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Each person creates his own garden, selecting the most interesting fruit and berry crops. They should have a lot of advantages: be tasty, fruitful, unusual in color and shape. For example, the gooseberry collection will not suffer at all if the Prunes variety with its unique features is among the others.
History of breeding varieties
This is a practically thornless domestic gooseberry variety, obtained at the All- Research Institute of Horticulture. I. V. Michurina. It was created in 1992 under the leadership of K. Sergeeva. When Plum and Plum 259-23 were crossed, a variety appeared that inherited unpretentiousness, vitality, unusual flavors and large berries from its parents.
Since the year of its creation, the Chernoslivovy variety has been recorded in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and created for the regions: Central, Middle Volga and Ural.
Description of the bush and berries
The gooseberry bush of the Prunus variety belongs to medium-sized and medium-spreading with an average density of branching. The shoots are thick and form a straight or curved wood frame. They do not have pubescence and are painted in a light green color.
The trunk and shoots are covered with rare medium-sized thorns. They are dark in color and directed from the escape to the sides. Usually located in its lower part.
The 3-5-lobed leaf blade, from small to medium, is shiny and slightly wrinkled. Along its edges are blunt teeth. The venation is imperceptible on the leaf. Small flowers are surrounded by large light sepals. The inflorescence is formed by several flowers, upon pollination of which an oval-shaped ovary is formed.
Berries are:
- medium size (on average – 4,5 g);
- oval or slightly pear-shaped;
- burgundy, and in the phase of technical ripeness – black;
- lack of pubescence;
- wax layer;
- rather thick skin;
- average number of seeds;
- sweet and sour taste and a special aftertaste.
Advantages and disadvantages
Prunus gooseberry variety has a lot of advantages, which is noted by most gardeners.
The positive aspects of the variety | Negative aspects of the variety |
versatile variety that is widely used | strong dependence on weather conditions |
average weight of berries, with original taste | low fruiting with minor changes in care |
suffers from anthracnose | |
perfectly stored and transported without loss | fruiting is unstable in different years and the yield can vary significantly |
high frost resistance | |
high tasting score | |
does not suffer from powdery mildew, is resistant to this disease | |
average yield is high – 5,4-14 t/ha |
General information about the gooseberry variety Prunus demonstrates the video:
Features
The gooseberry variety Prunus is characterized by the following features:
- The variety belongs to mid-season and universal, the use of which is diverse.
- One bush brings a crop of up to 3-4 kg of berries, depending on its age and size.
- Well stored, it can be transported over long distances.
- Frost-resistant: able to withstand temperatures down to -34оC.
- According to the tasting score, out of 5 possible points, the gooseberry is gaining 4,2.
- It has a taste vaguely similar to prunes (hence the name).
- Brings a stable crop only in favorable climatic conditions.
- With improper care, it gets sick, but shows resistance to powdery mildew.
Productivity
The yield of Prunus gooseberry is not stable and depends not only on climatic conditions, but also on proper and thoughtful care, timely implementation of all necessary agrotechnical measures. It differs significantly in different years and ranges from 5,4 to 14 t/ha.
Drought and winter hardiness
The gooseberry variety is winter-hardy and suitable for cultivation in central Our Country. In snowy winters, it does not require shelter and withstands t = -34C. Prunus does not belong to drought-resistant varieties: with prolonged drought, the roots stop growing and the yield decreases. An earthen ball should always be kept moist, this is especially important during the ripening period of berries.
Pest and disease resistance
Prune is rarely more powdery mildew, but does not differ in resistance to anthracnose. It is affected by pests, so constant preventive inspection of the plant is important.
Ripening period
Gooseberries of medium ripening, which is convenient for northern latitudes. Berry picking starts from mid-July, if the summer is warm. In cool conditions, fruiting is delayed by 1-2 weeks.
Transportability
Due to the thick skin and dense pulp, the fruits of the Prune variety are transported over considerable distances, keeping them unchanged.
Growing conditions
Gooseberry Prunus needs:
- good lighting;
- average soil moisture;
- temperature mode +20-25оWITH;
- fertile soil (in its absence – in regular top dressing);
- mulching the near-stem circle to preserve moisture;
- loosening for air access to the roots.
Features of landing
Gooseberry variety Prunus, like any shrub, can be planted both in spring and autumn. In autumn, young bushes take root better, gradually adapting to a new place. Planting is carried out before cold weather for better rooting.
