Mid-late gooseberry variety Shershnevsky: pros and cons, cultivation features

Gooseberry Shershnevsky is the result of the work of domestic breeders. The variety is loved by gardeners due to its ease of care, the dessert taste of the berries and a number of other positive characteristics, including good immunity, drought and frost resistance. In this article we will talk about the advantages, disadvantages, requirements for planting and caring for the Shershnevsky gooseberry.

What kind of gooseberry is this?

Shershnevsky belongs to the mid-late gooseberry varieties. The harvest ripens in early August, but the berries can remain on the bushes without loss of taste until September.

Productivity – 3-3.5 kg per bush or 53.1 c/ha. In order for the fruits to be stored longer and to withstand transportation better, they are harvested 10-12 days before full ripening. Berries are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

History of origin and distribution

Gooseberry Shershnevsky was bred at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing by breeder V. S. Ilyin as a result of pollination of the Lefort Seedling with a mixture of pollen from African and Slaboshipovaty-2.

The variety was included in the State Register of Russia in 2006, recommended for cultivation in the Ural, Middle Volga, West and East Siberian regions.

Characteristics and description of bushes

The plant is a vigorous, medium-spreading bush with straight green shoots, the tops of which are colored purple. On the shoots, except for their upper part, there are sharp, medium-thick, long, single or double thorns of light beige or brown color.

The cuttings are green, slightly pubescent. The leaf blades are medium-sized, 5-lobed, concave, pubescent, soft and slightly wrinkled, shiny, dark green in color. There is a deep recess at the base, with short, unbent teeth along the edges.

The buds are round in shape with a sharp top, small, light brown. The flowers are medium-sized, pale pink, collected in inflorescences of 2 pieces.

Temperature resistance

Without additional shelter, the bushes can withstand frosts down to -20°C. However, in conditions of little snow in the winter, the root system may suffer.

Moisture and drought resistance

The variety tolerates drought and high air temperatures well; the berries do not bake in the sun. Excess moisture and waterlogging of the soil provoke rotting of the roots.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Shershnevsky is characterized by high immunity, resistant to powdery mildew, but in rare cases it can be affected by anthracnose, rust, white spot, currant glass, spider mites, aphids, moths, sawflies.

Characteristics and description of fruits

The berries are large or medium-sized, round-oval, hairless, weigh on average 3-5 g, covered with dense dark pink skin with a matte coating.

The fruits are characterized by a pleasant sweet and sour taste.

Application area

Shershnevsky berries are consumed fresh, used for making preserves, jams or compotes.

Gooseberry fruits have a tonic, laxative, bile- and diuretic effect.Due to their rich vitamin composition, they are used as a supplement for cardiovascular diseases and in cosmetology.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main advantages of Shershnevsky:

• frost and drought resistance;
• productivity;
• good immunity and resistance to powdery mildew;
• self-fertility;
• dessert taste;
• keeping quality and transportability.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• the presence of thorns on the shoots;
• the tendency of the root system to freeze and be damaged by insects and fungi.

Growing technology

The agrotechnical requirements of Shershnevsky are practically no different from those of other gooseberry varieties. For planting, select an area suitable for the crop, monitor watering, frequency of fertilization and pruning of bushes.

Reference. With proper care, the bushes consistently bear fruit for more than 20 years.

Optimal conditions

When purchasing planting material, preference is given to 1- or 2-year-old seedlings with a closed root system. If the roots are open, before planting in the ground they are carefully inspected and all damaged and dry areas are removed.

For landing choose a place that is lit and protected from the cold wind. The culture prefers loose, fertile soil with good air and moisture permeability, low or medium acidity. The most suitable options are clay, loam, sandy loam and sand. soil.

Reference. Lack of light causes a decrease in yield and the formation of small berries, and waterlogged or acidic soil causes rotting of the roots.

Landing dates and rules

Planting is carried out in the spring, immediately after the snow melts and before the buds open (early March) or in the fall (until mid-October). Autumn planting is preferable, because seedlings take root better and faster.

