Gooseberry "Malachite": features of the variety and agricultural technology

Gooseberry is still one of the most popular berry crops among gardeners and summer residents.The most beautiful variety is Malachite. This variety is famous for its emerald color with a light dullness. A pleasant sweet and sour taste of berries has already managed to catch the fancy of many residents of our country.

The variety with the beautiful name "Malachite" was bred back in 1959 by scientists-breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I. Michurin. The founder of this berry variety is considered K. Sergeeva. Gooseberry "Malachite" - the result of crossing varieties of "Black Negus" and "Date". The scientists are especially proud of the memorable emerald shade of ripe fruit. This explains the name of the species.

Experienced gardeners who grow this variety on their plots, There are several advantages:

• high and stable yields (one bush can give a grower 5 kg of berries);
• ripe fruits have excellent taste and aroma;
• the grade has a high rate of frost resistance;
• the culture is opposed to powdery mildew;
• good transportability (the crop withstands long-distance transport while maintaining the presentation).

Very few minuses:

• improper growing and care reduces the yield by half;
• culture is unstable to plant anthracosis.

In terms of ripening grade "Malachite" refers to the medium. The fruiting period takes a long time. The bush grows lush foliage, in which many shoots are intertwined. The average bush grows no more than 1 meter. Sharp thorns are located on the shoots, which makes it easy to harvest. The surface of the leaves is very smooth, the color is light green, there is a slight haze. The plate is concave, with a pointed end.

Ripe berries have a rounded shape. They are painted in a greenish tint with a slightly noticeable wax coating. The mass of the average fetus reaches 7 grams. Inside there are a lot of seeds. The peel is thin, there is a strong venation. The gooseberry pulp is juicy and tender. There is a sour taste with a slight sweetness, a pronounced smell of wild berries.

The variety is self-fruited. He gives a rich harvest in the second year after planting. The flowering process takes place at the end of spring (approximately May). The ripening of the young gooseberry is observed in the first days of July, and several kilograms of emerald berries can be obtained at the end of the month. Shrubs "Malachite" live long enough, they are able to bear fruit for about 15 years.

Breeders brought this variety for certain climatic conditions. For successful cultivation, regions with long winters and cool summers will do. In Russia, the best for the cultivation of "Malachite" are the territory of the middle zone and the suburbs.

Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to choose a place with fertile soil in order for the plant to settle well. Basically, domestic gardeners prefer to plant a crop near the gates and fences. Keep in mind that Replace in the future the bush is not required.

Gooseberry is a sun-love berry, so it is important to take care of the level of heat and light at the place of its future growth and development. Avoid drafts and areas with strong winds. Try to distribute the planting of the crop so that other plants do not interfere with the growth of gooseberry branches. Spreading "Malachite" can harm neighboring bushes. In addition, this factor will complicate the harvest.

As for the type of soil, it is ideal to be slightly acidic and neutral. "Malachite" - unpretentious variety. Therefore, loamy, clayey and sandy lands are allowed. However, swampiness is unacceptable. Pay attention to groundwater - they should be below the selected area.A large amount of moisture in the roots will create an additional danger in the form of a fungal infection, which can later destroy a young plant.

Before planting, it is necessary to dig up and pierce the beds well. Do not forget to get rid of last year’s roots and weeds. A few weeks before the planting of seedlings, dig holes 60 cm deep. After that, you need to add manure or humus to each well, as well as any mineral-based fertilizers. So you enrich the land, making it suitable for the full growth of gooseberry. Sprinkle all the soil and water abundantly. After that, your site will be ready for planting.

Gooseberry reproduction occurs using layering or cuttings. Layers - a good breeding material for bushes older than 4 years. With them you can get more than 10 layouts. The procedure is best carried out in March. To do this, cut off a few shoots and place them in the grooves. Tops need pinch and leave in the soil. The branches are fixed in the groove studs made of wood. As soon as the first green shoots appear, you can sprinkle them with earth.

When the shoots grow to 15 cm, you should pile them up to the top with moist soil. Throughout the summer season, add land to this place. Do not forget to make mineral supplements based on potassium salt, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate. On dry hot days, water more often. Formed root system in such conditions will be an excellent material for further planting. When a branch is overgrown with 4-5 young shoots, it will make a good one-year sapling.

