Gooseberry Malachite: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

Despite the appearance of many new fruit and berry products of Russian selection, attention to ancient species does not weaken. One such reliable gooseberry variety is Malachite. It was released over half a century ago. It got its name, most likely, by the color of young leaves, which, indeed, are malachite.

History of selection of Malachite variety

Wild gooseberries have been used by people since the 16th century. But the berries were sour, small. Working on improving the qualities of the shrub, domestic and foreign breeders created new varieties. Already in the 17th millennium, more than a thousand species of gooseberries were described.

The date of creation of the Malachite variety is considered to be 1959. Although selection work on it began in the late 40s. Malachite is the result of crossing 2 known species: Black Negus and Date. The author of the bold idea is Sergeeva K.D. According to her program and methodology, tests of a new variety were carried out. In 1959, gooseberry Malachite was recorded in the State Register.

Description and specifications

Gooseberry Malachite was recommended for cultivation in almost all regions of Russia with short summers and long cold winters. The variety has absorbed the best qualities of other types of gooseberries, for which many gardeners fell in love.

External hive parameters

1.5-meter plant has a wide, dense crown, but at the same time compact:

1. Spreading bush, fast growing.
2. Light green shoots intertwined, covered with long infrequent thorns.
3. Malachite gooseberry bush self-pollinated, bisexual. With skillful care, it can bear fruit up to 30 years.
4. On the shoots light green bark, smooth, not pubescent at all, sometimes becoming bluish.
5. Malachite-colored leaves with three and five lobes.

Taste qualities and description of berries

Gooseberry Malachite large-fruited:

1. Emerald berries weighing up to 6 g each with white streaks visible through the transparent dense skin.
2. The taste of fruits is dessert, sweet and sour, pleasant to taste. With a delicate aroma. Contain a large amount of ascorbic acid.
3. Ripe berries may not crumble for a long time, gradually acquiring a yellowish tint.
4. Due to the strong skin, the fruits are stored for a long time and are easily transported.

Important: the berries come off without a stalk, which is a big plus when picking the fruit.

Berries are universal in use: they are eaten fresh and processed, jams, jams, compotes, sauces are made.

Ripening period and yield

Peak fruiting in Malachite comes from the 4th year of life. Fruit ovaries are formed already in the second year. The bush begins to bloom in May, and in July the emerald-colored berries already ripen.

They do not ripen immediately, but in stages, so gooseberry bushes are full of green fruits until the end of August.

Yields of the Malachite variety are high. Gardeners collect up to 7 kg of he althy and tasty berries from one bush.

Drought resistance and frost resistance

When creating a hybrid, breeders offered it for cultivation in any climatic zone. Gooseberry Malachite is viable, easily tolerates temperature changes. Young seedlings will not freeze in frosts down to -25 ° C without shelter (provided that they are covered with snow).

Cool summer with a monthly rainfall will also not affect the fruiting and growth of the berry. But a hot, dry summer can adversely affect the crop. The bush needs to be watered abundantly. Otherwise, the gooseberries will not give a good harvest, and the fruits will be small.

Immunity to diseases and pests

Gooseberry Malachite - resistant to many fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew. Attacks by pests such as moth and sawfly are also not dangerous to the variety.

Gooseberries can be affected by disease:

• septoria;
• rust.

Prophylactic treatment of the berry will not be superfluous.

Pros and cons of culture: is it worth growing

Some gardeners like any garden crop, and they grow it with pleasure.Others are not satisfied with some qualities. Gooseberry Malachite, having many positive characteristics, has negative sides.

Large-fruitedRequires a lot of space to growResilient: bears fruit in all climatic conditions; does not suffer from powdery mildew; individual pests (moth) are not afraid The presence of prickly thorns. Weak immunity to anthracosis, septoria Productive. Productive up to 20 years with skillful careGood for fresh consumption, for processing

According to many gardeners, the gooseberry variety Malachite is worthy of attention. No wonder experienced gardeners have been growing it for many years and are not going to part.

