberry root system to develop correctly and prevent the interweaving of the ground part.

Quality seedlings must meet a number of characteristics:

• In one-year-old seedlings, small roots should be thick, without damage and peeling.
• Biennial bushes should be sold together with an earthy clod. The root neck of a quality seedling is smooth, without signs of rot.
• A young bush of the 2nd year of life should have several spreading branches with buds.
• The optimal shoot length is 10-15 cm.

Planting gooseberries is carried out in compliance with several rules that allow the bushes to quickly adapt to a new place.

• The seedling is soaked in a growth stimulator according to the instructions.
• For each bush, dig a hole 50 cm deep and in diameter in accordance with the volume of the root system.
• A bucket of humus and complex mineral fertilizer are poured into the pit, thoroughly mixed and sprinkled with a layer of earth.
• The seedling is buried at an angle so that the root neck is 5-6 cm underground.
• Gooseberry bushes are abundantly shed with water under the root, having previously tamped the soil.

A one-year-old seedling of Grushenka, subject to all the rules of planting, actively grows shoots and begins to bear fruit the very next year.

Care instructions

The variety does not require much attention in the growing process. Fruiting continues even without the participation of the gardener, while the quality and quantity of berries are reduced. In order for Grushenka to give the maximum yield of delicious gooseberries, it is enough to pay attention to watering, top dressing and shaping pruning of bushes.

Support

Young, thin branches of the gooseberry Grushenka are tied to a support. They can be damaged under the weight of berries or from strong winds. At a distance of 15-20 cm from the root collar of the gooseberry seedling, 3 pegs are dug, tied with twine, and the branches of the bush are fixed between the supports.

The crown of an adult Grushenka bush also needs the support of branches. Under the weight of pouring berries, they tend to the ground, which can lead to fungus damage to the culture. The support is adjusted as the plant grows. At the moment of harvest ripening, Grushenka needs additional support, due to the fact that a significant part of the branches is located horizontally.

Additional fertilizing

Variety Grushenka does not need frequent feeding. It is enough to apply complex mineral fertilizers to the soil 1-2 times a year. The amount of fertilizing depends on the nutritional value of the soil and the condition of the plant. Fertilizers added to the soil during planting are enough for gooseberries for the whole season. Increased soil acidity can be normalized with dolomite flour or wood ash. In autumn, superphosphate can be applied under gooseberry bushes.

Pruning of bushes

Variety Grushenka needs 2 types of pruning: sanitary and shaping. The optimal time for the procedure is early spring. During this period, it is desirable to shorten the shrub by 1/3 in height, remove all damaged and diseased branches. More information about spring pruning is described in the video.

The variety is characterized by a rapid growth of young shoots. During the season, it is necessary to ensure that the overgrown branches do not block sunlight from each other. Lack of lighting will lead to a loss of taste of the berries.

Reproduction

 Gooseberry Grushenka is propagated by cuttings or layering. Cuttings can be carried out from mid-summer to early autumn.

• In an adult bush, a cutting 15 cm long with several buds is cut at an acute angle.
• The twig is treated with a root formation stimulator.
• The prepared cutting is placed at an angle of 45 ° in loose soil so that at least 2-3 buds remain on the surface.
• The seedling is regularly watered until new shoots begin to form on it.

An easier way to propagate gooseberry Grushenka is by layering. To do this, it is necessary to bend an annual shoot to the ground and pin it with a metal bracket. The place of contact is sprinkled with soil and watered. As soon as the seedling grows several young branches, it is separated from the mother bush.

Preparation for winter

The cold-resistant qualities of the Grushenka variety allow the gooseberry to winter without additional shelter. Preparatory work before the onset of winter:

• sanitary pruning of old, diseased shoots;
• treatment of shrubs from pest larvae with Bordeaux liquid;
• removal of debris, fallen leaves and mulch layer.

If necessary, mineral fertilizers can be applied under each gooseberry bush.

Diseases and pests

The variety is highly disease resistant. The main concern of the gardener is to protect the Gooseberry Grushenka from the invasion of pests. The table provides a description of dangerous insects and measures to combat them.

Conclusion

Grushenka is a gooseberry variety that is deservedly popular with gardeners. Sweet berries of unusual shape and color are ideal for canning or fresh consumption. An unpretentious shrub gives a bountiful harvest without much effort on the part of gardeners.

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