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When looking for bushes with dense foliage, good survival rate and large, sweet berries, you should pay attention to the Kolobok gooseberry. This variety is considered one of the most popular among summer residents. Growing it does not require extensive gardening experience. The bush produces large, medium-sized berries with red skin and a pleasant sweet and sour taste.
Who is it suitable for?
Even a novice gardener can start growing the Kolobok variety. This gooseberry does not require specific care. It is enough to choose the right place for planting and provide systematic watering.
This gooseberry variety is intended primarily for the central regions of the country. It is worth noting that Kolobok can be found throughout the territory. If you provide it with proper care and shelter from the cold, you can also get a gooseberry harvest in the northern regions.
Characteristics of the variety
Gooseberry Kolobok is considered one of the mid-season varieties.The gardener can have a harvest by mid-summer. The plant forms a spreading, powerful bush up to one and a half meters high. The branches have a small number of thorns, which are located at the nodes.
The buds are voluminous and brown. Gooseberry leaves are located on short petioles. They have smooth outlines. Kolobok's foliage is rich green with colored veins.
Features of Kolobok berries
Below we list the main characteristics of Kolobok berries:
- dense skin of rich red color;
- weight from 3-4 to 7 g;
- round or slightly elongated shape;
- juicy, slightly crispy flesh;
- small seeds;
- nice smell;
- sweet and sour taste;
- light waxy coating.
If we consider the chemical composition of the Kolobok gooseberry berries, it contains ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and sugars. The pulp has a pleasant, sweet and sour taste. During picking, the berries are easily separated from the branch. A small number of thorns on the bush is also an advantage when picking fruit.
Choosing a location on the site
In order for the Kolobok gooseberry to bear fruit well, you need to plant the cuttings in a suitable place. The main requirements are sufficient illumination, soil composition and moderate distance from groundwater.
The best platform for Kolobok
Gooseberries can be planted in a place where legumes, potatoes or beets previously grew. But in the area where raspberries or currants were previously located, Kolobok should not be planted.
The best place for gooseberries is a free, well-lit area. If there is no such area for the seedling in the garden, a place in partial shade will do.
Soil moisture
The second important factor is the proximity of groundwater. Although Kolobok gooseberries require regular watering, excess moisture can provoke fungal diseases in the plant. If the groundwater is less than two meters deep, an embankment will need to be prepared before planting the bush.
Soil composition
There are a number of requirements for soil composition. In order for the Kolobok gooseberry to bear fruit well, the soil must be:
- neutral/slightly acidic;
- loose;
- fertilized.
After planting the plant, soil moisture should be monitored. When it rains periodically, this will be enough for the bush to grow. If the summer is dry, the gooseberries will have to be watered.
Features of planting shrubs
Kolobok gooseberries can be planted either in spring or early autumn. In the first case, the most suitable time is mid-March. Then the seedling will have time to take root before new branches appear.
If you plant a shrub in early autumn, it should take root before frost. This method is suitable for gardeners living in the southern and central regions of the country. Autumn planting of Kolobok gooseberries allows you to achieve better results.
Seedling preparation
In order for a seedling to quickly take root and subsequently bear fruit abundantly, it needs enough nutrients. Therefore, before planting, its roots should be kept in a solution of sodium humate (3 tablespoons per 5 liters of water is enough).
The ideal newcomer to the garden plot will be a young seedling with a well-developed root system. If dry branches are visible on the bush, cut them off before planting.
Planting process
In the place chosen for the gooseberries, dig a hole about the size of a bucket.If the bush is planted in the fall, it needs to be prepared a couple of weeks before planting. In spring, it is enough to dig a hole in a week.
It is recommended to place a small amount of ash or humus at the bottom. When planting in spring, you can also add potassium sulfate and superphosphate. The seedling is immersed vertically into the recess until branching begins. Next, you should carefully straighten the roots. After they have been laid, they begin to cover them with earth. It is important to prevent the formation of cavities. During the filling process, it is recommended to compact the soil periodically.
After planting is completed, the gooseberry bush is watered generously. Then the branches are pruned so that about five developed buds remain on each. The soil around the trunk is fertilized with humus. This reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil. This measure also prevents the formation of a crust on the surface.
Plant care
In order for the plant to develop properly, it requires proper care. Gooseberry Kolobok requires regular pruning.
As a result of removing some branches, the bush is better illuminated. This measure also helps prevent excessive thickening and promotes better fruiting.
One of the features of the Kolobok gooseberry is its tendency to overgrow. Therefore, pruning of branches begins immediately after transplanting the plant.
Description of re-trimming
Repeated pruning of the Kolobok is carried out every other year in the spring. You will need to remove branches that have grown directly above the ground. It is also worth trimming weak shoots that have not grown to 20 cm in length.
Subsequently, pruning will also be required. This removes:
- branches growing directly above the soil;
- tips of overgrown shoots;
- shoots that make the crown too thick;
- damaged and weakened branches;
- basal shoots.
If you regularly thin out the bush, the fruiting branches will have enough sunlight. It is also necessary to remove root shoots so that more moisture and nutrients flow to the trunk. With this approach, the Kolobok gooseberry bears fruit abundantly for 10-15 years.
However, caring for a planted plant is not limited to pruning. The soil next to the Kolobok gooseberry is required regularly:
- water;
- feed;
- loosen.
Watering is only relevant in dry summers. As already mentioned, excess moisture can cause fungal diseases or root rot.
If a gardener plans to plant several gooseberry bushes at once, it is recommended to prepare a drip irrigation system. However, when planting one or two plants, such a measure will not be advisable.
Loosening and removing weeds
Immediately after watering, it is recommended to carry out two more procedures: removing weeds and loosening. At the same time, it is important not to injure the root system of the Kolobok gooseberry. After moistening, the soil becomes softer and more elastic, so weeding and loosening are carried out after watering.
Fertilizer application
It is recommended to fertilize the soil during planting. The plant's initial supply of nutrients will last for three years. In the fourth year, a fertilizer complex should be added to maintain high productivity. Includes:
- compost;
- ammonium sulfate;
- superphosphate;
- potassium sulfate.
The ratio of ingredients is as follows: for 5 kg of compost, 25 g of ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate and 50 g of superphosphate. This composition is placed directly under the bush and slammed down.
Fruiting
If you care for the Kolobok gooseberry according to the instructions, it will produce up to 10 kg of berries per year.
This variety is resistant to diseases and fungal infections, which is why it has won the sympathy of gardeners. Ripe gooseberries hold well on the branches. When harvesting, it can be easily removed without damaging it. The variety has excellent transportability.
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