Gooseberry Black Negus: description, reproduction, cultivation

The article presents the Black Negus gooseberry: description, reproduction, planting, care, protection.

Gooseberry Black Negus was obtained thanks to the works of Ivan Michurin. It was received in the last century. The main goal that scientists pursued when inventing a new variety was a high degree of resistance to weather conditions, as well as diseases and pests. In addition to the above qualities, the Black Negus gooseberry should have an excellent taste and characteristic aroma.

Gooseberry Black Negus: variety description

Gooseberry Black Negus: photo of the variety

• Shrubs gooseberry varieties Black Negus are quite powerful, in their height, as a rule, reach 1.5 m - 2 m. However, by the tenth year of its life, the plant may become taller. The shrub has a fairly spreading shape, in its width it can reach about 3 m. The shoots are arched, they are quite strong and durable. Branches of the Black Negus are directed upwards, slightly deflected to the sides. There are thorns on the stems between the nodes; as a rule, they reach 2 cm in length, slightly bent downwards. It is also common to find spikes formed one at a time, as well as triple or double.
• Sheet gooseberry varieties Black Negus has a large three-lobed or five-lobed structure. The leaf blade has a slightly pubescent texture, has a bright green color, and has rounded teeth. The upper part of the leaves has a duller coloration as well as a slightly wrinkled texture. The petiole of leaves is rather thin, elongated, does not have a certain color. One inflorescence contains from 1 to 2 flowers.
• Fruit in gooseberries, Black Negus have an elongated shape, in many ways resemble a pear. In their size, as a rule, the berries are medium-sized, one fruit in weight reaches from 2 to 2.5 g. Not fully ripe fruits have a delicate skin, there is no pubescence, the color is green. The fruits have a noticeable bluish waxy bloom.

When the berry is fully ripe, a dark purple hue prevails, which is close to black. In ripe berries, veins are practically absent, they are not visible. The taste of this gooseberry is at a high level. They have a sour taste with a distinct sweet component, a bit like grapes. The aroma of these fruits is quite strong. After the gooseberry is fully ripe, the berry can stay on the bush for a long time without falling to the ground. During inclement weather and heat, the berries do not crack. As the fruit ripens, the juice and pulp take on a red hue.

The gooseberry variety Black Negus feels great in the conditions of central Russia. This gooseberry variety can survive frosts quite well, both in winter and in spring. Shrubs can withstand temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees. This property makes this variety suitable for growing not only in warm enough climates, but also in colder conditions.
Shrubs tolerate dry weather quite well, however, subject to the rules of agricultural technology, the yield of this variety will be higher.

If the planting was carried out correctly, and the plants receive proper care, then the first fruits can be obtained already in the second year after the young seedlings have been planted on the site. As for the ripening time, the Black Negus belongs to the middle variety. Usually the crop is harvested in late July - early August.The berries are on all the stems fairly evenly, do not have the property of crumbling and cracking. Productivity is at a good level, gardeners collect about 7 - 8 kg of fruits from one sufficiently mature plant.

The gooseberry variety Black Negus is suitable for commercial purposes, since it has a good degree of transportability; the berry can retain its properties for about 25 days. Very often, this variety is used for culinary purposes; very tasty jam and preserves are obtained from the Black Negus. In addition, gardeners often prepare wine and compote from such gooseberries.

Like any other gooseberry variety, the Black Negus gooseberry has a number of pros and cons. This gooseberry is very popular among gardeners in our country, and this is no accident.
The fruits of the Black Negus have high taste, tasters rate the taste of berries at 4.7 points out of 5. This makes the fruits quite versatile in use. The berries of this variety contain a huge amount of vitamins and other useful microelements. Black Negus tolerates low temperatures quite calmly. Such a plant bears fruit on a regular basis, for 15 - 18 years. Gooseberry Black Negus tolerates long-term transportation, while maintaining the presentation and freshness of the berries. The black negus has a very strong immunity, it is resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases. The plant regularly pleases with a high yield. As for the disadvantages of this plant, there are much fewer of them than the advantages. The main disadvantage of this variety is the presence of rather sharp thorns. This circumstance makes it difficult to harvest, and it also becomes more difficult to care for such a plant. However, many gardeners turn this negative moment into a positive one, planting plants in order to create a “living fence”.

Gooseberry Black Negus: variety breeding

Gooseberry Black Negus: photo of the variety

Reproduction of the Black Negus gooseberry variety is no different from the reproduction of other gooseberry varieties. Many gardeners prefer to propagate such a shrub using layering. To do this, you need to select a young stem and bend it to the ground, then sprinkle it with earth. After a certain time, roots will begin to form on the shoot in the bud area. This gooseberry breeding method is the most effective of all.

Some gardeners prefer to propagate gooseberries using shoots. To do this, you need to cut off branches that are close to the base of the shrub. After this, the shoots must be rooted. This method works well for plants that are no more than 9 years old.

