Mid-early gooseberry variety “Pink 2”

Despite the abundance of new gooseberry varieties, many gardeners choose time-tested crops. These include Pink 2, which is characterized by medium-early ripening, resistance to common diseases and large, sweet and sour fruits. The article will tell you about the nuances of growing Pink 2 gooseberries.

What kind of gooseberry is this?

Pink 2 – gooseberry mid-early ripening. Fruiting begins 3-4 years after planting, the berries ripen in the second decade of June. Productivity – 3-5 kg ​​per bush, for industrial cultivation – 10-12 t/ha.

100 g of fruit contains 13.4% soluble solids, 9.4% sugar, 1.7% titratable acids, 16 mg vitamin C, 20 mg bioflavonoids.

The harvest is harvested in dry and clear weather. For fresh consumption, the berries are picked at the fully ripe stage, when they become soft and the skin turns dark red. And dense, pinkish-red fruits are suitable for processing.

Fully ripe berries can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of five days., and fruits picked at the stage of technical ripeness - 10 days. Frozen harvest can be stored for up to six months.

Brief history of origin and distribution

Pink 2 was bred in 1963 by domestic breeders Moscow fruit and berry experimental station based on the varieties Finik and Seyanets Lefora.

The variety entered state variety testing in 1964., included in the state register of Russia in 1971.with permission for cultivation in the Central and East Siberian regions. Recommended for amateur and industrial cultivation.

Characteristics and description of bushes

Medium-sized bushes with a semi-spreading and dense crown. Young shoots are erect, of medium thickness, flexible, hairless, green, lignified - thick, covered with light gray bark. There are few thorns, they are long, thin, dark-colored, located along the entire length of the shoots and directed perpendicular to the shoot or downward.

Leaf blades are large, green, have a three-lobed shape with pointed apices and a glossy, slightly wrinkled surface.

During flowering, 1-2 flowers collected in clusters appear on the bushes with light green petals with a pink border, curved towards a large cup.

Temperature resistance

The variety is characterized by average frost resistance – bushes tolerate up to -20…-25°C and winter temperature changes.

Moisture and drought resistance

Excessive watering and waterlogging of the soil lead to the development of fungal diseases and rotting of the root system. Prolonged drought and heat provoke a decrease in yield and deterioration in fruit quality.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, anthracnose and septoria. If agrotechnical rules are violated, in the event of rainy or excessively hot weather, the development of fungal diseases, mosaics and pest attacks: aphids, moths.

Characteristics and description of fruits

The berries are large, weighing on average 5-7 g (some specimens reach 10 g), round or oval in shape, covered with a dense pinkish-red skin with a thin layer of waxy coating, which becomes dark red when the fruits are fully ripe.

The pulp contains large seeds, characterized by a dessert, sweet and sour taste.

Areas of their application

The fruits of Pink 2 are consumed fresh, freeze, used for preparing wine and various preparations: jams, preserves, confiture.

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

The main advantages of the variety:

• self-fertility;
• stable high yield;
• large fruit;
• immunity to a number of common diseases;
• good keeping quality and transportability;
• excellent dessert taste;
• frost resistance;
• possibility of industrial cultivation;
• universal use of fruits.

The disadvantages of Pink 2 include:

• the need for fertilizing;
• complex reproduction;
• need for fertile soil.

Growing technology

Pink 2 has the same planting and care requirements as the others gooseberry varieties, the only exception is its high need for feeding.

Optimal conditions

For planting seedlings, choose a well-lit place, protected from cold winds and drafts.located on a plain or hill. The depth of groundwater is at least 1 m; otherwise, gooseberries are planted on a mound up to 50 cm high and 1 m wide.

The variety grows well in loose, light, fertile soil with a weak or neutral acidity level (pH 5.5). Suitable options are clayey, loamy, sandy loam and sandy soils.

Reference. Lime or dolomite flour is added to acidic soil in advance.

When purchasing seedlings, choose one- or two-year-old specimens with a developed root system 22-30 cm long, without signs of disease, rotting or pest damage.

It is allowed to plant gooseberries next to tomatoes, mint, garlic and dill.. The best predecessors are vegetables, cereals and green manure, the worst are currants and other gooseberry varieties.

Landing dates and rules

Planting is carried out in the spring, at the end of March, or in autumn, from late September to mid-October.

