Mid-early green gooseberry variety "Malachite"

Malachite is a gooseberry variety bred by domestic breeders. It has many positive characteristics, such as immunity to powdery mildew, frost resistance and the ability to bear fruit stably for more than 10 years. We suggest learning more about the advantages and disadvantages of the variety and the requirements it places on planting and growing.

What kind of gooseberry is this?

This is a medium-ripening gooseberry variety – the first berries ripen in early July. The bushes bear fruit consistently, starting from 2 years after planting, for 12-15 years. Productivity – 3-4 kg per bush.

The harvest is stored in the refrigerator, cellar or basement no more than 10 days.

Brief history of origin and distribution

Malachite was bred by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after. I. V. Michurina as a result of crossing the varieties Date and Black Negus.

The variety entered state variety testing in 1950 and was included in the State Register of Russia in 1959. with permission for cultivation in the Northern, Northwestern, Central, Middle Volga, Volga-Vyatka, Ural, Central Black Earth, Far Eastern and Lower Volga regions.

Characteristics and description of bushes

The bushes are medium-sized (height up to 1.5 m), with a spreading dense crown and semi-erect intertwined branches. Young shoots are green, slightly pubescent and thornless. In shoots older than 2 years, the bark is gray-brown, slightly rough with short, thin, single spines.

The leaves are large, matte, dark green in color., five-fingered with sharp jagged apexes. The leaf blades are concave, but have a straight base, with slight pubescence on both sides.

The flowering period occurs in the second half of May. At this time, small white bell-shaped flowers appear on the bushes.

Temperature resistance

This is a frost-resistant gooseberry variety. The bushes tolerate drops in air temperature to -30...-35°C and are not afraid of sudden temperature changes.

Moisture and drought resistance

Malachite is characterized by average resistance to drought – prolonged lack of moisture leads to the formation of small and sour berries.

Wherein excessive watering and waterlogging of the soil cause rotting of the root system plants.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, but is not immune to anthracnose, septoria and rust.

Among pests Aphids, moths and sawflies are dangerous for Malachite.

Characteristics and description of fruits

Berries are round or slightly pear-shaped, weigh on average 5-7 g, covered with a thin but durable skin of bright green color with a malachite tint with an intense waxy coating.

The pulp is tender and has a pleasant refreshing taste., in which the sourness is clearly felt, due to the high content of pectins and vitamin C.

Reference. To make the berries sweeter, they are not removed from the bushes before they acquire a golden color.

Areas of their application

Due to its pleasant sweet and sour taste, Malachite berries are widely used in cooking.. They are consumed fresh, frozen, dried, added to fruit and fruit-vegetable salads, and made into fruit drinks, compotes, preserves, jams, marshmallows, marmalade, syrups and toppings.

Gooseberries add an unusual taste to dishes from meat, fish and poultry, suitable for decorating desserts and creating homemade liqueurs, liqueurs and wine.

Reference. In winter, a decoction of Malachite berries is used to strengthen the body and treat colds and flu.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety compared to other varieties and hybrids

The main advantages of the variety:

• stable long-term fruiting;
• possibility of universal use of fruits;
• frost resistance;
• immunity to powdery mildew;
• good transportability;
• absence of fruit shedding even after a long stay on the branches.

Cons of Malachite:

• average yield;
• low degree of resistance to diseases other than powdery mildew;
• tendency to intertwine branches.

Other gooseberry varieties:

Mid-early gooseberry variety Honey

Tasty, large and rich in harvest “Ural grapes”

Mid-early high-yielding gooseberry variety Kolobok

Growing technology

In order for gooseberry bushes to grow, develop and bear fruit well, you need to choose the right place on the site, prepare the seedlings, plant them and provide them with proper care.

Optimal conditions

Plants are planted in a lighted place, protected from gusty winds and drafts. with loamy or sandy loam, loose and fertile soil, located on a plain or hill. The permissible groundwater level is no higher than 1.5 m.

When choosing seedlings, preference is given to specimens 30 cm high with 3-4 branches up to 15 cm long and a developed root system.Before planting, dried shoots are cut off, the roots are treated with ash and left for 20-30 minutes. soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing dates and rules

Malachite is planted in spring (April) or autumn (mid-October). The second option is more preferable, as it allows the seedlings to take root better and harden off before the onset of frost.

