Gooseberry Naughty

Introduction

Gooseberry Shalun is a variety that has quite attractive characteristics. It was for them that he fell in love with many gardeners, in particular domestic ones. Due to the fact that the plant has a high level of stress resistance, can withstand severe frosts, and is generally unpretentious in care, it is cultivated in various regions and regions of our country, even where the climate is not distinguished by its stability and stability.

In this article, we will give a more detailed description of the Shalun gooseberry variety, its advantages and disadvantages. We will also touch upon questions about the peculiarities of cultivation, as well as about the fight against diseases and pests that the gooseberry of this variety can undergo.

Gooseberry Shalun: variety description

Gooseberry Shalun: photo of the variety

Gooseberry Shalun is a perennial shrub plant. Its distinctive feature is that it is sufficiently resistant to temperature extremes, droughts, and also gives an excellent and plentiful harvest, even in not the most favorable seasons in terms of climatic conditions. Resistance to hot weather is due to the fact that the shrub has a very deep rooting - about half a meter in depth, and the roots can grow up to two meters in width, which, of course, indicates such a plant's resistance.

Gooseberry Shalun has very high frost resistance rates - without shelter, the variety can withstand temperatures down to minus 30 degrees, and this allows it to be cultivated not only in warm regions, but also in the Urals and in the northern latitudes of Russia, so the variety really literally expanded throughout the country, and gardeners are only at hand.

Gooseberry Shalun, despite its prevalence, has not yet been registered in the State Register, so we cannot give complete and reliable information about the specifics and features of its selection. There is an assumption that this variety was bred in the period from 1992 to 2014, just at the time when breeders bred new, thornless varieties of gooseberry crops, but no one can indicate the exact date until now.

As we have already indicated, the bush belongs to a thornless species, it looks like a medium-sized shrub, which can reach about one meter in height. The bark is dark, gray in color, very strong and persistent. Annual shoots are also gray in color, the leaves are common for gooseberry crops, have a dull green tint and are slightly pubescent, which is visible with the naked eye, and also felt if these leaves are touched. The Shalun gooseberry variety has an average level and ripening rate, fruiting occurs around the end of July. The berry is large enough, has a rounded shape, the mass of one berry can reach six grams. The fruits are light green in color, and light stripes stand out on them. The pulp is very tender, dense, the skin is rather thin. But, as the gardeners themselves note, even despite the fact that the skin of the fruits is thin, they can still be transported over long distances, and this will not affect either their external indicators or taste at all.

The yield of Shalun gooseberry shrubs is very abundant. From one adult bush, you can collect up to four kilograms of ripe and juicy, tasty berries. Berries contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals, which are very useful for the human body without causing allergies. The taste of the berries is very sweet, with a slight pronounced sourness.

Of course, when describing any plants, one should point out both their advantages and disadvantages. So, among the advantages of the variety, one can single out such as a high level of winter hardiness, resistance to a dry period, good transportability over long distances, when the plant does not at all lose its positive qualities and properties. In addition, if we are talking about morbidity, then this variety is resistant to perhaps the most common disease among gooseberry crops - to powdery mildew. The bush itself is very compact, it should be trimmed periodically, and it also belongs to the self-fertile category of plants.

There are nevertheless some drawbacks of the Naughty gooseberry, which we cannot but pay attention to. Firstly, shrubs have a very weak immunity to aphid invasions, which occur almost every year. Secondly, if there is an excess of precipitation in the summer, then the plant can very easily undergo anthracnose or white spot. This can be avoided if the gardener carries out preventive treatment of plants with a solution of copper sulfate, since it just allows you to get rid of such fungal diseases or prevent them. As for aphids, insecticides will be more effective here, which are purchased directly from professional gardening stores, and they are relatively inexpensive.