Growing advice

Malachite is an unpretentious shrub. It grows outdoors in almost any soil, even clay soils.

Necessary conditions for planting seedlings

The main requirement for the place is the absence of closely spaced groundwater. The place for planting gooseberries of the Malachite variety should be well lit by the sun, although partial shade will also suit it.

Timing and landing pattern

Autumn and spring are the periods when gooseberry seedlings are planted. But many gardeners argue that planting Malachite in the fall is preferable, since it will be easier for a young plant to endure a frosty winter, and spring awakening will be more efficient.

Saplings are planted when all the leaves have fallen, and at least a month remains before the onset of cold weather. Since the gooseberry bush Malachite is sprawling, when planting, an interval between plants of at least 1.5-2 meters should be observed.

Saplings are buried at least 55 cm long. The length of the shoots should not exceed the length of the main root (ideal).

Important. If the planting of the bushes is too dense, it will complicate the care of the gooseberries, will not provide the plants with the necessary ventilation, which will negatively affect the future harvest.

Seasonal basics

Malachite is a variety that does not require special care and time. It is minimal:

• watering;
• loosening;
• feeding (if necessary).

Loosening the soil

Since the main root of the berry is powerful, developed, air is needed for better growth and development of the plant. Therefore, it is imperative to loosen the soil, while removing weeds.

Loose should be careful not to damage the roots as they are close to the ground.

Water Regularity

It is especially important to water seedlings when planting. Having planted a gooseberry bush Malachite, it is watered abundantly (1-1.5 buckets are poured under each plant). The gardener must check the soil moisture. Do not allow the soil to dry out, as well as waterlogging. If the summer is not hot and rainy in moderation, then the Malachite berry plant does not need watering.

Feeding

For stable yields, maintenance of the productive life of gooseberry Malachite, he needs annual top dressing.

The first can be made before the snow melts. It is scattered in handfuls along the contour of the crown of the bush. Suitable urea, ammonium nitrate. If there is no snow, then you will have to deepen the dressing a little with a hoe.

After half a month, watering with diluted mullein or herbal infusion in a ratio of 1:2 is allowed. (10 liters of water, 5 liters of mullein or herb infusion).

According to experienced gardeners, it is advisable to feed the berry with dry mixtures, since the bush “prefers” to absorb them slowly. Rapid absorption of nutrients along with watering is undesirable.

Pruning and shaping the bush

Guarantee of a long productive life of gooseberry bushes - pruning, crown formation. Malachite is not a standard variety, so dozens of new shoots grow on the berry bush every year:

1. The first pruning should be done as soon as the seedling is planted. Shorten shoots, keep no more than 5-6 buds.
2. Then the bush is pruned until the buds swell. For the purpose of lush flowering and ovaries of large fruits, fresh shoots are shortened by at least 10 cm.
3. In autumn, old branches that are more than 5 years old are removed, almost at the root. Sick, damaged shoots are also pruned.

Malachite is a fast-growing bush, its branches are long and can lie down under the weight of berries. The berry plant needs support. A reliable rope will fit, with which a bush is tied in the middle. Or they make supports from metal or wooden hoops, mounted on pegs-racks 50 cm high.

Important. When forming bushes, places of especially large cuts are smeared with garden pitch to avoid infections.

Preparing gooseberries for winter

First, you need to remove all the garbage under the bush: fallen leaves, broken branches. Then add mulch:

• humus;
• peat;
• manure.

After pruning, top dressing, before the cold days come, the root zone of the bush is sprinkled with a layer of earth. Although the Malachite variety is frost-resistant, such protection from the cold will not hurt him.

Then the bush is covered with snow. If it is not there, you can cover the berry with agrospan (if necessary).Gooseberry Malachite is a worthy variety. He fell in love with gardeners for unpretentiousness, vitality in any conditions, almost does not get sick, and the crops delight with tasty and he althy berries. A middle-aged variety firmly holds its position, not disappearing from household plots.

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