Landing rules:

1. A week before planting, dig holes 60 cm deep and 50 cm wide in the prepared area.
2. Add a nutritious soil mixture (5 kg of dug up soil, 100 g of ash, 80 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium sulfate) into them.
3. Place the seedling in the hole and straighten its roots.
4. Fill the free space with soil so that the root area is buried 5 cm.
5. Lightly compact and water the soil at the rate of 5-10 liters of water for each bush.

Reference. The distance between bushes should be 1.5-2 m.

Further care

Plants are watered as the soil dries out – on average 1-2 times a week, pouring 10-15 liters of water under each bush. It is especially important to prevent the soil from drying out during the formation of ovaries, ripening of berries and before winter.

A day after watering or rain, the soil is loosenedto avoid the formation of a dry crust on the soil surface, improve aeration, moisture permeability and access of nutrients to the roots. At the same time, the soil is weeded, removing weeds.

Reference. In summer, to retain moisture in the soil, it is mulched with sawdust, straw or nut shells.

Plants begin to be fed 2 years after planting according to the scheme:

• in spring - 80 g of ammonium nitrate and 40 g of urea for each bush;
• after harvesting - 10 kg of compost, 20 g of potassium chloride, 40 g of saltpeter and 80 g of superphosphate.

So that the bushes grow even and compact, and the shoots do not fall to the ground, use one of the types of support:

• tying with twine - a method used when shrubs are ripening to save stems and berries from death;
• rigid supports on square or round racks - they are installed around the bush so that the branches rest on their rigid walls;
• trellises are the best option: trellises are easy to install and do not interfere with harvesting.

After planting the bushes, primary pruning of the crown is carried out. – all shoots are shortened to 6 lower buds. After this, the procedure is carried out annually in the spring, before the start of sap flow. During the first 3 years, 10-15 skeletal branches are formed, then broken, damaged, dry, frozen, diseased and crown-thickening shoots are removed.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

Diseases and pests, dangerous for Malachite:

Wintering

At the end of autumn bushes are pruned, leaving about 5 of the most prolific shoots, carry out moisture-recharging irrigation, clean the tree trunk circle of debris and mulch it with peat, sawdust or humus.

Due to the high degree of frost resistance, when growing Malachite in the south or in the middle zone, winter shelter is not required. In northern regions with harsh winters, where air temperatures drop below -30...-35°C, bushes are covered with agrofibre.

Reproduction

Seed propagation carried out by breeders, because in this case the plants often do not inherit varietal characteristics. Amateur gardeners propagate Malachite vegetatively - by layering, cuttings or dividing the bush.

In the first case, a young shoot is selected, bent to the ground and buried. After rooting, it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.

For cuttings A branch is cut from the plant and planted in a container with a damp peat-sand mixture. After rooting and overgrowing with leaves, the cuttings are transplanted into open ground.

When dividing a bush An adult plant is dug up and, using a sharp, disinfected knife, divided into several parts so that each has growing points and root shoots. The cuttings are planted in the ground.

Features of growing this variety, depending on the region

The gooseberry variety Malachite was bred specifically for cultivation in regions with unstable weather conditions. It tolerates frost well, the bushes do not stop developing even during dry periods.

However lack of moisture negatively affects the quantity and quality of the cropTherefore, in southern regions with hot and dry summers, plants need more frequent and abundant watering. Otherwise, the variety’s requirements for cultivation and care do not change depending on the climate of the region.

Pollinator varieties

Malachite is a self-pollinating gooseberry. During flowering, both male and female flowers are formed on the bushes, so the variety does not need pollinators to bear fruit.

Reviews from summer residents

Gardeners who have tried to grow Malachite gooseberries leave positive reviews about it.

Inga, Novorossiysk: “I associate my childhood with Malachite - this gooseberry grew in my mother’s garden, and I remember how we picked the berries and made jam from them. When I started living separately, I also planted several bushes. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to cope with the care, but the variety is completely unpretentious. It bears fruit perfectly, and every summer we feast on delicious berries.”.

Andrey, Norilsk: “We have a fairly large plot; we grow several varieties of gooseberries. Malachite is one of my favorites. I really like that it does not require complicated care, except that you need to monitor watering and regularly treat the bushes from diseases and pests. At the same time, it bears fruit consistently, the yield is not bad, the berries are large and tasty.”.

Conclusion

Gooseberry Malachite has been known to summer residents for a long time. Despite the presence of shortcomings, including not very high yield and low resistance to disease, it is popular due to its stable and long fruiting, frost resistance, usefulness and tasty qualities of the berries.