Growing features

Gooseberry Shalun: video about the variety

Of course, in order to grow an excellent fruiting gooseberry bush Shalun, you must follow all the rules that are indicated in the framework of planting and caring for gooseberries. Agricultural technology allows the bush to root perfectly, give growth, and in general withstand even the most difficult tests, if we are talking about the climate or the incidence of the plant.

The first stage is choosing a landing site. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the lighting of the site should be sufficient and abundant, since gooseberry bushes are very fond of just such an environment. It is best to place the shrub either on the south side or southeast. To prevent the plant from being exposed to strong winds or drafts, you can plant them next to the wall of the house or next to fences. It should also be borne in mind that gooseberries as a culture cannot tolerate severe waterlogging at all, so it is best to choose a hill where the groundwater is formed at a depth of at least one and a half meters. Such conditions will be the most suitable for the gooseberry to root perfectly and give good growth, and subsequently the harvest. As for the composition of the soil, the culture does not impose any exaggerated requirements on this either. It can take root both in clay soils and in sandy loam substrates, which, in principle, are rarely perceived by plants as soils in which they can successfully and quickly root, grow and subsequently give at least some result in the form of a crop. You should not plant shrubs near asphalt paths, since the gooseberry root system does not tolerate compaction at all.

Planting and caring for the Shalun gooseberry should also be carried out in accordance with some rules and regulations. When planting gooseberry shrubs in open ground, time is usually taken into account - this should be done in the spring before the buds have blossomed. The approximate time is the beginning or mid-April, much depends on the current climatic conditions in the region where the bush will actually be planted. If the gardener has decided to plant a plant in September, then for this he also takes into account the specifics of the autumn planting of gooseberry crops. This procedure must necessarily come at least one month before the severe frosts set in.

The site for planting the gooseberry Shalun should be prepared about six months before the plant is planted there.Digging of soil for plants is carried out to a depth of 40 centimeters. Humus and superphosphate are also added there to enhance the fertility of the soil. It is also worth noting that gardeners have developed a kind of step-by-step instruction on how best to plant gooseberries, and what is necessary in order for them to successfully take root and bear fruit safely in the future. The instructions include the following steps:

• the hole should be dug to a depth of no more than forty centimeters, and its width can reach half a meter
• at the bottom of the pit, the gardener pours humus and ash
• the soil pours out from above to about the middle of the hole, and then the bush itself is placed there
• after the seedling is placed in the hole, it is necessary to very carefully spread the root part of the plant and pour soil under it
• the plant can be placed not straight, but at a slight slope, up to 45 degrees, so it will be ideal
• soil is poured from above, which should be lightly tamped, taking into account its own strength
• about ten liters of water is poured from above, which should also be settled for several days, warm, room temperature
• next to the bush, the soil is mulched with peat or sawdust mixed with the same peat.

Of course, after the Shalun gooseberry plant has been sent to the open ground, it needs careful care and supervision from the gardener himself. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to water the plant regularly, according to the compiled schedule and taking into account the climatic conditions, and it is best to loosen the soil after each watering. You should also regularly and carefully inspect shrubs for the appearance of insects or any pests. It depends solely on the vigilance of the gardener himself how healthy the plant will be. Also, the timely detection of a disease or pest will also preserve the health and vital activity of the shrub and prevent its death.

Gooseberry Shalun belongs to self-fertile crops, so he can produce crops on his own, he does not need planting nearby, which could also pollinate him. In order to improve yields, you can also plant some varieties near Shalun that have the following characteristics:

• bloom simultaneously with the main shrub of the Shalun variety
• can form pollen in a very abundant volume and quantity
• carry out annual flowering and, accordingly, can also bear fruit every year and season
• have phases of their growth and development similar to the gooseberry variety Shalun - flowering, fruiting, resistance to diseases.

Planting materials for planting in open ground are best purchased in special stores or nurseries. Be sure to pay closer attention to the state of the rhizome - it should contain a large number of live, elastic root processes, the length of the rhizome itself should be at least twenty centimeters, it should not have any visible damage, scratches, pathological growths , rot or traces of rust.

