Persistent low-thorn gooseberry Altai numbered, guaranteeing a rich harvest of sweet berries

Altai numbered is a low-thorn gooseberry variety that is in high demand among summer residents. It is loved for the sweet taste of its berries, ease of care and high frost resistance. We will talk about the features of growing this variety, what problems you may encounter and how to achieve good yields.

What kind of gooseberry is this?

Altai numbered gooseberry is a mid-early self-fertile variety that has virtually no thorns and is suitable for cultivation in different climatic conditions.

History of origin and distribution

The Altai license plate was obtained in 1978 thanks to specialists from the South Ural Research Institute of Vegetable Growing. In 1987, after successfully passing tests, the variety was included in the State Register.

The crop grows well in all regions of the country, but the highest yields were obtained in the Central Black Earth region and the Moscow region.

Characteristics and description of bushes

The crown of the bush is compact, slightly spreading, with straight shoots. The maximum height is about 1.5 m. There are few thorns, they are distributed along the entire length of the shoots and practically do not prick. The foliage is light green, small in size, three-lobed.

Temperature resistance

Altai numbered is resistant to temperature changes and does not suffer from frost even during the flowering period.It tolerates frosts down to -35°C well, and feels comfortable on hot days in the south of Russia, where the thermometer often rises to +35...+40°C.

Moisture and drought resistance

The yield of the variety does not decrease even in arid regions, but Altai numbered, like other gooseberry varieties, does not like excess moisture. When water stagnates and watering is too abundant, the root system of the shrub begins to rot, which leads to the death of the plant.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Gardeners confirm that the variety rarely gets sick and is not afraid of most pests. They note good immunity to powdery mildew, the main disease of gooseberries.

Characteristics and description of fruits

The first harvest is harvested in the second or third year after landings, the variety enters the full fruiting phase at 4-6 years. From each bush, 10-15 kg of round berries weighing up to 8 g are collected. The skin is dense, yellow in color with an amber tint. The berries remain firm even after full ripening and are distinguished by their juiciness and sweet taste with a barely noticeable sourness.

Altai numbered is self-fertile and does not need pollinating varieties. The first fruits ripen in mid-July, in the north - 2-3 weeks later.

Reference. Altai numbered fruits must be collected immediately after they ripen, otherwise they will begin to crumble and sunburn will form on the skin.

Application area

Thanks to a high tasting score of 5 points, the fruits of this variety are ideal for fresh consumption. Jams, compotes, confitures, and liqueurs also turn out delicious.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Altai numbered gooseberry variety has many advantages:

• high frost resistance;
• tolerates temperature changes well;
• easy to care for;
• has strong immunity;
• the crown is compact, slightly spreading;
• good yield indicators;
• excellent taste;
• It can easily be transported and is stored for a long time.

Among the disadvantages of this gooseberry they note:

• fruit shedding;
• thick skin;
• hardness of ripe berries.

Growing technology

In order for the bushes to grow well and bear fruit, it is important to follow the basic planting rules, as well as to correctly select and prepare the place.

Optimal conditions

Avoid shady and low-lying areas where stagnant moisture may form or where groundwater is higher than 1.5 m. Provide protection from wind and drafts, and do not plant bushes too close to each other so that the shoots do not intertwine.

Important! The soil should be fertile, with sufficient aeration. The Altai number loves loam and chernozem soil with neutral acidity, saturated with organic fertilizers.

Landing dates and rules

Seedlings are placed in the ground in early spring or early October so that the plant has time to acclimatize and take root. Before planting, it is recommended to immerse seedlings for a couple of hours in a root growth stimulator, for example, Kornevin, to speed up the process of adaptation to new soil conditions.

Planting process:

1. Prepare holes 50x50 cm. Keep a distance of 1.5 m between bushes, and 2.5-3 m between rows.
2. Add organic and mineral fertilizers mixed with soil into each hole. For example, for every 1 sq. m 10 kg of humus mixed with 300 g of nitrophoska.
3. Place the seedling, straightening the roots, and immerse the root collar no more than 5-7 cm.
4. Fill the hole with soil in parts, carefully compacting each portion. Water immediately, using a bucket of water for each bush.
5. Cover the soil with a thin layer of peat or humus to reduce moisture evaporation and avoid the appearance of a crust on the surface, which prevents the roots from receiving oxygen.
6. If necessary, trim the shoots, leaving 5-6 cm with a small number of buds.