Sometimes the Black Negus gooseberry is propagated by the separation of branches. For these purposes, you need to choose a powerful branch, then separate it from the main shrub along with part of the roots, after which part of the plant is transplanted to a permanent place.
Many gardeners propagate shrubs by dividing the bush. This method helps to make the shrub look younger. To do this, you need to dig up the plant and divide it into two parts. The part that is the strongest is transplanted to a permanent habitat.

Which method of shrub propagation you choose depends on several factors. So, for example, aged shrubs are best propagated by division. As for young bushes, it is better to use propagation methods using shoots and layering. If you follow the basic rules for transplanting, then they will take root well.

Gooseberry variety Black Negus: basic rules for planting and care

Gooseberry variety Black Negus: photo of the variety

When choosing a site for planting Black Negus gooseberries, it is better to give preference to well-consecrated areas, partial shade is also suitable. The plot should be fairly flat or on a small hillock. If you plant this variety in a low area, then it will not grow well.If the groundwater is too close to the surface, there is a risk that the root system of the plant will be affected by root rot.

As for the composition of the soil, this plant is not too demanding. Best of all, the Black Negus gooseberry variety feels on sandy ground or loam. The acidity level should be neutral.

A couple of weeks before planting the plants, it is necessary to dig up the soil, while removing all the weeds. Also, during this procedure, you need to add a certain amount of fertilizer to the soil. For this purpose, compost or humus is well suited. You can also use top dressing that contains potassium and nitrogen.

Before planting seedlings in the ground, you need to dig a hole. Its length and width are half a meter. If you are planting more than one plant, then keep a distance between the bushes of about 1.5 m. If the soil is too heavy and contains a lot of clay, then a bucket of sand must be added to the planting hole.

When choosing planting material, give preference to seedlings that have a powerful root system. The day before you plant the plants in the ground, they must be soaked in a solution of water and organic matter. To prepare such a solution, you will need 5 liters of water and sodium humate in the amount of 4 tablespoons. If this is not possible, then treat the seedlings with Zircon solution. For 1 liter of water, you need to stir 0.25 ml of the drug.

A seedling of the Black Negus gooseberry variety is placed in the planting pit directly or with a slight slope. At the same time, make sure that the entire root system is straightened. The root collar should be 5-6 cm deep.

The seedling must be covered with soil in parts, each layer must be compacted and spilled with water. After the seedling is planted, mulch the near-stem circle of the plant with a mixture of humus, sand and peat. This will prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly and no earth crust will form. It is also worth laying a mulching layer before wintering, such a measure is a good prevention against freezing of the plant's rhizomes. All the stems of the plant are cut, while you need to leave branches about 10 cm in height, on each of them there should be from 5 to 6 buds.

In order for your gooseberry to bear many fruits, you must follow certain rules for caring for the plant. This variety shows quite high requirements for the irrigation regime. If the weather is dry, water the plant 3 to 5 times a month.

It is very important to regularly water the shrubs during the period when flowers and ovaries appear. Sprinkler irrigation is not suitable for this, and the water should not be cold.

If you added sufficient nutrients during planting, no additional feeding is applied for the next three years. In the following years of the plant's life, in spring and autumn, fertilizing with nitrogen, as well as humus and compost, are introduced into the near-stem circle of plants. Also, gooseberries respond well to organic fertilization. For this purpose, many gardeners use mullein infusion. Before this, it must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 5. A good option would also be bird droppings, it is bred in a ratio of 1 to 12.

Every year it is necessary to organize pruning of shrubs, since this variety is capable of thickening quite strongly. If this procedure is not done, then the yield may decrease, and the collection will be quite difficult.
It is best to prune in the fall when the sap flow is slow. In spring, gooseberries release their leaves early enough, for this reason, it is better not to cut the stems.

It is necessary to cut off all weakened branches up to 20 cm. Also, dried, broken, as well as those shoots that have undergone a disease are removed with the help of a pruner. On the shrub of this gooseberry variety, only powerful shoots should be left, they should be up to 50 cm in length.

Shoots that run horizontally must be removed if you plan to propagate plants using layering.
Black Negus requires wood supports. As the plants grow, you need to remove aged shoots that are 6-8 years old. Instead, the shrub will grow new shoots. For a plant that is 4 to 6 years old, the number of branches should not exceed 30 pieces. This variety tolerates low temperatures well, so no shelter is required for wintering. In autumn, the plants need to be watered well, and a mulch layer should be laid near the bushes.

About pests and diseases of the Black Negus

Gooseberry Black Negus has a fairly strong immunity to major diseases and harmful insects. In this case, in order to prevent the plants, it is necessary to process them. Often, experienced gardeners use the following solution: boiling water (10 liters) + boric acid (one third of a teaspoon) + potassium permanganate (one pinch). All ingredients must be mixed well, it is convenient to spray such a preparation with a spray bottle.

Gooseberry Black Negus: video about the variety