Black gooseberry

The article presents a black gooseberry: a photo, a description, a complete growing guide, the best varieties.

Black gooseberry: description and features

Black gooseberry: photo

Many people love gooseberries for their taste and the benefits that come with it. There are many types of gooseberries. Among them, the black gooseberry can be distinguished. Some people compare it in taste and other qualities to grapes.

Black gooseberry: photo

Black gooseberry differs from other varieties not only in its appearance and unusual taste, but also in its useful qualities. Nutritionists have rated this wonderful gooseberry variety more than others. They recommend it to many of their patients. The fruits of the black gooseberry are unlike any other, they seem to be covered with black velvet. Breeders are constantly working on the development of new varieties and hybrids of black gooseberries. Of the advantages of black gooseberries, one can single out its excellent immunity and health, the beautiful appearance of the fruits, the ability to survive well any adverse weather conditions.

Outwardly, black gooseberries are somewhat different from other varieties. Its bush is very wide and spreading, it can reach one and a half meters in width, and if you take care of it with great care, it can spread out to two meters. Black gooseberries have very strong and thick branches. They have many sharp thorns. The size of the black gooseberry fruit, as well as its appearance, may vary depending on the selected variety. However, there are also qualities that are inherent in all varieties of black gooseberries. This is a rich, bright taste and a strongly pronounced pleasant aroma. Another feature of the black gooseberry is that its berries hardly fall off the branches. After ripening, they remain in place for a long time.

Black gooseberry: beneficial properties

Black gooseberry: photo

As already mentioned, black gooseberry varieties differ from other species not only in their unusual appearance. Black gooseberries contain much more vitamin C than other dark berries. It also contains many minerals necessary for the human body. Black gooseberry is a powerful natural antioxidant. It is very useful to systematically eat its berries. This helps to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances. It will also be pleasant for gardeners to know that, among other species, black gooseberries are long-lived, they can live twenty years or more.

Planting recommendations

Black gooseberry can hardly be called a capricious and whimsical plant. Even not the most experienced gardener can grow it. For the successful cultivation of black gooseberries, it is enough just to follow the general rules for caring for garden crops. It is important to plant the gooseberries on time in a suitable soil. The landing site must be prepared in advance. In order for each bush to grow and develop fully, there must be sufficient distance between the bushes. If you follow all these elementary rules, the gooseberry will take root, will grow and delight you with its delicious berries for a long time.

Black gooseberries, like other horticultural crops, can be planted in spring and fall. The most suitable time for planting is autumn. The gooseberry manages to take root, but does not waste energy on fruiting. Approximate planting time is September to early October.For regions where autumn is relatively warm or moderate, this planting time is best. In regions where autumn is very cold, it is better to postpone the planting of the gooseberry to the end of August so that it has time to develop its root system.

In the spring, black gooseberries are planted, as a rule, in those cases when they did not have time to do this in the fall. When planting in spring, it is very important to choose the right moment. The gooseberry does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, a sharp cold snap and frost can cause the death of an immature seedling. It is necessary to plant black gooseberries when the possibility of frost can be completely excluded.

In general, black gooseberries do not have any special soil requirements. It grows and develops well in any soil. However, he loves loamy, slightly acidic or neutral soils most of all, so the gardener can choose any place for planting it. It is only important to remember that the gooseberry is photophilous, so it should be planted where there is a lot of sun.

Preparing for landing

Before planting a black gooseberry, the seedling must be soaked in a solution of organic fertilizers for one day. If the roots seem to be too tightly packed, you need to gently straighten them with care. The place must be prepared before planting. Preparation includes getting rid of all weeds. After the weeds have been destroyed, the land must be well dug up and fertilizer, which contains potassium, must be applied. Then you need to dig a landing hole. It should not be deep, a hole about 40 cm deep and about 50 cm wide will be enough. A seedling is placed in the hole and covered with earth. It is important not to forget to water the seedling after planting.

Landing scheme

If a gardener plans to plant a lot of gooseberry bushes, it is worth considering a planting scheme. If there is a lot of free space, and the gardener wants to eventually collect a large crop, then you can plant gooseberries in rows, the distance between which is at least two meters. The distance between the bushes should be a meter or one and a half meters. If there is not enough space, then between the rows you can make a distance of 1-1.2 meters, and between the bushes in the rows 60-80 cm.

Black gooseberries will bear fruit well and for a long time if all the conditions for its cultivation are met. That is, if the right place for planting it is chosen, it is regularly watered abundantly, all the necessary fertilizers are applied, preventive procedures are carried out to protect against diseases and pests. If all this is available, then the gooseberry will grow, form a strong bush and give a good harvest. Neglecting the rules of cultivation can lead to small yields and even the death of the plant.

Pick-up location

A sunny, flat area is suitable for planting Black Gooseberries. The gooseberry is very fond of sunlight, so a place in the shade is a very poor choice for planting it. If you plant a gooseberry in the shade, there is a high probability that it will get sick with powdery mildew. If the gooseberry is planted next to a hedge, it is important that there is a distance between it and the plant, you do not need to plant the gooseberry close to the fence. The hedge will prevent the bushes from growing normally. Do not plant gooseberries in places with excessively moist soil, this can rot the roots.