In the spring, propagation activities are carried out by rooting cuttings. To do this, cut the shoots, place them in special conditions. By autumn, they form roots and young plants are planted for a permanent “residence”.
When planting prune gooseberries, the following activities are carried out:
- select an open, well-lit area located at least 2 m from young trees or 1,5 m from a fence (fence);
- gooseberries love light soils without stagnant moisture, so the landing site is prepared in advance;
- dig a hole 50 × 40 under the Prunus bush, into which a fertile mixture of compost, wood ash, sand, peat is poured;
- before planting, the root system is treated with an antibacterial solution (Barrier, Ideal);
- a gooseberry bush is lowered into the pit, sprinkled with the same nutrient composition, not tamped, watered;
- the root neck is deepened by 5 cm;
- branches are cut on the bushes, leaving up to 5 buds on each;
- On the eve of the onset of frost, the Prunus gooseberry is spudded and mulched so that the root system does not freeze out.
The root system of the bushes is located in one layer of soil, which has exhausted the supply of nutrients. In addition, gooseberries and raspberries suffer from the same diseases and spores can remain in the soil.
Care instructions
Measures for the care of gooseberries of the Prunus variety are traditional. The main ones are: watering, loosening, mulching, destruction of weeds. But this gooseberry variety, like any other, requires additional agrotechnical measures.
Support
Gooseberry Prune needs support when the bush grows and the lower branches are on the ground. Berries are also formed on them, which rot and become contaminated on the soil surface. The support options are different, but the result is the same: the bush becomes more compact, and the crop is preserved in full.
Additional fertilizing
For this variety, a feeding regime is recommended, which is reflected in the table:
When to feed a plant | Fertilizer name | Amount of fertilizer |
on the eve of flowering | potassium humate or urea | 4-5 art. l. for 20 liters of water |
at the end of flowering | potassium humate + liquid organic fertilizer | 4 tbsp. l. potassium humate per 20 liters of water or diluted organic composition |
during fruit formation | Liquid “organic” + wood ash | wood ash is poured into the near-stem circle, and a pre-prepared organic solution is poured on top |
When a young gooseberry bush of the Prunus variety grows up and exhausts its supply of food, after 2 years, complex top dressing is carried out containing all the necessary components. During the season it is useful to apply slurry or bird droppings (1:20).
Pruning of bushes
The main crop of the gooseberry is formed on a 2-3-year growth, so in the spring the crown is cut, removing old and diseased branches. This technique not only brings a significant harvest, it thins out the crown, providing access to light and air to each branch. The bush takes on a well-groomed appearance and becomes more compact.
Reproduction
The gooseberry of the Prunus variety propagates in the traditional ways for a shrub: layering (horizontal, arcuate, vertical) and cuttings. All these methods have justified themselves and are used by gardeners when it is necessary to propagate their favorite variety.
Preparation for winter
Young, fragile bushes of the Prunus gooseberry need shelter for the winter. More mature ones are also sheltered, as winters with little snow are possible. A small bush is completely wrapped with lutrasil, and on top with spruce branches. In adult gooseberry plants, the lower branches are pinned to the ground and spud roots. Since the Prunus is winter-hardy, some gardeners leave the bushes unchanged for the winter.
Pest and disease control
Gooseberry variety Prunus does not suffer from powdery mildew, but it is affected by diseases of a fungal nature: goblet rust and anthracnose. Mushroom spores with wind or insects fall on the bushes, and the disease progresses in early spring. To avoid illness, you must:
- remove plant residues;
- carry out autumn and spring digging of the soil;
- before bud break, treat gooseberries with Bordeaux liquid;
- before sap flow, water the bushes with hot water (t = 90оFROM).
“Uninvited guests” visiting the Prunus gooseberry are aphids and yellow gooseberry sawfly, moth moth. With a slight damage by pests, diseased branches are cut off, and the bush is sprayed with an ash solution with laundry soap. If the pests have settled the bushes thoroughly, you can not do without insecticides. It may be necessary to repeat processing in accordance with the instructions.
Conclusion
If the gardener’s choice fell on the Prunus gooseberry variety, then he did not lose. This is a delicious jam with the aroma of southern plums, tender jam or compote. In a collection of different varieties of gooseberries, it will not be superfluous, giving an additional zest in the form of unusual, almost black berries.
