Content
One of the relatively new gooseberry varieties, Candy, is resistant to drought and low temperatures. This name was entered into the State Register in 2008. With proper care, the bush can produce about 6 kg of berries per year. It is recommended to grow Candy gooseberries in eastern and western Siberia.
Features of shrub development
Before you decide to purchase a gooseberry bush for your garden, you should read its description. The Candy variety is a plant of medium height, erect and bushy. Dark brown buds appear on the shoots. The bush cannot be called thornless; rare thorns are found on the lower branches.
General characteristics of the variety
Candy gooseberry is resistant to low temperatures. From a bush about 1 meter high you can expect from 2 to 6.5 kg of yield, so the variety is classified as high-yielding. Gooseberries begin to bear fruit in the second year after planting.
The Candy variety is quite demanding on the composition of the soil. According to the descriptions, loam enriched with vitamins is suitable for planting it. Sandy and sandy loam soils will not be able to provide the plant with the necessary nutrients due to its shallow root system.The most significant part of the root is located at a depth of up to 30 centimeters.
The description of the variety can be reflected in the following list:
- The ripening period is average.
- The shrub is medium in size, with a small crown and thin branches.
- The thorns are thin, present only in the lower part of the branch.
- One or two flowers are formed in the inflorescence.
- The fruits are red and shaped like a ball.
- Pleasant, sweet and sour taste.
- The weight of the berry ranges from 3-6 g.
- The chemical composition includes sugars and acids, including ascorbic acid.
- The yield of the variety is 2.4-6.5 kg per bush.
The plant forms a bush of small height with fairly dense shoots of medium thickness. The Candy variety is resistant to drought and frost. The branches appear arched, with sparse brown thorns. The thorns are not visible in the upper part of the bush.
The leaves of the Candy bush are medium sized. They are divided into 5 sectors, slightly pointed or rounded. The leaf is smooth, shiny, with a slightly concave central vein. The central sector is elongated and pointed, surrounded by protrusions. The middle blades are located at an angle to each other. The leaf is formed on a green petiole, of moderate length and thickness.
Candy gooseberries
The main feature of Candy gooseberries is that they are suitable for consumption at any stage of ripeness. They are used to make jams, marmalade, compotes and other dishes and drinks. Gooseberries can be eaten directly.
As can be seen in the photo, the ripe fruit of the Candy gooseberry is quite large in size and weighs from 3 to 6 g. The skin of the berry is thin, pink in color, and has a slight roughness.The number of seeds in the fruits is moderate.
Gooseberries contain vitamins, sugars, acids, and iron. The Candy bush bears sweet and sour fruits with a pleasant aroma. It has high taste qualities.
Maturation period
The first berries begin to ripen in mid-June. When the fruits become soft, you can start picking them. They will last about 14 days in a cool place. In industrial refrigerators, the shelf life of ripe gooseberries reaches a month.
The berries that have ripened do not have to be immediately removed from the branch. They can hang for another two to three weeks without losing their characteristics. The harvest usually ends in August.
Choosing a place for a seedling
In order for the Candy gooseberry to bear fruit in the same way as in the photo, it must be planted in a suitable place. There are a number of factors to consider, including:
- soil composition;
- illumination;
- proximity to groundwater;
- presence of persistent pests.
Loamy soil is ideal for growing Candy gooseberries. In order for the bush to bear fruit well, you need to plant it in an area where there is enough sunlight. In the shade it will produce smaller berries. At the same time, the bush should be protected from the winds.
Another important condition for the growth of gooseberries is the presence of groundwater at a depth of about 75-90 cm. If the soil moisture is higher, the root will begin to rot and the plant will die. It is worth noting that the main root mass of the shrub is located at a depth of up to 30 cm, so if there is a lack of precipitation, the gardener is required to regularly irrigate the plant and apply fertilizers.
How to prepare the soil for planting
To achieve high yields, you need to start preparing for moving the seedling in advance.Another year before the expected planting of the Candy gooseberry, the soil should be cleared of persistent weed, which impair the survival rate of plants.
The earth needs to be enriched with nutrients. Subsequently, the bush will absorb them along with water. To determine the types of fertilizers and dose sizes for this variety, you need to prepare a description of the soil pH. For this:
- soil samples are taken from two levels - at a depth of about 20 and 40 cm;
- the samples received are sent to the nearest laboratory;
- Based on the data obtained, recommendations are given on the types and doses of fertilizers for Candy gooseberries.
Not all types of fertilizers interact with each other. For example, if research results recommend calcination, you should not simultaneously use phosphorus preparations or organics. But magnesium would be a suitable addition.
Candy gooseberry seedlings should be selected according to a number of parameters: the absence of mold-infested areas and dried out roots. After acquisition, the shoots also need to be regularly moistened both during delivery to the summer cottage and during storage.
When to plant gooseberries
The following periods are favorable for planting Candy gooseberries:
- spring is the time before the buds swell, when the earth is already well warmed up;
- autumn (about a month and a half before the first frost).
The best results are obtained by planting gooseberries in the fall. The optimal time is the end of October - November. If the weather is favorable, during this period the plants have time to take down new roots. Then in the spring months their development will accelerate.
Planting process
Two weeks before the appointed transplant date, you should dig up the chosen place, free it of weeds and remaining roots. Ideal for planting will be young seedlings (2-year-old) of the Candy bush with a well-developed root system.
The second stage is the preparation of the gooseberry seedlings themselves. Dried shoots are removed from the root part. It is also recommended to trim the tops of the shoots; it is enough to leave only 5 buds. Another useful tip: before planting, leave the roots in a sodium humate solution for 24 hours (proportion: 3 tablespoons of product per 5 liters of water).
Then you can proceed directly to planting in the soil. They operate in the following sequence:
- Dig a bucket-sized hole for planting gooseberries.
- 50 g of superphosphate, 40 g of potassium sulfate and half a glass of ash are mixed with the extracted soil.
- Immerse the Candy shrub seedling into the hole, making sure that the root collar remains 2 cm below the soil level.
- Place the roots in the hole and begin digging the hole. At the same time, the earth is periodically compacted so that cavities do not form.
- Water the seedling.
- To avoid crust formation, it is recommended to mulch the bush 3-4 cm with peat.
If a gardener plans to plant several candy gooseberry bushes on his plot at once, a distance of about one and a half meters should be left between them.
How to care for shrubs
In spring, pruning is done before sap begins to flow through the branches. Old, dry branches, as well as frostbitten parts of the shoots, are removed. It would not be superfluous to eliminate the root shoots. All cuts are treated with garden varnish.
There are several more recommendations for caring for shrubs:
- From May to August, loosen to a depth of about 7 cm.
- At the very beginning of the snow melting, spray hot water on the bush. This measure will prevent the appearance of pests.
- To speed up the development of new shoots, in May, enrich the soil with organic matter, nitrogen or potassium fertilizers.
- Clear the ground around the bush of weeds.
- If necessary, moisten the soil, water the Candy gooseberry with standing warm water.
Often the lower branches of the bush begin to lean towards the ground. To prevent them from hanging, you can use nets or supports.
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