Mid-late winter-hardy gooseberry “Finnish” with sweet and sour berries
Gooseberries are a deservedly popular berry crop. It contains vitamins C, A, B and trace elements - iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus. Taste and appearance depend on the gooseberry variety. Finnish is loved by gardeners not only for its pleasant taste. You will find a description of the variety and cultivation features in the article.
What kind of gooseberry is this?
Finnish gooseberry is characterized by a rich harvest and unpretentiousness. It withstands uncomfortable environmental conditions, diseases and attacks. pests.
History of origin and distribution
Despite the fact that the shrub was mentioned in ancient times, a major breakthrough in selection occurred only at the end of the 19th century. in Finland. In order for the gooseberry to actively develop, breeders provided it with optimal conditions. For a long time it was grown in laboratory conditions. In Europe, this gooseberry has taken a leading position compared to others.
Just at that time, other varieties and with them powdery mildew spores were brought from America to the countries of the Old World. Breeders tried to develop gooseberries that were resistant to this particular disease.
In 1999, Finnish was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Since then, it has been allowed to be grown and used in the Northern and Northwestern regions.
Subspecies
Finnish gooseberries come in 3 types: red, green and yellow. The main characteristics are similar: a small bush with medium-sized leaves, covered with thorns, self-fertile, medium-late ripening, with good yield.
Red
The bush grows up to 1.2 m. The berries are medium-sized, spherical, weight reaches 5-10 g. The taste is sweet and sour. The aroma is pronounced. The fruits are covered with a thin, smooth red-violet skin. Ripening date is the end of July. From 7 to 12 kg of crop is harvested from the bush.
Green
The height of the bush reaches 0.9-1.3 m. The size of the berries is average, weight 6-8 g. The olive-colored berries have an oval, elongated shape. They ripen in early July. The skin is thin and smooth. Gooseberry pulp is aromatic, with a sweet and sour taste. The harvest from one bush is 9 kg.
Yellow
The shrub grows up to 1 m. The fruits weigh 5 g and have an oval or oval-round shape. The skin is smooth, thin, yellow in color with a slight coating. The berries taste like apricots. Ripens in early to mid July. The yield is high - from 7 to 13 kg per bush.
Characteristics and description of bushes
Gooseberry bushes are medium-sized, reach a maximum height of 1.3 m, compact, not spreading. Mature stems are dark gray with a brown tint. Thick thorns are located along the entire length of the branches at an angle of 90°.
Each bush has dense foliage. The plant blooms in May. The flowers are small, yellow-green in color. The fruits are round in shape, with a smooth surface. The color of the berries depends on which subspecies the bush belongs to.
Temperature resistance
Finnish gooseberries were bred to be resistant to adverse conditions. This is a winter-hardy variety that grows successfully even in regions with short summers and long, harsh winters. It can withstand frosts down to -38°C. Moreover, it does not need to be additionally covered before the onset of frost. Even if the shoots are damaged, they recover in one season. Since flowering occurs late, the flowers are not susceptible to frost.They do not fall off prematurely, and the yield is not reduced because of this.
Moisture and drought resistance
When choosing a place for gooseberries, make sure that groundwater is not located too close to the surface. The optimal depth is 5-6 m. The soil should not be too damp, otherwise the roots of the bush will rot.
But at the same time, gooseberries do not tolerate a lack of moisture. In dry summers, the bushes are watered so that the yield does not decrease, otherwise the berries will grow small and sluggish.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Finnish gooseberries rarely get sick. It has high resistance to pests and diseases, especially powdery mildew and spheroteca. However, this variety is susceptible to anthracnose and septoria.
Characteristics and description of fruits
Gooseberry fruits ripen in early – late July, depending on the subspecies. Medium-sized berries weigh from 5 to 10 g. They have a sweet and sour taste and a bright aroma.
Due to the dense peel, the harvested crop is easy to transport. The fruits do not wrinkle during transportation and do not deteriorate within 5 days after collection.
