Gooseberry Green rain: variety description and characteristics, planting and care

Green rain gooseberry is a spreading shrub with large berries that have a pronounced fragrant aroma. This is a hybrid that is highly resistant to many phytopathologies and the effects of certain external factors. It is characterized by high productivity, without requiring complex care. It can be grown at home for various purposes, including commercial ones.

Description of variety and brief characteristics

The gooseberry bushes are massive but neat. The shoots are vertical, crowned with dense foliage of rich green color. There are few thorns on the branches, thorns are located mainly at the base of the bush.

Gooseberries are large, oval. Their weight is approximately 8 g. As they mature, they acquire a yellowish color, streaks appear on their surface. Due to the optimal length of the stalks, the berries are easily removed from the bushes without damage.

Pros and cons

Among the main advantages of culture, gardeners distinguish:

• simplicity, unpretentious care;
• high yield;
• excellent taste;
• juiciness of berries;
• bush resistance to cold and drought;
• no need for shelter for the winter;
• the first period of fruiting begins the next year after planting the shrub;
• high resistance to many phytopathologies;
• possibility of using fruits for raw consumption or preparation of preservation;
• no need for frequent pruning.

The only negative is the late onset of the fruiting period.

Features of growing the Green Rain variety

To grow gooseberries of the Green Rain variety, it is necessary to allocate space on the site. And the process of planting shrubs will not take much time.

Site selection and soil preparation

Gooseberry loves well-lit areas, protected from drafts and wind. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral, loose and fertile. It is important that the groundwater lies deep underground, otherwise the roots of the shrub will begin to rot.

Approximately 15-20 days before planting gooseberries, the soil must be dug up, while removing weeds. Then it is useful to supply the substrate with river sand, but if the earth is acidic, lime will be needed.

Timing and planting technology

Gooseberry bushes can be planted in spring or during the first weeks of autumn. The process itself takes from 30 minutes to 1-2 hours: it all depends on how many seedlings you need to dive into the ground. Action algorithm:

1. Make holes for each individual bush. The distance between them should be at least 40-50 cm.
2. Place the roots of the seedlings in the holes 5-6 cm deep. Sprinkle with earth, lightly tamp it down with your hands.
3. Pour the crop under the root, avoiding water on the green mass.

Now it remains to wait until the root system takes root. The next year after planting the gooseberries, you can already harvest.

Further care for gooseberries

Care for the plant must be provided in the first year of its growth on the site. For this, standard manipulations are performed.

Irrigation

It is necessary to water the shrub with settled water. It should not be too cold, so it is better to take it in the morning so that it warms up by the evening. Or you can heat it on the stove, but it should not be hot either.

You don't need to water the plant too often. This should be done when the topsoil becomes dry. 5-10 liters of water is enough for 1 bush - depending on its size.

Tillage

After drying, the soil ceases to fully pass air. So that this does not harm the gooseberries of the Green Rain variety, after each watering, the earth must be loosened, while removing weeds. As a rule, no other soil care manipulations are carried out.

Cutting and installing supports

The installation of the support is carried out during the planting of the bushes. To do this:

1. A stake up to 2 m high is dug in next to the trunk.
2. A bicycle tire or any gymnastic hoop is placed at the top of the support.
3. A rope is tied at the top, cut into 4-6 pieces: they are necessary in order to keep the hoop at the optimal height.

Despite the fact that the support does not allow the branches of the bush to "lie" on the ground, they should be cut annually. But only weak branches are removed, as a result, 10-15 of the strongest branches remain on the bush.

Fertilizers

During the first 2 years, the culture does not have to be fed. Starting from the 3rd year of crop growth, you need to fertilize the bushes according to this principle:

• every spring add 5 kg of compost and 1 matchbox of urea;
• 2 weeks before the start of the flowering period and 14 days after it ends, the soil is fertilized with superphosphate;
• In early autumn, superphosphate with potassium sulfate is applied under the plants.

No additional feeding required.

Treatment from diseases and pests

The variety has good immunity, but sometimes it can be affected by phytopathologies. Most often, the culture is affected by white spotting, mosaic, and rust. The first and last pathologies are easily treated with fungicides, but the mosaic cannot be de alt with.

To avoid the manifestation of diseases, gooseberries should be treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid twice a year.

Wintering

It is not necessary to cover gooseberry bushes for the winter. They have high frost resistance, so they are not insulated even when cultivated in risky farming areas.

Plant propagation

The most productive method of propagating Gooseberry Green Rain is the use of layering. In the spring, on a 3-4-year-old bush, the strongest stem is selected, bent to the ground and placed in a groove about 10 cm deep. Top layer is sprinkled with earth, which needs to be watered regularly.

The emerging young sprouts spud. When they reach 10-20 cm in height, they can be separated from the mother bush and transplanted into prepared areas.

Harvest and storage of crops

You can harvest with the onset of autumn. Berries are placed in boxes or baskets of medium capacity. Fresh fruits are stored for about 10 days in a cold place. If frozen, the shelf life is extended to 4-6 months. Preservation with fruits of this variety is suitable for consumption for 6-9 months.

Gooseberry Green rain is one of the best plant varieties. It can be easily grown in a summer cottage, it is unpretentious and has strong immunity. And in order to additionally protect the culture from phytopathologies, it is necessary to treat it with special preparations every spring and autumn. You can buy them at a store that sells products for horticultural use.

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