Spinefree gooseberry: variety description and characteristics, planting and care rules

Among late varieties of gooseberries, both beginners and experienced gardeners often prefer specimens that are rarely affected by diseases and are characterized by increased winter hardiness. Such crops do not need complex agrotechnical care and from year to year they delight with large and tasty berries. Spinefree gooseberry blooms in May, and the first fruits are harvested from it at the end of summer.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The thornless gooseberry variety Spinefree has gained popularity among gardeners for its unpretentious growing conditions and stable fruiting, which does not depend on the vagaries of the weather.

The following characteristics of the plant are indicated in the description of the variety:

1. The variety belongs to late ripening crops - harvested in the last decade of August.
2. Powerful shrub shoots grow up to 1.2 meters in height, arched branches, densely covered with light green foliage.
3. The gooseberry crown is spherical in shape, has an average degree of branching.
4. There are no thorns on the shoots that make it difficult to pick berries.
5. The variety blooms in May, and at this time the bushes look very beautiful, decorating the garden plot.
6. At the very beginning, the berries have a light green color, by the time of full ripening they become dark red, greenish veins are clearly visible on them.
7. The weight of each fruit is approximately 5 grams. The taste is sweet, with a slight sourness.
8. Berries have a universal purpose - they are consumed fresh, closed for the winter in the form of jelly and jam.
9. Due to its unpretentiousness, the variety is suitable for growing in all regions.
10. The high transportability of berries is due to the dense skin, which protects the berries from cracking.

Pros and Cons of Spinefree Gooseberries

Gardeners who have been growing Spinefree gooseberries on their plots for a long time noted the pros and cons of the variety.

The benefits of the plant they include:

• stable fruiting from the age of 3 years;
• pleasant taste of fruits and universal purpose of berries;
• lack of prickly thorns on gooseberry shoots;
• high transportability, which allows you to grow crops for subsequent sale on the market;
• simplicity of propagation of the variety, which even a beginner in gardening can handle;
• no need to arrange a shelter for the winter period due to high frost resistance.

It was not without its drawbacks, the cons of gooseberry Spinfree include the following points:

• high shrub growth making harvesting difficult;
• the need for proper lighting to obtain the declared yield and sweet berries;
• poor fruiting on heavy clay soils.

Agrotechnology

Knowing the basic rules of gooseberry farming, it will be possible to grow a strong and abundantly fruiting plant.

Landing

Seedlings of the variety are planted in open ground, both in early spring and in the first autumn month. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, but experienced gardeners recommend doing this in September. Before the onset of cold weather, the root system of the plant adapts to a new place and will safely survive the winter, starting to bloom profusely in spring.

For planting gooseberries, a site is prepared in advance, which is fully illuminated by sunlight throughout the day. It is also important that the area is protected from the cold north wind and drafts. The soil for the plant is preferably loose and fertile; fertilizers are additionally applied on poor soils. There must be at least one and a half meters to groundwater, otherwise the root system will begin to rot, and the culture will weaken and die.

Two weeks before the proposed planting work, the site is dug up on a shovel bayonet, immediately picking out weeds so that they do not drown out young seedlings. For digging, humus is added at the rate of 8-9 kg per square of territory.

Planting the Spinefree variety is carried out according to the following instructions:

1. A week before planting, dig holes 60 cm deep, their width should be twice the root system of the seedling. A distance of 1.5 meters is maintained between rows.
2. A nutrient cushion is laid at the bottom of the planting pit, consisting of earth with humus, as well as superphosphate and wood ash.
3. The roots of the seedling are cut from dry fragments and soaked for an hour in non-cold water, where a rooting agent is added.
4. The gooseberries are placed in the middle of the hole at a slight slope and covered with fertile soil.
5. Pour under each seedling near a bucket of water and lay a mulch layer to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.

Irrigation and fertilization

Despite sufficient drought resistance, gooseberries need additional watering at the stage of flowering and berry formation. However, the variety does not tolerate excessive moisture. It is enough to moisten the bushes once a week by drip irrigation.

If fertilizers were laid in the pit when planting, then in the first 2 years of cultivation there is no need for additional fertilizing. After that, nutrient complexes begin to be applied several times a season. In spring, nitrogen compounds are used, for example, ammonium nitrate, in summer - liquid organic matter, and in autumn - fats based on potassium and phosphorus.

Pruning and shaping the bush

Many gardeners grow this variety on a trellis in order to save space, shaping it in height rather than width.In early spring or autumn, before preparing for winter, all diseased and broken shoots, as well as old branches, are removed, leaving only 3-4 annual specimens. Also, if it is not planned to propagate the variety, remove all root shoots.

Preparing for winter

Due to its high frost resistance, the variety does not require special warming for the winter. Before sub-zero temperatures, abundant watering is carried out (30 liters per 1 adult bush). If the frosts are severe, then they insulate the trunk circle with snow.

Diseases and pests

Due to strong immunity, gooseberries are rarely affected by diseases and pests. Twice a season (in spring and autumn) preventive spraying with copper-based preparations is carried out.

Reproduction

Spinefree is propagated by cuttings and basal shoots.

Collection and storage

When the berries turn dark red, they are removed from the bushes. Without loss of quality, the fruits are stored in the refrigerator for about 10 days. The surplus is sold on the market or processed into jam and jelly.

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