Content
Growing gooseberries in the European and Central parts of the Russian Federation became possible after the emergence of cultivars resistant to frost and disease. Gooseberry Rodnik is a selection variety created in 2001 by I. Popov and M. Simonov based on the mid-early species Lada and Purmen. After experimental cultivation, the variety fully confirmed the characteristics given by the originators, and in 2004 it was entered into the State Register.
Description of gooseberry Rodnik
Gooseberry Rodnik is an early ripening variety. Resistant to spring frosts, flowers are not damaged if the air temperature drops to -4 0C for a short time, therefore gooseberry is popular among gardeners in the Urals, Moscow region, and Siberia. The variety is cultivated in the middle zone, the European part in the southern regions.
Description of gooseberry Rodnik (pictured):
- Bush 1.2 m high, compact, with a dense crown.
- The shoots are strong, upright, with drooping tops. Perennials are completely woody, have a smooth surface, and the bark is dark gray. The stems of the current year are green; by autumn the surface turns light brown.
- The thorns are sparse, concentrated in the lower part of the shoot at a height of 20 cm from the root.
- The leaves are opposite, five-lobed with wavy edges, attached to long light stalks. The surface of the leaf blade is dark green, slightly corrugated, glossy with pronounced veins, pubescent from the bottom.
- The flowers are cone-shaped, drooping, yellow with burgundy splashes, bloom abundantly. 2-3 pieces are formed in each leaf node, heterogeneous.
- The berries are oval, without pubescence, the surface is smooth with a slight waxy coating. Unripe fruits are green, at the stage of biological ripeness they are yellow with a light pink fragment on the sides. The peel is strong and thin. The pulp is green with a small amount of small brown seeds. The weight of berries on the bush is uneven from 4 g to 7 g.
The gooseberry variety Rodnik is a dioecious, self-pollinating plant. The level of fruiting does not depend on weather conditions.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
From the parent varieties Gooseberry Rodnik received high frost resistance. The plant tolerates temperatures down to -35 0C without loss, which is the optimal indicator for a heat-loving crop. According to the description of the variety and reviews from gardeners, gooseberry Rodnik grows quickly and intensively forms young shoots, therefore, if the stems freeze during the growing season, it completely restores the green mass and root system.
The drought resistance of gooseberry Rodnik is average, which is typical for almost all biological species with a superficial root system.Lack of moisture primarily affects the berries; they lose weight, density, and become sour.
Fruiting, productivity
The Rodnik variety blooms in the second half of May, the fruits ripen unevenly, the first ripe berries are harvested at the end of June, fruiting lasts for 2 weeks. It is recommended to pick the berries immediately after ripening; the variety is prone to shedding. If there is enough moisture, gooseberries do not bake in the sun. During the rainy season, fruits may crack.
The Rodnik variety blooms in the second year of growth and yields little. After 4 years, the gooseberry begins to bear fruit fully. 10-12 kg of berries are harvested from 1 bush. During the short period of ripening, gooseberries accumulate a sufficient amount of sugars; the taste of the fruit is sweet with a slight acid content. The berries are universal in use; they are consumed fresh, frozen, processed into jam, or added to assorted fruit compote.
The peel of the Rodnik variety is durable, resistant to mechanical damage, and tolerates transportation well. Therefore, high-yielding gooseberries are grown on an industrial scale.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of gooseberry Rodnik include:
- frost resistance;
- stable fruiting;
- high productivity;
- long-term storage of crops;
- transportability;
- resistance of berries to cracking and baking;
- pleasant taste of fruits;
- suitable for growing in temperate climates;
- strong immunity to fungal and viral infections;
- weak studs.
Disadvantages include average drought resistance. The berries are prone to shedding after ripening.
Features of reproduction
The gooseberry variety Rodnik is propagated only vegetatively or by dividing the bush. The last method is the most productive. The plant reacts calmly to the transfer and quickly takes root. Bushes that are no younger than four years old are separated and work is carried out in the spring, approximately in mid-May.
The Rodnik variety is propagated by cuttings; they are harvested in the second half of June (from last year’s shoots). The next season, the rooted material is planted on the site. You can propagate Rodnik gooseberries by layering; to obtain planting material, a strong side shoot is bent to the ground and covered with soil. Next spring, fragments with rooted buds are cut and planted.
Planting and care
In the spring, the Rodnik variety is planted after the soil has warmed up to +6 0C, so each region will have its own time: for central Russia - in mid-May, in the South - in April. In autumn, planting is carried out a month before the onset of frost, in temperate climates in early September, in warm areas in mid-October. This time is enough for the Rodnik gooseberry to take root.
The location for planting the Rodnik variety is chosen to be open or semi-shaded. The soil composition is neutral, slightly acidic is allowed. The soil is light aerated and drained. Lowland and wetlands are not suitable for gooseberries.
A seedling is taken with a developed root and the presence of 3-4 shoots without mechanical or infectious damage. Sequence of actions when planting gooseberries:
- The root of the seedling is placed in a growth stimulating solution, the concentration of the product and the treatment time are carried out according to the instructions for the drug.
- For planting, prepare a mixture of organic matter, peat, sand, and wood ash.
- Dig a hole 50 cm deep and 45 cm in diameter.
- The bottom of the recess is covered with a drainage pad.
- Pour ½ part of the nutrient substrate on top.
- The seedling is placed vertically in the center.
- Pour out the rest of the mixture and compact it.
- Water and mulch.
The root collar is deepened by 3 cm. The stems are cut to 4 fruit buds.
Growing rules
Gooseberry Spring bears fruit for more than 15 years; to obtain a consistently high yield, the variety requires certain care, which consists of the following measures:
- From the second year of the growing season in the spring, gooseberries are fed with nitrogen-based products, and organic fertilizers are applied during the ripening of the berries.
- Water the spring gooseberry in the morning or evening with a small volume of water; the tree trunk circle should not be allowed to dry out; the frequency of watering depends on seasonal precipitation.
- The bush is formed with 10-13 stems. After harvesting, the crop is thinned out, old, deformed shoots are removed, in the spring they carry out health cleaning, remove dry and frozen fragments.
- To prevent gooseberry stems from being damaged by mice or other small rodents, special chemicals are placed around the perimeter of the root circle at the end of summer.
- For the winter, the branches of the bush are collected in a bunch and secured with rope. This measure is necessary to prevent the stems from breaking under the weight of snow. Carry out water-recharging irrigation, hill up, and cover with a layer of mulch on top.
Pests and diseases
All selected varieties are highly resistant to infection, Rodnik gooseberry is no exception. The variety gets sick very rarely. If the summer is cold and rainy, a fungal infection may develop; it manifests itself as a bluish coating on the berries. The fungus is eliminated by treating the bush with Oxychom or Topaz.To prevent the disease in the spring, gooseberries are sprayed with a solution of potassium hydroxide and copper sulfate.
Aphids are the only pest that parasitizes the Rodnik variety. The bush is completely watered with soapy water and the anthills are removed. If there is a strong accumulation of pests, gooseberries Rodnik are treated with herbicides.
Conclusion
Gooseberry Rodnik is a high-yielding selection variety with early fruiting period. Shrub of medium height, compact, with a high degree of frost resistance. The crop is grown in temperate and warm climates. The berries received a tasting score of 4.9 points on a 5-point scale. The fruits are stored for a long time, the variety is suitable for commercial cultivation.