Application area
Gooseberries of the Finnish variety are grown on their plots by both amateur gardeners and large farmers for sale. In addition to its pleasant taste, gooseberries have many beneficial properties:
- rich in vitamins C, E, B, A;
- contains pectin, carotene, iron, phosphorus, magnesium;
- removes excess fluid during swelling;
- acts as an anti-inflammatory agent;
- has a general strengthening effect;
- raises hemoglobin;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- restores strength after illness.
The berries are consumed fresh or frozen for the winter without losing their beneficial properties.They are used to make jam, compotes, confitures, marmalade, and are used as a filling for pancakes and pies.
Gooseberries are not only used in sweet dishes. It is used to make sweet and sour sauce. When marinated, it is added as a side dish to meat and fish.
Instead of grapes, gooseberries are used as a base for wine or liqueur.
In cosmetology, the pulp and juice of gooseberries is valued. To combat age spots, wipe your face with freshly squeezed juice several times a day. To moisturize dry skin, apply a mask of mashed berries to your face.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Finnish is loved by gardeners for its many positive qualities:
- high yield even after several years;
- self-fertility;
- increased frost resistance;
- ease of care;
- failure to shed berries from the bush;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- good transportability;
- pleasant taste and aroma;
- versatility in use.
Despite the impressive list of advantages, the disadvantages are also taken into account before planting crops:
- the entire bush is covered with sharp thorns that scratch the skin during care and during harvesting;
- the berries are not very ripe large;
- The plant does not tolerate a lack or excess of moisture.
Growing technology
To grow gooseberries that will produce a bountiful harvest every year, it is important to follow the rules of planting and caring for the plant.
Optimal conditions
The shrub loves well-lit, open places, protected from the wind. Planting bushes along the fence is considered a good placement option. Gooseberries take root well in fertile, loose, well-fertilized soil. The optimal pH is 5.5-6.5.
Important! The bushes are planted at a distance of at least 2 m so that they do not block each other’s light.
Landing dates and rules
Gooseberries are planted both in spring and autumn. In spring, wait for the soil to warm up to a temperature of +8°C. This happens in late April - early May. When planting in autumn, the seedling must have time to take root before the onset of frost. It is optimal to complete planting before mid-October.
The health of the future shrub and productivity depend on the quality of planting material. The seedling should have 2-3 strong stems with a basal diameter of about 1 cm, without scratches, with leaves and fruit buds. It is important that the root system is well developed, without dry and damaged parts, the length of the roots reaches at least 20 cm.
Before planting, the seedlings are kept in a bucket with a growth stimulator for 4 to 12 hours.
Step-by-step algorithm for planting gooseberries:
- Dig a hole about 0.5 m deep and 0.45 m in diameter.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom.
- Pour in a small portion of the soil mixture, consisting of excavated soil, sand, peat and organic matter.
- The roots of the seedling are carefully straightened and placed vertically in the middle of the hole.
- The hole is filled with the remaining soil mixture, compacted and watered at the rate of ½ water per bush.
To ensure that the soil under the bush retains moisture longer and fewer weeds form on it, the surface is sprinkled with mulch.
Further care
Finnish gooseberries will not cause many problems in caring for them. The main thing is to water it on time, feed it with fertilizers and treat it from pests and diseases. Trimming and formation bushes contribute to better fruiting and prevent the development of diseases.
Watering
During the dry season, shrub water at least 3 times - after flowering, during fruit formation and after harvesting. To prevent the soil from drying out, it is periodically loosened.
You can't overwater the plant either. Due to excess moisture, the fruits may crack and the bush itself may die.
Water the bushes using the drip method or from an aryk - a small ditch - at a distance of 40 cm from the trunk. It is not recommended to water by sprinkling, as moisture on the leaves and berries can cause powdery mildew.
Weeding
Weed control is an important procedure for maintaining the health of gooseberries. Weeds take nutrients from the soil and pests or infectious agents can settle on them. If the weeds are not removed, the bushes will become diseased.
