Gooseberry Malachite - what to do with the plant after picking berries

Gooseberries have long been one of the favorite plants of gardeners. It is not surprising that it was in the postwar years that they began to cultivate it as an indispensable element of berry planting in summer cottages. After all, berries contain just a huge amount of vitamins. In addition, many varieties, as it turned out, tolerate frosts very well, which expanded the distribution area far to the north.

History of origin of the variety

Work on the development of a new frost-resistant highly productive gooseberry variety began in the early 40s. The value of the culture, in terms of the content of vitamins, was difficult to overestimate. That is why it was decided to direct efforts towards the cultivation of new varieties, based on varieties zoned for the European part of the country. The success of the work of the group K. Sergeeva was outlined in 1952, when it was possible to develop a number of varieties that generally meet the requirements. The variety was finally bred in 1959 by the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin. Phenic and Black negus became the parent pair of the variety.

Gooseberry Malachite

Gooseberry Malachite, the variety description of which is fixed in the register of varieties, is characterized as a gooseberry of medium early ripening with a short vegetation period and a long productive fruiting period of up to 15 years.

Characteristics of the bushes

Bushes are characterized as tall, with a large number of shoots. Shoots are straight, elastic, prone to weaving inside the bush during growth.

Gooseberry malachite has large, larger than average leaves. The leaf plate is smooth, during fruiting the leaves become dull, color from pale green in the spring to a deep green-grassy color in the summer. The top of the leaf plate is pointed, has five blades, the leaf itself is symmetrical with a concave central part and hanging edges.

Characteristics of berries

The variety has good performance. The berries are spherical round in shape with an abundance of pronounced veins of white or pale green color. The peel is thin, the inside abounds with seeds. The weight of berries during the period of productive fruiting is 5-6 grams, in the young period it can be even higher up to 8-9. In recent years, the size has been reduced to 4 grams.

Ripe berries on the branches

Grade Features

Gooseberry Malachite has its own characteristics that distinguish it from other varieties.

Ripening period and yield

Flowering occurs in the first half of May. The ripening period for berries is the end of June and the beginning of July. Mass harvest with 80-90% maturity of commercial quality berries occurs at the end of July. For breeding with seeds, berries are picked in early August.

The bush gives the first crop in the third year after planting. The active phase begins with 3-4 years of life and ends after 8-9 years. After 12 years, the bush begins to lose its qualities and degenerates. By the age of 15-16, the yield level decreases from peak to 30-40%. The average yield in productive age is up to 4 kg of berries per bush.

Taste qualities

The pulp is juicy, with a pronounced sour tone and sugar finish. They have a strong berry aroma. Even overripe berries clearly give a sour tinge of taste.

Drought and frost resistance

For this variety, severe frosts down to -25 degrees are not critically difficult. The variety was bred with the expectation of cultivation in regions with a small non-hot summer and long winters with frequent thaws. Malachite is perfectly adapted to the conditions of central Russia. Winds, icing and a large snow cover are not afraid of him.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The main pests of gooseberries in the middle lane and the Moscow region are pests of the local area. Among others, the most dangerous are:

• aphid - affects both individual bushes and whole plantings;
• fireboxes;
• saw cutters - the defeat of productive shoots of 2-3 years of age is dangerous.

Methods of control - timely thinning, chemical treatment, mandatory rejuvenation of the bush. Compliance with the rules for disposal of affected shoots.

The variety has relative resistance to biological factors, however, despite the ability to withstand powdery mildew, it can be affected:

• anthracosis;
• Septoria;
• rust.

Methods of prevention and treatment:

• compliance with all conditions of agricultural technology - autumn leaf harvesting, spring pruning and top dressing, mulching;
• watering in arid weather; the critical month is July.
• processing in autumn with protective compounds, in spring processing with Bordeaux mixture.
• during the growing season - systemic immunostimulating drugs.

Berry use

Commodity berries with a maximum sugar content are suitable for ingestion. In culinary recipes, gooseberries are used as filling pies, jellies, jam are made from it, stewed fruits are cooked.

For lovers of exotic, there are recipes for homemade gooseberry wine Malachite and liquors. The wine has a bright berry aroma, it has a viscous consistency. And the liquor is saturated malachite color. And the taste, and the bouquet!

Berry harvesting

Advantages and disadvantages of the grade Malachite

In comparison with other varieties of mid-early ripening group zoned for conditions of the middle band should be noted:

• high frost resistance;
• consistently high productivity;
• excellent taste of berries, full of vitamins and minerals;
• fruits, unlike other varieties, do not crumble, but stay on branches until completely dry;
• berries perfectly tolerate transportation without losing their appearance and taste.

Alas, there are disadvantages:

• mediocre resistance to anthracosis;
• the need for timely watering in the dry period.

Planting young seedlings on the site

In order for the landing to be successful and the young bushes to take root, a number of rules must be observed.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

For planting, seedlings of 1-2 years of age with a well-developed root system are used. Before planting, seedlings are cut from dry twigs and rhizomes are rejuvenated. Before planting, it is recommended to withstand 4-6 hours in a solution of root or other drugs for accelerated rooting.

