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The question of how to plant gooseberries in the fall is sooner or later asked by gardeners who grow this tasty and healthy berry on their site, who learn about the possibility of planting a plant after the summer period. And no wonder, because this method has its advantages.
When is the best time to plant gooseberries: in spring or autumn
Planting gooseberries in the fall has several benefits.
Firstly, in the autumn period, the range of planting material in specialized stores and nurseries expands significantly. Many different varieties appear on the windows, so you can choose the most suitable for the conditions of the climatic zone. The choice of seedlings with an open root system is also increasing, which makes it possible to carefully inspect the plant before purchase. The probability of acquiring low-quality planting material is significantly reduced.
Secondly, the survival rate of gooseberries when planting seedlings in autumn is much higher than in spring, since the shrub does not need to expend energy at this time on the growth and development of shoots. Since all the forces of the gooseberry in the fall are aimed at strengthening in the soil and developing the root system, its survival rate reaches approximately 85 – 92%. Low air temperature also helps in the adaptation of the plant after transplantation.
The third benefit is significant time savings. After planting in the fall, gooseberry bushes require minimal care: watering will mainly be carried out with the help of autumn rains, cold temperatures will slow down the process of moisture evaporation. All this contributes to better rooting of seedlings in the soil.
Among the shortcomings of the autumn planting of gooseberries, one can distinguish a high probability of freezing of the root system with a sharp drop in temperature, as well as an increased risk of attack by rodents that do not miss the opportunity to taste the young bark in the fall.
How to plant gooseberries in autumn
The process of planting gooseberries in the fall has many subtleties and nuances, which are simply necessary to take into account. So that the plant grows and develops well, it needs to provide a comfortable place and proper care from the first days of life. First you need to decide on the timing of landing, while for each region they will be different.
Recommended dates
Depending on the weather conditions of the region, gooseberries are planted in autumn in early September or early October. The main thing is that before the first frosts come, at least half a month remains: during this time the plant will have time to get stronger and take root.
In the Moscow region and central Our Country, landing work, as a rule, is carried out from the last days of September until mid-October. In Siberia and the Urals, frosts come earlier, therefore, planting gooseberries should be started in the first half of September, so that the seedlings have time to get stronger.
Gooseberries are recommended to be planted in cloudy, calm weather. Seedlings are best purchased about 10 to 14 days before the planned planting date.
Site selection and soil preparation
The place for planting gooseberries should have a flat surface, be well lit and protected from gusty winds. Shrubs should not be placed in swampy lowlands and places where groundwater occurs.
It is also undesirable to place gooseberries in areas where the soil has been depleted by raspberries or currants. These crops are threatened by common pests and pathogens that can remain in the soil for quite a long period of time.
The location of gooseberry bushes near fences or fruit trees is allowed, however, in this case, it must be borne in mind that over time, its shoots grow strongly. That is why, when choosing a place, it is important to maintain a distance from the fence of at least 1,5 m, and from other trees – at least 2 m.
The soil for planting gooseberries in the fall should be nutritious. Ideal soil mixture containing in its composition:
- topsoil (2 parts);
- humus (1 part);
- sulfuric potassium (50 g);
- double phosphate (50 g).
All components must be thoroughly mixed. The resulting nutrient mixture is poured into the planting pits in advance, about a couple of weeks before planting, so that it has time to settle slightly. If the soil in the selected area is too heavy, loamy, it will not be superfluous to add river sand (1 part) to the soil mixture.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Gooseberry seedlings with an open root system at the age of no more than two years are ideal for planting in the fall. Older seedlings take root worse, because the process of their adaptation takes longer. When choosing, first of all, you should pay attention to the shoots and the root system. The length of 2 – 3 strong shoots should be at least 30 cm, and the roots – at least 20 cm.
If the root system of the seedlings is dry, it is necessary to place them for a day in warm water. After that, the main deciduous mass must be removed from young plants, as well as damaged and dry roots that have not recovered after soaking in water.
Next, you should prepare a clay mixture in which the gooseberry seedling will wait for a transplant to a permanent place. To prepare it, you will need the following components:
- 1 kg of clay;
- 1 kg of black earth;
- 2 packs of “Kornevin”;
- 3 L of water.
How to plant gooseberries in autumn
Planting gooseberries in several rows is best done according to the standard scheme, according to which the distance between bushes in a row should be approximately 1,5 m, and between rows – 2,5 m.
Algorithm for planting gooseberry seedlings in autumn:
- A few weeks before planting, dig the area to the depth of a shovel bayonet, simultaneously getting rid of weeds and breaking up all hard earthen lumps.
- Dig a landing hole. Its size should exceed the size of the root system of the plant. On average, the optimal diameter is 50 cm, depth – about 60 cm.
- Pour 2/3 of the previously prepared nutrient soil mixture into the planting hole, evenly distribute.
- From the remaining 1/3 of the nutrient soil mixture, form a small mound in the pit. So leave the ground to settle for a period of about two weeks.
- After two weeks, you can begin the planting process itself. The seedling must be placed in an upright position in a planting hole on a mound, while gently straightening the roots.
- Pour water over and cover with earth, located along the edges of the planting pit, so that the neck of the seedling is buried in the soil by about 5 cm.
- Lightly trample the soil around the plant, water again abundantly and mulch. Humus can be used as mulch, this will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.
Shrub care after planting
Gooseberries, planted in a permanent place in the fall, require less care after planting: you can not touch it until the next spring season. Autumn rains will take care of moistening the soil, and a layer of mulch and snow will help the young plant survive the frost. If the winter promises to be little snowy, it is recommended to build an additional shelter for the seedlings from specialized heat-insulating materials.
Conclusion
To properly plant gooseberries in the fall, it is important to follow a number of simple rules. The plant variety should be chosen based on the climatic conditions of the region in which it is planned to plant. The timing of landing operations will also depend on the weather. When placed in nutrient soil, seedlings covered with a layer of mulch do not require additional care until the first thaws.