Top dressing
Typically, feeding is divided into 3 stages:
- In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied - 1 tbsp is dissolved in 10 liters of water. l. urea and water the bush;
- during flowering, potassium sulfate is used in the same proportion;
- During the period of active fruit formation, gooseberries are fertilized with 1 tbsp. l. nitrophoska and 2 tbsp. l. potassium humate per 10 liters of water.
Trimming and shaping
In early spring After the snow melts, dry, damaged branches of the bush are removed.
Autumn pruning is done to form a bush. Branches older than 6 years are removed at the root, leaving approximately 15 stems - 3 for each year of life.
It is allowed to cut off the green tips of the shoots in the summer. This is done to increase the size of the fruit.
Possible problems, diseases, pests
Finnish gooseberries have increased immunity and rarely get sick. But in cool weather and high humidity, fungal diseases can develop. This will be noticeable by the dense gray film covering the fruit. For control, fungicides “Titul” and “Topaz” are used. If the plant is attacked by insect pests, for example, aphids or spider mites, use the insecticides Bitoxibacillin and Fufanon.
For prevention in the spring, the bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
Wintering
Before wintering, weeds, fallen leaves, and dry branches are removed from under the bush. Since the variety is frost-resistant, it does not need special preparation for cold weather.
Attention! To prevent the branches of the bush from breaking during heavy snowfalls in winter, they are collected in a bunch and tied in the fall.
Reproduction
The Finnish variety reproduces well by vegetative methods:
- By layering. In the spring, elastic, healthy branches are selected, bent to the ground, secured with staples and sprinkled with soil, which is kept moist. In the fall or next spring, the seedlings are dug up and replanted.
- By cuttings. From young, green shoots, cuttings 15 cm long are cut at the beginning of summer. They are planted in a greenhouse and wait for them to take root.
- Gooseberries are also propagated by seeds, but due to its complexity, this method is rarely used.
Features of cultivation depending on the region
Despite the fact that the variety is recommended for cultivation in the European part of the country, due to its winter hardiness and ease of care, it is popular in Siberia and the Urals.
There are no special differences in cultivation depending on the territory of gooseberries. In warm climates, preference is given to autumn planting. In regions with short summers, gooseberries are planted in the spring.
Additional measures to protect against the cold are taken in regions with harsh winters. In the north, it is recommended to bend the stems to the ground and cover them with non-woven material. Then the bushes will survive even severe frosts without loss.
Pollinator varieties
Finnish gooseberry is self-pollinating. It also bears fruit when planted alone. But if there are pollinating plants nearby, the Finnish yield will be higher.The best pollinator for it is considered to be the Lefort seedling.
Reviews from summer residents
Gardeners growing this variety note good productivity, resistance to cold, unpretentiousness and compactness of the bushes.
Galina Lebedeva, Krasnoyarsk: “All 3 varieties of Finnish gooseberries grow on my plot. In winter, the bushes do not freeze. In the third year, I collected about 6 kg from each bush. The next year the harvest became larger. Gooseberries do not require special care. We eat the berries fresh, make compote and freeze some for the winter.”
Svetlana Yurieva, Chelyabinsk region: “I have been growing Finnish gooseberries for almost 5 years. Starting from the third year there were already a lot of berries - about 5 kg per bush. I planted yellow gooseberries for their color and taste. I make wine from it. The drink turns out aromatic and tasty.”
Mikhail Romanov, Kaluga region: “I planted the Finnish gooseberry because of its compactness, since there is not much space in the dacha, and it does not grow much. Last winter the bushes overwintered without shelter. It’s too early to talk about yield.”
Conclusion
Summer residents fell in love with Finnish gooseberries for their easy care, immunity to diseases and pests, and the taste and aroma of the berries. The fruits tolerate transportation well and are stored for a long time. They are universal in use - they are eaten from the bush, canned and added to various dishes. By following simple planting and care rules, gardeners receive a bountiful harvest of aromatic and tasty berries.