Time and landing pattern

Autumn is the most favorable period for planting bushes. It is in the fall that young shoots turn into independent plants, manage to take root well and be completely independent of the parent bush.

The spring period of planting is focused on stable warm weather, when active swelling of the kidneys begins.

The planting scheme is ordinary, with an interval between bushes of 1-1.5 meters. This is a tall, sprawling bush, and you need room for maneuver during work.

Choosing a landing place

For plantation bookmarks are recommended:

• the sunny side of the plot, open to the sun throughout the day;
• lack of drafts;
• soil in the area is preferable to neutral or slightly acidic acidity;
• loamy and clay soil, and the ideal place for growth is loose, saturated soil.

Bush planting

Site preparation

Site preparation consists in clearing the place from old plantations, leveling the surface, breaking down the planting pattern in rows, observing the row spacing.

Landing process

Landing pits are prepared 7-10 days before planting. Size 50x50 cm to a depth of 55-60 cm. The bottom is covered with humus or manure. A layer of 2-5 cm, followed by 5 cm of fertile land. Before landing, plentiful watering. The seedling is set in the middle of the hole. Before this, the roots are straightened so that there is as large an area of ​​the root system as possible.

Filling is carried out with constant tamping to prevent the occurrence of voids. After planting, trim the tops to a height of 15-17 cm and irrigate with 10-12 liters of water.

Features of seasonal watering and care

In different seasons, care for the bushes is different.

Watering and feeding

The timing of the first watering and top dressing is the end of April-beginning of May until the flowering period. For top dressing, it is recommended to use iron sulfate or a solution of organics.

The second top dressing at the beginning of ripening is the first decade of June. July is usually limited to watering every 7-10 days. After harvesting, gooseberry care consists of watering to maintain water balance and to strengthen bends during rooting.

Mulching and cultivation

Mulching is carried out by several methods. Autumn after harvest, pine bark is used. In the spring, it is cleaned and disposed of. Instead, straw or hay is laid. During flowering and fruiting, it is recommended to use freshly cut grass. The crushed grass is placed under the bush, after a week when loosening, a new portion of mulch is laid. Loosening is recommended 4-5 days after watering.

Preventative treatment

For the winter, the branches are sprayed with anti-spore preparations with paint to protect from the sun. After the snow melts, the preparation is repeated. Before dissolving the leaves, spray with a Bordeaux mixture. In June-July, but no later than 14 days before the collection of berries, a complex preparation is processed. In case of disease damage, the use of complex drugs.

Use of props

So that the branches do not lean toward the ground, they make supports for the bush. They are made of wooden planks or plastic pipes 25-30 cm high from the ground or using a central support and a hoop of wire with a diameter of 6-8 mm with 4-5 rope braces.

Plastic pipe fencing option

Pruning

Preventive pruning is carried out from May to July. No cutting is planned for August. What you need to do with gooseberries after picking berries in September-October is to form a bush and remove shoots older than 4 years. In the spring, dead branches are removed to the living tissue.

Winter preparations

First of all, it is necessary to increase the frost resistance of the layering - they need to be covered with a layer of foliage or reeds. Before leaving for the winter, you need to remove the diseased and dead branches. Peel the gooseberry leaves and mulch the bark.

Breeding

For the reproduction of gooseberries, there are several ways: cuttings, division, layering and grafting. The most time-consuming and longest - by seed.

Cuttings

For cuttings, twigs with 5-6 leaf nodes are used. The heading is done in early May. Before planting, soaking is done in the root solution. After that, the trim is placed in the greenhouse. After 21 days, the greenhouse opens and the stalk is kept open.

Division

For reproduction, bushes older than 5-6 years are used. A year before the procedure, all old shoots are removed. In spring or autumn, the bush is dug up, and young shoots with the root system are separated. The landing is done at a new place.

Layering

A green young 1-2-year-old shoot in spring bends to the ground and is fixed with 2 metal brackets. A layer of soil is poured on top. The rooting site is watered once every 3-4 days. After 21 days, urea is fed. Readiness for layering during spring laying after 1 year.

Vaccinations

A new variety can be developed by vaccination. For vaccination, lignified shoots are taken. Vaccination is done before the onset of kidney swelling. The probability of a successful result is up to 40%.

Seeds

Seeds from ripe berries are slightly dried and planted in a pot with a soil mixture. For the winter, the pot is dug up or carried off to the cellar. Sprouts in the spring.

Pest and Disease Control

The key to success in pest control is proper plant care and the use of complex preparations to protect them. Proper care includes mulching, sanitary pruning, top dressing and watering. In the condition of chemical treatment, spraying in the fall and spring against spores. And in the summer to protect against pests and diseases.

If you carry out all the processes and operations to care for gooseberry Malachite, there is a high probability that the bushes will delight a consistently large crop. It is not in vain that this variety with 60 years of history is still popular with gardeners.