Gooseberry
Growing gooseberries is not that difficult a process., but in order to enjoy the berries you will still need a thorough study of the agricultural technology of its cultivation. Before you start growing, it is recommended to learn everything about gooseberries, and in more detail!
What does gooseberry like?
The planting site is also important for the plant. The soil should be slightly acidic, sandy loam or soddy-podzolic. The area should be well lit and reliably protected from the north wind.
It is risky to plant gooseberries in low-lying areas with stagnant water; with high humidity, the plants will suffer from fungal diseases.
When planting in the hole, add:
- bucket of cow manure;
- 300 g wood ash
- 300 g crushed limestone
- about 200 g of superphosphate
If you had to plant bushes without adding manure, then the dose of ash and superphosphate is increased by about a third. To increase soil permeability, it is recommended to add a couple of buckets of peat to the planting substrate.
Plant seedlings vertically, without tilting. The root collar is buried, the lower part of the branches is sprinkled with soil. Next, the seedlings are watered.
Directly during planting, the branches are pruned, leaving 3 to 5 buds.
Planting holes are prepared in advance, no less than two months before the planned planting of seedlings. The substrate is thoroughly mixed before pouring into the pit.
Features of care
To get large sweet berries you will need:
- in spring and autumn, loosen the soil between rows;
- mulch tree trunk circles with peat;
- water the bushes during the dry season;
- systematically apply mineral and organic fertilizers.
Gooseberry pruning
Pruning of gooseberries begins in the first year after planting: by autumn the plant produces new shoots, leaving 4 or 5 of the strongest ones.
In subsequent years, they do the same, but from the age of 5-6 they begin to remove not only weak, but also old shoots that bear fruit.
A well-formed bush should have about 15 branches.
Gooseberry care in the spring it is done before the buds open, approximately in February-March, autumn pruning is carried out at the end of leaf fall.
Growing gooseberries can turn out to be such a fun and rewarding activity that over time, the owners of the plot may begin to think about the rationality of industrial cultivation of gooseberries - for sale or processing.
