Content
Gooseberries are valued for their unpretentiousness, productivity and vitamin-rich berries. There are not many yellow varieties of gooseberries, and one of them is Honey.
History of variety development
Honey gooseberry was bred by domestic specialists from the All-Russian Research Institute in Michurinsk. The scientific institute deals with the problems of horticulture and the development of new varieties of fruit and berry crops. The Honey gooseberry variety got its name due to the sweet taste and yellow color of the berries.
Description of the bush and berries
Honey gooseberry is a spreading, medium-sized bush. There are numerous thorns on the shoots, which interferes with harvesting.
The berries of the Honey variety are yellowish in color and medium in size. The shape is round or pear-shaped. The skin is thin, translucent. The pulp is tender and soft.
Characteristics
When choosing a gooseberry variety, its characteristics are important: yield, resistance to frost, drought, diseases and pests. When growing berries for sale, special attention is paid to their transportability.
Productivity
Honey gooseberry has a high yield. Up to 4-6 kg of fruits are collected from one bush. The variety responds positively to agricultural technology by increasing productivity.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
The Honey variety has average winter hardiness. The bushes tolerate temperatures dropping to -22 degrees in winter.
Gooseberries' resistance to drought also remains at an average level. In the absence of moisture, the bush sheds its ovaries, and the fruits lose their sugar content.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Honey gooseberries are susceptible to fungal diseases that develop at high humidity. Most often, gooseberries show signs of powdery mildew. Therefore, preventive spraying is an obligatory stage of caring for the variety.
Lack of care and high humidity create conditions for pests to multiply. Following agricultural practices and regular treatments of the bush helps to get rid of insects.
Maturation period
Harvesting from the Honey variety bushes begins at the end of July. Ripe fruits acquire a bright yellow color. They are used fresh or frozen, as well as for making compotes, preserves, jam and other homemade preparations.
Transportability
Due to the soft skin, the berries of the Honey variety are not stored for long. The shelf life of gooseberries in the refrigerator is no more than 4-5 days.
Low boxes are used to transport berries. The bottom of the container is covered with paper, gooseberries are poured on top.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the Honey gooseberry variety:
- sweet taste;
- high productivity;
- resistance to frost.
The disadvantages of Honey Gooseberry are:
- a large number of spines;
- the need to protect against diseases.
Growing conditions
To obtain a high yield, it is recommended to provide honey gooseberries with a number of conditions:
- constant natural light;
- absence of drafts;
- plain or high ground;
- fertile neutral or slightly acidic soil.
The taste and size of the berries of the Honey variety depend on the illumination of the area. In the shade, the shrub grows slowly, which affects its productivity.
It is not recommended to plant gooseberries in lowlands or wetlands. With constant exposure to moisture, the root system rots, the bush does not develop and dies over time. It is allowed to plant the Honey variety in the middle of a non-steep slope.
Clay soil is not suitable for planting a bush. In heavy soil, moisture constantly stagnates, and nutrients reach the roots more slowly. The addition of sand and humus will help improve its structure.
Landing Features
Gooseberries are planted in the fall after leaf fall (from late September to mid-October). Before winter, the bush will have time to take root and will withstand cold weather well.
If the work is postponed until spring, it is important to complete it before the buds open. However, the soil and air must warm up well.
For planting, choose healthy seedlings of the Honey variety, annual or biennial. The bush should have a strong root system 30 cm long and several shoots. Choose seedlings without signs of damage or rotting.
Procedure for planting Honey gooseberries:
- Dig a hole with a diameter of 50 cm. The depth depends on the size of the root system.
- Leave the hole for shrinkage for 2-3 weeks.
- Add 10 kg of compost, as well as 50 g of potassium salt and superphosphate to the fertile soil.
- Add sand to the bottom of the hole if the soil is clayey. Then place the prepared soil mixture.
- Place the seedling in the hole and cover its roots with soil.
- Water the gooseberries generously.
Leave 1-1.5 m between the bushes. If the crop is planted in several rows, then keep 3 m between them.
Rules of care
Due to proper care, a healthy gooseberry bush is formed and productivity increases. The Honey variety needs feeding and pruning. In cold regions, special attention is paid to preparing for winter.
Support
To prevent the berries from ending up on the ground, it is recommended to install a support around the bush. Wooden sticks are used as support or wire is pulled between iron posts. The optimal height of the support is 30 cm above the ground.
Top dressing
During the period of flowering and formation of ovaries, gooseberries are watered abundantly. The soil should be wet to a depth of 40 cm. Mulching the soil with straw or humus helps preserve moisture.
During the season, Honey gooseberries are fed several times:
- in the spring after the snow melts (1/2 bucket of compost, 50 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate);
- after flowering (mullein solution);
- at the beginning of fruiting (wood ash).
Dry fertilizer is embedded in the tree trunk soil. The gooseberries are watered with a solution at the root.
Bush pruning
In early spring, weak, frozen and dry shoots are cut out from gooseberries. Treatment is carried out before the start of sap flow. If necessary, the bush is pruned in late autumn if there are broken branches.
Be sure to eliminate shoots older than 8 years, since they bear a minimum of berries. They are identified by their dark brown, almost black color.
Reproduction
You can obtain new seedlings of the Honey variety in the following ways:
- Cuttings. In the fall, several branches 20 cm long are cut. They are kept in the cellar until February, then rooted in a greenhouse or at home.In the spring, when the cuttings have developed a root system, they are planted in open ground.
- Dividing the bush. When transplanting gooseberries of the Honey variety, its root system is divided into several parts. Each seedling must have several strong roots.
- By layering. In the spring, young shoots are selected, lowered to the ground and covered with earth. After rooting, the cuttings are separated from the mother bush and planted in a new location.
Preparing for winter
Autumn preparation helps gooseberries of the Honey variety survive cold, snowless weather. In October, the bush is watered abundantly to increase its winter hardiness.
The soil under the branches is mulched with a 10 cm layer of humus. After snow falls, a snowdrift is thrown over the bush for additional insulation.
Pest and disease control
Gooseberries are susceptible to the following diseases:
- Powdery mildew. It has the appearance of a grayish coating that appears on shoots, leaves and berries. Over time, the plaque darkens and leads to the death of the bush. To protect the bush from disease, spray with a solution of the drug XOM or Topaz.
- Anthracnose and spotting. Diseases are spread by harmful fungi. As a result, small gray spots with a brown border form on the leaves. Medicines containing copper are used against the lesion.
- Mosaic. The disease is viral in nature and cannot be treated. When the first signs appear (yellow pattern on the leaves), the bush is dug up and destroyed. To prevent mosaic, you need to disinfect garden tools, use healthy seedlings and follow agricultural practices.
The main pests of gooseberries:
- Aphid. A small sucking insect that lives in colonies. The appearance of aphids can be determined by deformed branches and curled leaves.
- Caterpillars.These pests eat gooseberry leaves and completely destroy the bush within a week. The most dangerous caterpillars are the gooseberry sawfly and moths.
- Gall midge. The pest prefers dense plantings and attacks shoots, flowers and leaves of plants.
Fufanon or Actellik insecticides are used against pests. For preventive purposes, treatments are performed in early spring and late autumn.
Conclusion
Honey gooseberries have a good taste and high yield. The bush is cared for by watering, fertilizing and pruning. Preventive spraying is mandatory.
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