Top dressing and watering

Despite the fact that black gooseberries do not like excessive moisture, they need to be watered. Watering is especially important in the first year of the plant's life. In the first year, gooseberries require abundant and systematic watering. To determine the moisture content of the soil, you need to make a small hole next to the gooseberry and get a small lump of soil out of it. You need to squeeze it tightly in your hand, then raise it about a meter above the ground and drop it down. If the lump remains intact or falls apart into several large parts, the soil is sufficiently moistened. If the lump has fallen apart into many small pieces, the soil is dry and requires watering.

Adult gooseberry bushes should be well watered until the berries begin to swell, after which the gooseberry is watered minimally. This is done so that the fruits are sweet.

Complex mineral fertilizers, which contain an optimal, balanced amount of nutrients, are ideal for feeding black gooseberries. All dressings can be divided into spring, summer and autumn. Spring feeding is carried out twice. The first feeding is carried out even before the buds begin to bloom, approximately in March-April. The second feeding is done before the gooseberry blooms in May. Summer feeding is carried out in June. Autumn feeding is carried out in the second half of September or early October.

Bush formation

The gardener should not forget about the formation of a black gooseberry bush. This process is very important and requires special attention. The gooseberry bush grows rapidly, all its branches are strewn with thorns. If you abandon it and do not carry out pruning, then harvesting will become difficult and unpleasant. It is advisable to prune in the fall. During pruning, all old, dried and damaged branches are removed. After pruning, only a few of the strongest shoots should remain, on which there are branches. The length of these shoots after cutting should be an average of 50 cm.
In order not to damage the hands with the thorns during work, you need to take special long-handled scissors.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Black gooseberry can be called a plant with excellent immunity. It is rarely affected by diseases or pests. But this does not mean that the gardener should not pay enough attention to it.
In the spring, black gooseberries are sprayed with boiling water in which a small amount of manganese is dissolved. If branches affected by diseases are found, then they are removed and immediately removed as far as possible. Then they need to be burned as soon as possible. When preparing for winter begins, all debris and fallen leaves should be removed around the gooseberry bush. This will help eradicate pests that hibernate underground.

Reproduction

Reproduction of black gooseberries is no different from reproduction of other types of gooseberries. It can be propagated in the usual, standard ways.

Black gooseberries can be propagated by layering. This is one of the most effective ways. To do this, on a gooseberry bush, which is 5-6 years old, branches are selected that are located close to the ground, bend down and fit into the grooves dug in advance. To prevent the branches from returning to their original position, they are pinned with special hooks. After that, they are sprinkled with earth and watered. Roots are formed along the entire length of the branches.
Black gooseberry can be propagated by shoots. An important condition for this breeding method is the age of the bush. The shrub must be no older than 9 years.

A popular breeding method for black gooseberries is cuttings. This method is quite complicated, but very interesting. For this, a healthy bush is selected, from which the cuttings are cut. To make slices, you need to choose a good instrument and do not forget to disinfect it. If done correctly, the cuttings will take root in a month. If you provide them with proper care, they will perfectly take root and begin to develop intensively.

Black gooseberries can be propagated by dividing the bush. This method is usually used when transplanting gooseberries to a new location. The gooseberry bush is dug up and divided into several parts. Bushes of any age can be divided using this method, the main thing is that there are young shoots on the bush.

Reproduction by branches of black gooseberries is very similar to reproduction by division, with the only difference that it is not at all necessary to dig up a whole bush. It is enough to take one healthy, formed branch, separate it from the plant along with the roots and transplant it to a new place.After some time, it will grow into a full-fledged bush.

Black gooseberries: varieties popular among gardeners

There are different varieties of black gooseberries. They all have their own characteristics and are popular with gardeners. One of the most popular black gooseberry varieties is Black Prince... This variety is distinguished by abundant yields and a long fruiting period. Fruit ripening begins early. The fruits themselves are juicy and soft. The bushes boast excellent health.

Black gooseberry: photo

Gooseberry varieties Black velvet has large juicy fruits that ripen early. His bushes perfectly tolerate any adverse effects, but this does not mean that they do not require maintenance. The bush requires formation, otherwise it will quickly age. There are almost no thorns on the branches of this gooseberry variety, which makes harvesting an easy and enjoyable experience.

Black gooseberry: photo

Gooseberry varieties Isabel has a small bush, which does not prevent him from producing large, juicy berries that ripen in the first half of August. Do not delay picking ripe berries, otherwise they will begin to crumble. Thorns in this variety are almost completely absent.

Gooseberry Black Negus has berries that, after ripening, keep on the branches for a long time. The size of the berries is medium, the taste is very pleasant, many find it similar to the taste of grapes. The bush grows very much, so you need to shape it.

Black gooseberry: photo

Black gooseberry varieties Grape has dark berries, which contain a large amount of sugar. This grape variety got its name for a reason. It is suitable for making wine.

Black gooseberry: video about the variety