Experienced gardeners recommend planting Malachite in autumn or spring. According to them, spring is suitable for planting young bushes due to the fact that just at this time the soil is saturated with useful substances and a sufficient amount of moisture. But it is better to plan this process for the fall. The rates of fees are twice as high in the bushes planted during this period.

Try to plant "Malachite" before the onset of the first night frosts. Heated autumn soil will be a favorable environment for rooting root. The ideal period for this will be October, namely its beginning. While it is not too cold, the young plant will have time to attach to the ground and adapt to the conditions of the local climate.

To be sure of the future result, try to get quality planting material. Seedlings are best to buy in the gardening departments. Before buying, examine them carefully for damage and foreign stains.

Do not leave seedlings under the sun, otherwise damage to the root collar may occur. It is this place of the gooseberry that often undergoes the development of the fungus. When transporting material to your site, cover it with a wet cloth or place it in a box with earth.

If you saw a dried sapling on the counter, refuse such a purchase. Overheated roots will not be able to take root even in well-fertilized soil. It is recommended to choose a young gooseberry, which is not more than two years old. A one-year sapling will easily take root in your plot, and with proper care in the future, it will give you a good harvest.

The condition of the branches is also of great importance. Do not choose too thick. Well, if there is a skeletal escape and young buds.

Growing gooseberry "Malachite" includes certain rules that must be followed to maintain the health of the berry bush. Basic care procedures consist of watering, loosening, pruning, feeding, prevention of diseases and attacks of pests.

Pruning is usually carried out after the first landing. It is necessary to shorten all available shoots, leaving 5 buds in the lower part. The following procedure should be carried out in early spring, until the buds have time to swell, or in late autumn, after dropping the foliage.

In the fall season prune shoots below the rest. Also get rid of weak, sick, too long and dark shoots. Cut off the tops if the berries are significantly reduced. Spring pruning consists of removing damaged and frozen materials. Do not forget to process the cuts using a special garden pitch.

The most frequent watering is carried out in the first months after planting. For Malachite, it is important to maintain the required level of moisture and the amount of nutrients. As soon as the ovaries are formed, young shoots will begin to form, to see the first fruits, you should watch the watering more carefully.

Bushes watered at the root. This reduces the risk of plant disease. Gardeners advise Do not use cold water and so-called sprinkling. Avoiding the evaporation of excess moisture will help the mulch layer using peat or compost.

Young gooseberries need access to oxygen. To do this, carefully loosen the top of the soil. At the same time, clean the beds of weeds and dense pieces of earth.

Top dressing made twice per season. The first fertilizer is used in spring when the flowering period is over. In this way, you increase yields. The second is after picking the berries. Compositions based on minerals and organics (phosphate, potassium complexes) are excellent as feedings.

Despite proper care, diseases and harmful insects can spoil the whole process and even lead to the death of the culture. Damage detected in time gives you an advantage. Having on hand the necessary chemicals against pests, you can always save the plant.

The most dangerous for the gooseberry are the aphid, moth, sawfly and spider mite. The following drugs will help to get rid of annoying insects: "Fufanon", "Spark", wormwood tincture. From various types of fungi will help fungicides. They need to spray on the bushes twice a year.

The Malachite variety is not afraid of powdery mildew, but it is not insured against anthracosis, Septoria and rust. Therefore, it is necessary to follow all the rules of care and carry out preventive work:

• strictly follow the rules of agricultural engineering;
• do not allow the thickening of the bushes, spending time pruning;
• burn fallen leaves;
• dig up the soil under the bushes;
• in spring, pour boiling water over the plant to kill the fungal spores;
• strengthen the gooseberry immunity with fertilizers;
• in time, spray the plant with powerful medicinal preparations.

For more information about the care of gooseberries described in the next video.

Most domestic gardeners prefer to grow it "Malachite" on their plots. The beautiful appearance of the bushes and the pleasant taste of the berries are the main reasons for choosing this variety. Summer residents note that the plant is unpretentious in cultivation; care does not require additional funds. Good resistance to diseases allows you to save on drugs. For pest control enough a couple of effective chemicals.