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Gooseberries are known for their unusual taste. The shrub usually grows in areas with temperate climates. Breeders are working to develop new varieties adapted to different climatic zones. Masheka gooseberry is considered one of the best varieties among berry bushes.
Description of Masheka gooseberry
Gooseberry variety Masheka was created by Belarusian hybridizers. In 1997, it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation after its successful implementation in the central territory of Russia. In addition to the qualities that characterize the variety as a fruit and berry crop, it has an attractive appearance. The Masheka variety is often called decorative due to the spreading nature of the bushes and structural features.
- Bush and shoots. Masheka is a medium-sized variety, the bush of which grows up to 80 cm. Thick and dense shoots are light green in color, they grow obliquely. The branching of the bush is described as average. In this case, the branches are equidistant from each other, which creates a characteristic spreading pattern. Shoots tend to form a large number of thorns, which is taken as a defect in the variety;
- Leaves. The leaf petiole is long, located on the shoot at an acute angle, and has a light green color without fluff. The leaf blades of the plant are flat, with small serrations along the edges;
- Fruit. The oval berries are brick-red in color and turn dark brown when fully ripe. The shape of the fruit is an elongated oval. Veins appear across the entire surface of the berry. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.
The Masheka variety is high-yielding, frost-resistant, and self-fertile, which is an undoubted advantage when planting crops in small summer cottages with a limited territory.
Gooseberries of the Masheka variety are planted in the central region of Russia. It can fruit in harsher areas with additional cover.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The gooseberry variety Masheka is not resistant to drought. For full growth and timely formation of fruits, it requires regular watering.
At the same time, the culture exhibits high winter hardiness. The shrub can withstand temperatures down to –30 °C, and with additional shelter it can tolerate temperatures down to -35 °C.
Fruiting, productivity
The main advantage of the Masheka variety is its high yield. More than 6 kg of berries are harvested from one mature bush. Fruiting occurs in mid-August, but may shift towards the end of summer, in accordance with the climate of the region.
The average size of a gooseberry berry is 3.5 g. Some fruits grow up to 5 g. The shape of the fruit is oval, their pulp is juicy, with a sweet and sour taste. Tasting assessment of Masheka variety berries – 4 points. Gooseberries are suitable for making preserves, jams, and also for fresh consumption.
The berries adhere tightly to the stalk and are not prone to shedding after ripening. When ripening in late summer, they do not bake in the sun and do not crack. The skin of the berry is thin but dense, which allows you to store and transport the fruits of the Masheka variety without loss.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gooseberries of the Masheka variety have characteristic features, but when choosing for planting on a site, not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages of the crop are taken into account.
pros | Minuses |
High and stable fruiting. | Active formation of root shoots, which makes maintenance difficult. |
Winter hardiness, frost resistance. | Intolerance to high humidity. |
Self-fertility. |
|
Resistance to diseases and pests is above average. |
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The advantage of the Masheka variety is the taste of the fruit. They have a persistent gooseberry flavor, while possessing a moderate degree of acidity. Berries are useful for vitamin deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and are a source of natural vitamin C.
Features of reproduction
Masheka gooseberries are propagated in the spring by digging up shoots, separating cuttings or dividing the mother bush into parts in the fall. When an adult bush grows, dividing the root system is considered a highly effective method.
Spring digging is successful, the gooseberries quickly take root, provided that the air humidity is at a level comfortable for the crop.
Planting and care
Gooseberries are planted in spring or autumn. When planting in autumn, the plant is buried from August to October so that the roots have time to adapt before frost.
- Accommodation. When choosing a location, preference is given to open sunny areas with low groundwater levels and the absence of through winds.If you plant a shrub in lowlands with stagnant moisture, you can lose the bush before fruiting.
- Seedlings. Before planting, planting material is inspected, dried parts of the root system are removed, and soaked in a root growth biostimulator for 12 hours.
- The soil. Gooseberries of the Masheka variety do not grow on sandy soils, so the ground is fertilized in advance with mineral-organic mixtures.
For seedlings, dig a suitable hole with dimensions of 50 by 50 cm. A distance of 1.5 to 2 m is left between the bushes.
The hole is filled by a third with a nutrient mixture of organic matter and minerals, then a gooseberry bush is placed with a lump of earth from the seedlings. Next, they are covered with prepared soil and compacted. A tree trunk circle is formed around the planting, which is additionally mulched.
Growing rules
After planting gooseberries, certain care rules are established. With regular agrotechnical procedures, the Masheka variety begins to bear fruit consistently in the 2nd or 3rd year of existence.
- Watering. Gooseberries of the Masheka variety love abundant watering. The bush is watered in spring and summer. In case of heavy rainfall, watering is suspended. Regular stagnation of moisture can provoke the formation of rot on the roots, so the event is carried out according to a strictly established scheme, avoiding intense waterlogging;
- Trimming. The proliferation of basal shoots, which is called a disadvantage of the Masheka variety, leads to partial thickening of the gooseberries. Pruning is necessary. Every year, the basal shoots are pruned, leaving 3 to 4 of the strongest and strongest. In the fall, remove damaged branches, cut off young shoots that will not have time to thicken before the onset of frost;
- Garter. Support is needed only for young bushes that are not strong enough. As the gooseberries grow, support is installed along the edges of the trunk circle, fencing the bushes around the perimeter. When branching, the lower branches are laid on a nylon rope stretched between the support posts. This keeps them off the ground and makes harvesting easier;
- Feeding. When planting, a certain amount of mineral and organic fertilizers is applied; this is enough for 3 years from the date of planting. In the fall, the soil is fertilized with organic matter, and in the spring, ammonium nitrate is added to the soil. Foliar feeding is carried out before flowering and fruit formation;
- Rodent protection and winter preparation. A layer of mulch made from pine needles, spruce branches or pressed sawdust helps protect the trunks from rodents, as well as protect them from freezing.
To protect against frost, the tree trunk circle is hilled up, the branches are bent to the ground, covered with agrofibre with additional tying and pressed down with oppression.
Pests and diseases
The Masheka variety is resistant to diseases, but when the soil is waterlogged and the air humidity is high, it can be affected by fungus. Gooseberries begin to show symptoms of septoria or powdery mildew.
The best preventive measure when caring for gooseberries is considered to be annual watering of the bushes with boiling water after the snowdrifts melt. To protect against pests, spring treatment with insecticides is carried out.
Conclusion
Masheka gooseberries are valued for the recognizable taste of the berries, high fruiting rates and attractive appearance. This variety is grown in the central part of the country, but with additional shelter the crop bears fruit in colder areas.
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