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Gooseberry Cooperator is valued among gardeners not only for unpretentiousness, high yield, dessert taste of berries, but also for the aesthetic appearance of the bush. Another plus of this variety is that it has almost no thorns.
Description of gooseberry Cooperator
Gooseberry Kooperator (Ribes uva-crispa Kooperator) was obtained in 1991 as a result of crossing two varieties – Smena and Chelyabinsk green.
The height of the bush is about 1 m. It is neat, with dense, medium-spread branches up to 120 cm long. The description of the gooseberry variety Kooperator is confirmed, among other things, by gardeners’ reviews:
Younger shoots are hairless, light green in color, of medium thickness and slightly curved. Single small spikes are located at the bottom of the branches, so they do not interfere with harvesting at all. The lower part of the adult shoots of this variety has a characteristic pinkish-crimson hue.
On the gooseberry Cooperator there are large and medium-sized leaves with five pointed lobes. The glossy deep green foliage looks impressive due to the fringe edging. The central lobe has additional teeth.
Small and medium cupped flowers are collected in inflorescences of 2 or 3 pieces. Usually they are yellowish green, with a pinkish tint, but pale yellow are also found. During flowering, the plant looks very beautiful – it rages with many inflorescences
Description of the gooseberry variety Cooperator is well illustrated by the photo:
Dark cherry striped berries of this variety weigh, on average, 3-5 g, there are also very large ones – up to 8 g. They are of an unusual shape for a gooseberry – not round, but elongated, pear-shaped; without pubescence, with thin skin. The fruit stem is long.
A self-fertile bush (42,4%) does not require replanting and other pollinating varieties nearby, although it shows higher yields with them.
Ideal for growing in two regions of Our Country with rather harsh climatic conditions: Ural (No. 9) and East Siberian (No. 11).
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The variety is known among gardeners for its winter hardiness and drought resistance. Even at high temperatures, the bush is rarely watered, because it has a powerful and deep root system. In addition, it tolerates frosts well down to -30 ° C, therefore it is recommended to grow the crop in the Urals, in particular, in Chelyabinsk. With the onset of more severe cold weather, the Kooperator variety can freeze slightly (especially the root system), which is why its yield subsequently drops.
fruiting, productivity
Gooseberry Cooperator impresses with fruit size and yield.
The cooperator is considered a medium-late variety in terms of fruit ripening. One plant for the summer gives approximately 4 – 8 kg of berries (bucket). On average, the yield is 12 t / ha, but this figure can be almost twice as high – 23 t / ha, that is, from 3,7 to 6,9 kg per bush, or 0,9 – 1,3 kg / m2. The fruits of this variety are attached to the branch tightly and do not crumble.
Gooseberry berries Cooperator have a sweet and sour, pleasant taste, which experts rate at 5 points.
Their skin is thin, but at the same time strong, which provides them with good keeping quality and transportation.
The variety is suitable for fresh consumption and for conservation. From the gooseberry Kooperator cook delicious confiture, jam, as well as compote.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the variety Cooperator:
- Good cold and heat tolerance;
- Resistance to diseases, in particular to powdery mildew;
- High yield;
- Large berries with a dessert taste;
- A small number of thorns in the lower part of the bush – does not interfere with harvesting;
- Self-fertility
Gardeners distinguish few shortcomings. Those who like to eat gooseberries in early summer are not satisfied with the ripening time. There are few seeds in the berries, but they are large. In addition, if you do not spray the Kooperator gooseberry for preventive purposes, it can become ill with anthracnose and septoria.
Features of reproduction
Gooseberry Cooperator is propagated using lignified cuttings, which are cut in autumn and stored in a cool place, for example, in an underground or refrigerator, until spring. Planting material prepared in this way is planted in small greenhouses and covered with glass jars, plastic bottles or film.
No less effective is another way – the use of layering. At the beginning of summer, several tops of young shoots are bent to the ground, fixed and lightly buried. After 2 months, the cuttings will give roots and be able to grow on their own.
Planting and care
Gooseberry Cooperator is not very picky about the landing site. It is important to follow the standard set of recommendations for the plant:
- Provide access to the sun;
- Protect the bush from drafts;
- Avoid excess moisture;
- Plant gooseberries in soil with a neutral or alkaline environment. The culture prefers loam, sod-podzolic soil and black soil.
Planting the Cooperator variety is also easy. To do this, they dig a hole 50-60 cm deep and 45-50 cm wide in the chosen place. Then top dressing is applied: rotted manure (10 kg), superphosphate (50 g), potassium sulfate (50 g). This amount of fertilizer is enough for a good development of a seedling for 2-3 years. The roots are carefully spread evenly over the pit. The root neck is deepened by 2 cm – this will help new shoots grow faster.
It is better to land after sunset, and loosen in the morning, and then mulch the root circle. The second half of autumn is considered the optimal time. In the spring, the gooseberry root system actively develops, and if you plant it in April, then the plant will give all its strength to the growth of shoots.
Growing rules
Gooseberry variety Cooperator is quite unpretentious. However, if you follow a few simple rules, then this will have a beneficial effect on the taste and quantity of berries.
There are the following secrets of growing crops:
- Moderate watering;
- top dressing;
- loosening;
- Timely pruning;
- Garter;
- Rodent protection.
Even the dry period gooseberry Cooperator tolerates without frequent watering. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture at all: its root system immediately begins to rot.
The schedule for watering the bush during flowering and fruit set is 2-3 times. If you overdo it, the taste of the berries will deteriorate: they will not be sweet. An adult plant should be watered only in case of a long absence of precipitation.
Top dressing is applied when planting gooseberries, so organic and mineral fertilizer is needed only for a bush older than 3 years.
The roots of the Kooperator variety lie deep (20-30 cm) and need air access. It is recommended to loosen the bush approximately 5 times per season to a depth of 3 – 5 cm.
In the fall, after the berries come down, it is necessary to make a sanitary pruning of the gooseberries. Dried, diseased, as well as old shoots that are more than 5 to 6 years old are removed.
Timely weeding, as well as hilling the bush, will help protect gooseberries from rodents. In addition, you can spray the plant with insecticides.
Gooseberry Cooperator in regions with a mild climate does not need to be covered for the winter: it is enough to mulch the root circle with compost, peat or humus with a layer of 10–12 cm. It is very important that in winter the gooseberries are completely covered with snow.
Pests and diseases
With proper care, the gooseberry Kooperator is resistant to diseases, in particular, to powdery mildew. There is a possibility of infection with septoria and anthracnose. Sawfly beetles can eat shrub foliage.
To avoid this, in order to prevent diseases and clean up from wintering pests, every spring it is recommended to spray the Cooperator gooseberry with boiling water, folk remedies or insecticides. The plant is saved from anthracnose by 1% Bordeaux liquid.
Conclusion
Gooseberry Kooperator is a variety characterized by high yield and resistance to adverse climatic conditions. Gardeners choose it for large and tasty berries.
Reviews about the gooseberry variety Kooperator