Planting pattern:

1. In the prepared area, dig planting holes, the dimensions of which must correspond to the root system.
2. Pour into each nutrient mixture 10 kg of humus, 1 tbsp. wood ash, 50 g of double superphosphate, and 30 g of potassium sulfide.
3. Place the seedlings in the holes at a slight angle, fill the voids with soil and compact it.
4. Water the plantings generously.

The distance between bushes should be 1-1.5 m.

Further care

Watering adult bushes is carried out several times a season: at the end of May - beginning of June and when the harvest ripens. In autumn (September - October) water-recharging irrigation is carried out. Water consumption is about 30 liters for each bush. Young plants are watered 2-3 times a month.

After watering, the soil is loosened to improve the access of moisture and oxygen to the roots, and weeds are removed. Lack of timely weeding leads to increased soil moisture and creates favorable conditions for the development of pests and diseases.

To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with peat, compost, freshly cut grass or straw.

Gooseberries are fed twice a season: after flowering and harvesting. To do this, 10 kg of rotted manure, 80 g of superphosphate, 40 g of saltpeter and 20 g of potassium chloride are added to each bush.

Pruning is carried out in early spring, before the start of sap flow, and in the fall. All damaged, old, dry shoots and weak young shoots are cut off, leaving branches of different ages.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

Diseases and pests that can affect Shershnevsky:

To prevent pest attacks, at the end of March, the branches are treated with hot (+75°C) water or an infusion of onion peels (200 g of dry leaves per 10 liters of water). To prevent fungal diseases, bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture in early spring and after flowering.

Wintering

Preparing Shershnevsky bushes for winter consists of several stages:

• treatment plants with Bordeaux mixture after harvesting;
• cleaning the tree trunk circle from fallen leaves and other plant debris;
• digging up the soil;
• moisture-recharging irrigation (40-50 liters of water for each plant);
• feeding fertilizers high in phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium;
• removal of dry, damaged branches and shoots older than 5 years;
• mulching the tree trunk circle with humus and spruce branches.

During the winter, snow is poured under the bushes to protect the root system from frost.

Features of cultivation depending on the region

Thanks to its drought and frost resistance, the variety grows well in all regions, and care requirements do not change depending on climatic conditions.

Pollinator varieties

Shershnevsky is a self-fertile gooseberry variety, so it does not need pollinating varieties to bear fruit. However, productivity indicators increase with the participation of bees and as a result of cross-pollination with other varieties (Aristocrat, Chernomor, Russian).

Reproduction

Shershnevsky is propagated by seed or vegetatively: by dividing the bush, cuttings, layering and grafting.

Seed propagation is most often used only by breeders, since it is a long and labor-intensive process, and the resulting plant may lose its varietal characteristics.

The method of dividing the bush is used if necessary transplanting an adult plant. To do this, dig it up, divide the rhizome into 2-3 parts and plant them in prepared holes.

Lignified cuttings about 20 cm long are harvested in the fall, after which they are planted on a plot or in a container with fertile soil at an angle of 45°, keeping a distance of 15 cm between cuttings.

Reference. Due to poor rooting of lignified cuttings, this method is ineffective.

Green cuttings from the current year take root better. They are cut in June and planted in containers with fertile soil every 7-10 cm.

The most effective method of propagation is the use of vertical or horizontal layering. In the first case, in the spring, the gooseberries are covered with moist soil to a height of 10-15 cm, and in the fall, the formed young bushes are separated from the mother plant.

Old shoots growing at the bottom of the bush are selected as horizontal layering, bent to the ground, fixed and sprinkled with soil. When the cuttings take root, they are separated from the parent plant and planted in a permanent place.

Conclusion

Shershnevsky is a drought- and frost-resistant gooseberry variety whose advantages include good immunity and resistance to powdery mildew, dessert taste, keeping quality and transportability of the berries. The disadvantages of the variety include the spikiness of the shoots and the tendency of the root system to freeze.