The gooseberry crop in general is quite drought-resistant, but it is still worth watering the plant, but in moderation. Gooseberry does not tolerate abundant moisture, it can react in the form of a disease. It is enough to apply the liquid on average three times over the entire season, and this will be enough for the plant. The first application is carried out during the period when the shoots give their most active growth. The second time it is best to water the Naughty gooseberry when it reaches the flowering phase. During the ripening period, the gooseberries should be watered for the third time. Of course, you should also be guided by what weather conditions are observed in the region. If the weather is dry, it is better to water the gooseberries a little more often.If there is heavy rainfall that does not stop for a long time, then some of the watering stages are best simply skipped so as not to cause any harm to the plant.

About two years after the Gooseberry Minx has been planted in the open ground, you can begin to feed it. The first top dressing is applied before the buds have blossomed (urea and saltpeter are best suited in this case). A second dressing is done just before the shrub begins to bloom, and wood ash and potassium sulfate are perfect here. For the third time, it is worth feeding during the period when the fruits ripen. A natural fertilizer is best, and experienced gardeners recommend a potato peel-based tincture. The last time feeding is done around mid-October, then the soil is mulched, for this they make a mixture of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and rotted compost.

Gooseberry Naughty: Pest and Disease Control

Gooseberry Shalun: photo of the variety

In general, gooseberry is a culture that is quite resistant to most diseases. But, even in spite of this, he can be exposed to invasions of the shoot aphid. This pest lays its eggs on twigs, where they can winter well. Already in the spring, larvae hatch from the clutches, which suck the juice from the young leaves of the gooseberry. You can find aphids by the fact that the leaves began to gradually curl, and in general they begin to take on an unhealthy appearance, and a sticky bloom is noted on their surface, which is completely atypical for gooseberries. Over time, the plant completely takes on a painful appearance, begins to wither, growth slows down, and the fruits may not form at all, since the plant does not have any vitality left for this.

To get rid of the shoot aphid, it is necessary to spray the leaf and stem parts with preparations - for example, karbofos. Also, shrubs can be irrigated with soapy water, this is an excellent folk remedy that is completely safe for the life and health of the gardener himself. Also, despite the fact that the plant's immunity is also quite high, it can still undergo anthracnose, as well as white spot. These fungal diseases develop especially actively during periods of high humidity. Brown, atypical spots can be seen on the leaves, which can grow and cause the plant to be completely depleted and dried out. Young shoots stop growing, due to which the level of productivity of the plant decreases, it can stop fruiting altogether, if measures are not taken in time to combat these diseases.

It is most effective to irrigate the Gooseberry variety Shalun with a solution of copper, remove damaged branches and leaves and destroy them (burn) so that the fungus does not return to the plant through the soil and does not spread to still healthy shrubs. It is also periodically necessary to dig up the trunk circle itself.

White spot is another disease that affects plants, especially the Shalun gooseberry variety. Whitish or grayish spots are gradually formed on the leaves, the leaves begin to curl, after a while they simply dry out and fall off. Due to leaf fall, the fungus can spread through the soil to still healthy plants. To fight white spot, it is necessary to loosen the soil around the trunk, but do it very carefully; remove and burn fallen leaves so that the fungus does not spread through the soil to other plants; irrigate the leaf and stem parts with a solution of copper sulfate, as well as the soil around the plant itself.

Pruning the Shalun gooseberry variety plays an important role, as it allows the formation of healthy shrubs. It is best to carry out shaping pruning immediately after the bush has been planted in open ground.After planting, the gardener needs to leave the four most viable shoots, on which buds, inflorescences and fruits will then form. Over time, the Shalun gooseberry will grow, it also needs to be cut so that the bush is always in shape, and so that it is easier to harvest the resulting crop from it. In general, it is thanks to such measures that you can get an excellent Shalun gooseberry of an excellent size and, most importantly, a plant that will give a bountiful harvest.