Gooseberry Consul: variety description and characteristics, planting, growing and care with photo

Every year, summer residents strive to increase the number of fruits obtained by selecting new varieties and conditions for their maintenance. Among the gooseberries there is a wide variety of species that differ among themselves in the amount of harvest, ease of cultivation, and the duration of ripening. Consul gooseberry (also called Senator) is popular, it produces many sweet fruits that are easy to harvest due to the absence of thorns on the bush.

History of breeding culture

The variety was bred by breeders recently, in the late 90s, by crossing varieties Afrikaner and Chelyabinsk green.The goal was to obtain a completely new frost-resistant variety. The result of breeding was successful, agricultural technicians began to actively engage in cultivation, getting a considerable amount of sweet fruits.

General description of variety Consul

Description of gooseberry variety Consul:

• The bushes grow thick, vigorous. They reach up to two meters in length. The branches have a bright green tint. In the first year, a small number of single thorns form on the shoots. Subsequently, they disappear and never appear again.
• Medium brown shoots.
• One-flowered and two-flowered inflorescences.
• Sepals are bright pink.
• Large-fruited gooseberries.
• The sheet has deep cutouts in a matte green shade. In total, the leaf has five lobes, of which the middle lobe is the largest. Lateral - small, widely spaced from each other.

Yield and fruits

The fruits of the Senator are large. The weight of one berry can reach six grams.

Under favorable growth conditions in the first year, you can collect up to 3 kg of ripe berries from a bush. In subsequent years, the number of fruits increases to 6 kilograms.

Senator gooseberry has rounded berries, red in color, and when ripe, they become reddish black. The skin of the fruit is thin. Medium-grained fruit with a sweet taste.

Shrub and root system

The bushes are tall and have no thorns, which is very convenient for harvesting. The root system of the bush is closed.

Frost resistance

Senator is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand colds down to -30 degrees, which allows you to grow a plant in harsh weather conditions and get delicious fruits every year.

What diseases and pests are prone to

The plant is resistant to most common diseases and pests due to strong immunity. Occasionally, on dry days, an attack by moths or aphids is possible.

The most common gooseberry diseases are powdery mildew, sawfly and septoria. To avoid this, it is necessary to carry out periodic processing.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the variety are:

• Compared to other varieties, Senator yields much more.
• Self-pollinating variety.
• Thornless look.
• Delicious fruits.
• Frost resistant.
• Drought resistant.
• Low care required.
• Resistant to diseases and pest attacks.

Among the shortcomings, some note:

• Difficulty in transportation.
• Does not like windy places.

In what regions can Senator variety be planted

The variety, due to its unpretentiousness to temperature conditions, is grown in many regions: the Urals, the Far East, Siberia, and the southern regions. Can grow in moderate temperatures, heat, and also survive cold winters.

The nuances of planting varieties

You should not grow gooseberries in places where currants or raspberries used to grow, as the soil after the bushes is poor.

Growing rules are simple, even a novice gardener can handle. The only feature that needs to be considered before landing is the choice of a bright place. It is important that the sun's rays hit the bush.

Choice of location and seedling

In order for the gooseberry to begin to grow actively and bear fruit on time, you need to choose a good seedling:

• Recommended bush age - 2 years.
• The presence of shoots must be at least three, the length of which is approximately 25 centimeters.
• The bush should sit tightly in the planting container, from which no roots should stick out.

Important! You can not buy seedlings in unverified places in order to avoid acquiring a diseased plant.

The landing site is selected on the south side. Gooseberry bushes love sunlight. The area must be level. It is important to note that the bushes are sensitive to strong winds.

Timing and step-by-step instructions for disembarkation

Gooseberries of the Senator variety are planted in autumn or spring. In order for the bush to take root, you need to follow the scheme:

• Before planting, soak the sprout for a couple of hours in a growth stimulator (sold in specialized stores).
• Dig a shallow hole 35-50 cm deep.
• Put humus on the bottom.
• Fertilize with 45 grams of potassium s alt.
• Leave the hole soaked in fertilizer for a day.
• Before planting, remove dried branches from the plant.
• Put the seedling into the prepared hole at a right angle, cover it with earth, pour plenty of water (about 5 liters).

After planting the gooseberries, you need to cut the shoots a little (by 3-5 cm).

Features of gooseberry care

Gooseberries take root well in any soil, but loamy soil is preferable for it:

• Regular watering and nutrient saturation is important for the plant.
• Don't forget to trim the shoots, this stimulates more active growth of the bush.
• Periodically required cleaning of weeds at the place of growth of shrubs.
• It is advisable to spray the leaves every summer month with a remedy for pests and diseases, despite the resistance of the variety.

Proper watering of the plant

It is not necessary to fill the shrub every day. During the summer period, three abundant waterings will be enough:

• During flowering.
• During fruit ripening.
• At the beginning of the autumn period.

Important! To absorb moisture after watering, loosening of the soil is required. Irrigation time is either early in the morning or late in the evening.

Tie up and bush shaping

So that the bush does not fall and does not crumble, it must be formed at the very beginning of the landing. This is done by tying to the installed supports. Dig up columns around the plant and tie overgrown branches to them, cut off extra shoots that go far beyond the boundaries of the supporting columns.

Hilling

Gooseberry prefers loosened soil, so do not forget to hill the plant. Dig the ground around the bush to a depth of about 20 centimeters. Hilling frequency:

• Spring, as soon as the snow has gone.
• Monthly from the first month of summer to the second month of autumn.

Feeding gooseberries

Like any plant, the Consul needs fertilizer to grow vigorously. Top dressing according to the algorithm:

• The first feeding is carried out during the appearance of the leaves. A solution of 15 grams of urea + 30 grams of nitrophoska is perfect for her. Stir the substances in a bucket of water.
• When the gooseberry has blossomed, you need to feed it a second time with 30 grams of potassium sulfate and 60 grams of Berry fertilizer diluted in two buckets of water.
• During the appearance of fruits. In 30 liters of water, dilute 40 grams of nitrophoska, 80 grams of potassium humate.

Pour top dressing into the soil without getting on the leaves.

Preparing bushes for winter

Gooseberry Consul safely endures even the coldest winters, if the culture is well prepared for the cold. Usually, the branches of the bush are alternately applied to the ground and fixed with covering material (sold in agricultural stores) or covered with a layer of straw 15 centimeters thick.

This method will protect the plant from freezing.

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