Landing rules:

1. 2-3 weeks before planting the seedlings, dig holes in the prepared area with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 50 cm.
2. Pour nutritious soil mixture into the bottom of each hole (dug up soil, 10 kg of manure or humus, 150 g of superphosphate, 200 g of crushed limestone, two buckets of peat, 300 g of wood ash or 40 g of potassium salt).
3. Form a hill from the soil mixture, place a seedling on it directly or at a slight slope, and spread its roots along the slopes.
4. Sprinkle the seedlings with soil mixture so that the root collar is buried 2-3 cm.
5. Compact and water the soil at the rate of a bucket of water for each plant.
6. Mulch the soil with humus, compost or peat.
7. Trim the shoots, leaving 3-5 buds on them.

Distance between bushes there should be 1-1.5 m, between rows - 2-2.5 m.

Further care

Gooseberries are watered every 10-12 days with settled, warm water. at the root at the rate of 10 liters per bush.

After watering or rain, the soil is loosened – this prevents the formation of a dry crust on its surface, improves access of oxygen, nutrients and moisture to the roots. At the same time, weeding is carried out and weeds are removed, which takes away useful elements and water from the soil and creates a favorable environment for the development of diseases and pests.

Feeding is applied three times per season according to the scheme:

• spring (March) - 0.5 buckets of humus, 50 g of superphosphate, 25 g of ammonium sulfate and 25 g of potassium sulfate for each bush (for adult plants, the amount of fertilizer is doubled);
• after flowering - a solution of manure (1:5) at the rate of 5-10 liters per plant;
• after 15-20 days - re-apply the manure solution.

Gooseberries are pruned annually. In the spring, before the buds open, formative pruning is carried out, as a result of which 3-5 strong branches are left on the bush. A formed bush should have 16-20 shoots of different ages. in autumn, after the leaves fall, cut off all shoots older than 7 years.

Regularly deleted all dry, damaged, poorly wintered shoots or shoots growing inside the bush.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

Improper crop care, for example, excessive watering or unfavorable weather conditions can lead to fungal infection of bushes diseases or mosaic. In the first case, the plants are treated with Bordeaux mixture or the HOM preparation, in the second they are dug up and burned.

Hot and dry weather may cause pests (aphids, moths). To combat insects, insecticidal preparations are used, for example, Actellik, Karbofos or Fufanon.

Important! During fruiting, it is allowed to use only folk remedies, for example, tobacco or soap-oil solutions. For the first, 200 g of ground tobacco leaves, 2-3 tsp are dissolved in 8 liters of water. red pepper powder, leave for 2-3 hours and spray the bushes. For the second solution, add 200 g of grated alkaline soap to 8 liters of warm water and mix until smooth, and then 200 ml of vegetable oil.

Prevention of diseases and pest attacks is timely removal of weeds and fallen leaves, autumn hilling of bushes to a height of 10 cm, spraying of plants with Bordeaux mixture, Bicol or Lepidocide preparations.

Wintering

In autumn, the area is cleared of fallen leaves and other debris., the soil is dug up and superphosphate is added to it, the bushes are sprayed with insecticides and hilled up, the tree trunk circle is watered abundantly and mulched with humus or peat.

In northern regions with frosty winters The bushes are tilted to the ground, plywood shields are installed around them, covered with dry leaves and covered with burlap.

Reproduction

Several methods are used to reproduce Pink 2:

1. Horizontal layers. Trenches are dug near the bush and shoots growing as close to the ground as possible are secured in them using special staples. Then they are covered with soil and watered. After new shoots emerge from the buds, they are separated from the mother plant and planted in a permanent place.
2. Vertical layers. In spring, old shoots are removed and young shoots are shortened - this stimulates the growth of new growth. After this, the bush is hilled up so that the shoots form a root system, and in the fall they are separated from the main bush.
3. Cuttings. In July, green cuttings are cut, placed in containers with soil and placed in a greenhouse for rooting.

The variety is difficult to propagate, especially Cuttings do not root well.

Features of growing this variety, depending on the region

Regardless of the growing region, Pink gooseberry 2 presents the same requirements for planting and care.

At the same time, in the southern regions, characterized by hotter and drier summers, the bushes are watered more often and more abundantly, and in the northern regions with frosty and long winters at the end of autumn, the bushes are covered with plywood and burlap, which is not done when growing the variety in a milder climate.

Pollinator varieties

Pink 2 – self-fertile variety, which does not require pollinating varieties.

Conclusion

Pink 2 is a rather rare gooseberry variety due to its difficult propagation. It is characterized by an average degree of frost resistance, immunity to disease, abundant yield, large size and pleasant taste of the fruit. At the same time, the variety is demanding on soil fertility and requires regular fertilization and proper watering.