Further care

The Altai license plate cannot be called whimsical. It is enough to follow simple rules of care:

1. Watering. The frequency and amount of moisture varies by region. In the northern regions, bushes are watered once every three weeks, using 13-15 liters of water. In the center of the country, the interval is reduced to two weeks, pouring in 15-17 liters. In the southern regions, gooseberries are watered every 10 days using 20 liters of water.
2. Loosening the soil. This is done after each watering so that the top layer does not turn into a crust, blocking the roots’ access to oxygen. Regularly remove weeds and debris - they can cause disease or pest infestation.
3. Support. At a distance of half a meter from the bush, a stake or pipe is dug in, which is 50-70 cm higher than the gooseberry. The longest shoots are tied to the support, adding the rest as they grow.
4. Top dressing. In the spring, when the leaves appear, 5 liters of ammonium nitrate solution are poured under each bush (30 g per 7 liters of water). During the formation of ovaries use 10 liters of a solution of nitrophoska and urea (100 g of each substance). A couple of weeks before harvest, 300 g of superphosphate is added to each bush.
5. Trimming. In early spring, dry and diseased branches are pruned, increasing the immune defense of the bush. From the third year of life, formative pruning can be carried out. It is carried out in early autumn, until the beginning of October, shortening all shoots by 30 cm. This stimulates the growth of new branches.

Don't worry if you had to skip watering. The variety is not afraid of drought and will patiently wait for the next irrigation.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

The variety has good immunity, but there are diseases that can harm the bushes:

1. Rust (orange swellings on the leaves), which is eliminated by monthly treatment of the area with Bordeaux mixture: 100 g is diluted in 10 liters of water and the bushes are sprayed 1-2 times a month, from March to the end of September. Such prevention reduces the risk of rust to a minimum. If the plant does become sick, the affected leaves are torn off and burned.
2. Mosaic (yellow patterns along the main veins of the leaves), due to which the bush must be removed and burned.
3. Anthracnose (brown spots on leaves), requiring processing copper sulfate: 30 g of sulfate is diluted in 10 liters of water and the resulting liquid is sprayed on the bushes.

Among insects, aphids and caterpillars can harm the planting. They will be driven away by treating the bushes with a solution of wood ash (200 g per 10 liters of water) or “Karbofos” (50 g per 5 liters of water).

Wintering

For successful wintering, the trunk circle of each bush is covered with a 30 cm layer of fallen leaves, humus and straw, after pouring in a solution of superphosphate (500 g per 10 liters of water). In the south, no special preparation is required, but in strong winds the bush is covered with burlap without pinching the crown.

Features of cultivation depending on the region

Altai numbered gooseberry adapts well to various climatic conditions. The only peculiarity of its cultivation in the southern regions is that it is watered more often and more abundantly, and the harvest is harvested two weeks earlier than in other regions.

Reproduction

The variety is propagated in two ways: layering and cuttings.

Reproduction procedure by layering:

1. In spring, young lower shoots are selected (the age of the bush is no more than three years).
2. The selected shoots are shortened by a third and pressed to the soil, sprinkling the area in the middle with soil. It is constantly watered and fertilized.
3. In autumn, the cuttings are separated from the bush and planted in separate holes.

Propagation by cuttings:

1. At the beginning of June, branches up to 10 cm long are cut from a young bush.
2. The shoots are soaked in the Kornevin solution for three days.
3. They are planted in a greenhouse or nursery.
4. After the roots have formed, the cuttings transplanted to a permanent place.

Reviews from summer residents

Gardeners speak favorably of this gooseberry variety, noting the unpretentiousness and sweet taste of the fruit.

Igor Cherkasov, Omsk: “The variety tolerates frosts and unexpected frosts remarkably well, this does not affect the yield in any way. There are few thorns, they do not interfere with picking berries. The taste of the fruit is sweet, without characteristic acidity, so we use it exclusively fresh.”

Roman Suslov, Ryazan: “The main rule is to harvest on time, otherwise the fruits crumble and wither in the sun. Otherwise, the Altai numbered variety is a very unpretentious variety, rarely gets sick, is not afraid of drought and frost, and bears fruit abundantly.”

Conclusion

Altai numbered gooseberry is one of the best representatives of its species. It is characterized by strong immunity, high fruiting rates and excellent berry taste. Suitable for growing in any climatic conditions and grows even among inexperienced summer residents.