Content
Those who are looking for a gooseberry that produces a lot of tasty fruits should find out in more detail that there is “Consul,” a variety that is unpretentious to the soil and has high immunity. Gooseberries of the Consul variety are also attractive due to their lack of thorns. This makes harvesting the fruit much easier.
History of variety development
Gooseberry "Consul" is a new variety bred at the end of the last century. The main goal of the breeders was to create a new species for growing in the harsh conditions of the middle zone. As a result of the experiments, a new frost-resistant gooseberry was obtained, with large sweet berries and a complete absence of thorns.
Description of the bush and berries
Gooseberry "Consul" is a bush reaching a height of two meters, without a large number of thorns. The crown of the bush is medium spreading, the branches are covered with bright green foliage. On annual shoots, 1-2 thorns are formed, which subsequently disappear. The shape of the fruit is round, the skin is thin, bright red, and when ripe it becomes almost black. Average berry weight 6 g.Under favorable conditions, the variety produces a harvest of 3 kg of sweet large fruits in the first year.
Subsequently, an increase in fruiting is formed. This is an excellent indicator for those who love gooseberry jam or wine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners love the Consul gooseberry for its ease of care and abundant fruiting. This variety is especially popular in Siberia and the Far East, since its resistance to climatic changes is high. Before you buy Consul seedlings, you should know about the positive and negative features of the variety.
Advantages | Flaws |
High frost resistance | Poor transportability |
No thorns | Fear of drafts |
Resistant to most diseases | Susceptible to dry soil, requires watering |
Abundant Harvest |
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Ability to bear fruit for 20 years Self-pollinating ability |
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Characteristics
So, the “Consul” variety (another name is “Senator”) is an ideal option for cultivation, which has a number of advantages. Gooseberries have one of the advantageous characteristics - they can be grown by novice gardeners and vegetable gardeners.
The variety does not require daily care and does not take up much space on the site. Resistance to diseases allows you to grow gooseberries for many years and collect a large number of fruits, which increases every year.
Productivity
One of the main positive characteristics of the Consul is high yield. On average, more than 6 kg of berries are harvested from one bush.Considering that the berries are set even on one-year-old shoots, and the lifespan of the plant is 20 years, Consul gooseberry is a variety that can safely be called a record holder for yield.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
Among the distinctive characteristics of the Consul variety is frost resistance. Gooseberries have the ability to tolerate frost of minus 30 degrees. The variety is also good for growing in the south in hot climates. But all plants, including this gooseberry, do not tolerate drought well. Therefore, in order to get high yields, gooseberries need to be watered regularly.
Resistance to diseases and pests
“Consul” is a gooseberry that is resistant to diseases and insect pests. It is not afraid of sawflies, septoria, and powdery mildew. The crop has a very high immunity, and this allows the crop to be grown and produce high fruiting without the help of chemical insecticides. Rarely in dry weather pests can attack: moth or gooseberry aphid. They can be combated with the help of natural preparations, by spraying the bushes.
Maturation period
“Consul” is classified as a variety with an average ripening period. In regions with warm climates, flowering occurs at the end of May. Fruit harvesting begins at the end of July and continues until mid-August. They need to be collected as they ripen, since due to the thin skin it is impossible to keep the berries on the branches for a long time. You may lose part of the harvest.
Transportability
Storage and transportation of berries is the most vulnerable point of the Consul. High fruiting and easy care are a big plus of the crop and many grow it for further sale.The thin peel does not allow the berries to remain intact for a long time, so transportation must be done quickly and carefully, immediately after picking.
Growing conditions
The Consul variety can be grown on any soil. To obtain stable yields, loam is preferable. The main conditions for productivity are considered to be fertile and moist soil, proper planting, and regular loosening.
An adult plant does not tolerate replanting; it is better to immediately find a permanent place for the seedling on the site. A sunlit place or light partial shade, without drafts, is ideal. It will be convenient for the gooseberries along the fence.
To grow a lot of gooseberries, first pay attention to seedlings. Two-year-old specimens take root best.
They must have shoots, at least three of them, over 20 centimeters long. The root system of a seedling is very important.
Landing Features
It is better to purchase seedlings from nurseries. This way you can guarantee the quality of planting specimens, which must meet the following characteristics:
- One-year-old seedlings should have small, dense roots, without defects or peeling.
- Two-year-olds should be sold with a large earthen lump. The root collar of a quality specimen should be smooth, without signs of rot.
- A two-year-old bush should have several branches with buds.
- The optimal length of shoots is 10-15 cm.
Proper planting affects fruiting. It must be carried out in compliance with the rules that will allow the bushes to adapt well to a new location. Planting of seedlings is carried out in the fall, a month before the first frost. The bushes have time to take root and overwinter well. You can do this in the spring, after the snow has melted.
- The seedlings are located no closer than one and a half meters to each other for the development of the root system.
- The hole should be 50-60 cm in size. Be sure to feed the soil with peat.
- The seedling is pre-soaked in a solution that stimulates growth, according to the instructions.
- A day later, the bush is planted in a hole, carefully straightening out all the roots. It is important to remember that the root neck must be deepened by 6 centimeters for the correct formation of the root system.
- The planting is sprinkled with earth and compacted well.
- Mulching is done and the seedling is watered at the root with ordinary water.
Rules of care
Proper fit is very important, but it is not everything. Although the variety is unpretentious in care, it requires attention. You can’t do without formative pruning of the bush.
Support
Young gooseberry branches require support, a device in the form of wooden stakes, and a net attached to them. Installing the support first makes it easier to collect the fruit. But it also prevents the branches from touching the ground, which prevents spoilage of the berries. Pegs with a mesh are carefully driven into the ground so as not to spoil the root system. As the branches grow and the yield increases, they are tied to the structure. Additional supports are not required, since the branches of the Consul variety grow upward.
Top dressing
The gooseberry variety Consul loves feeding in order to produce a good harvest. He especially likes the potassium-phosphorus diet, which needs to be added 1-2 times a year. The fertilizers applied during planting are enough for a year. It is useful to add wood ash to reduce soil acidity.
Trimming
Gooseberries need pruning.First, when planting, a third of the length of the seedling is cut off. Dry and diseased shoots are removed. In the future, pruning is carried out to prevent diseases and excessive growth. It is necessary to ensure that the branches, as they grow, do not obscure sunlight, the absence of which leads to a loss of the taste characteristics of the berries. After pruning, it is necessary to loosen the soil.
Reproduction
The Consul variety is easy to propagate by cuttings or layering.
- Cuttings are carried out from mid-summer to autumn, cutting off part of the shoot from an adult bush at an angle and 15 cm long. There should be several buds on the cutting.
- Treated with a root growth stimulator.
- Place the cutting at an angle of 45 degrees in loose soil so that 2-3 buds remain on the surface.
- Provide regular watering.
Gooseberries should be propagated by layering by bending annual shoots to the ground. They are secured with a metal bracket, sprinkled with soil, and watered. When young branches appear, the seedling is separated from the mother bush.
Preparing for winter
The variety survives harsh winters well, and these qualities help to do without shelter. Preparatory work before the onset of frost includes:
- Sanitary pruning.
- Spraying the bush against pests.
- Cleaning and burning garbage and fallen leaves.
- Fertilizer feeding.
Conclusion
The “Consul” variety is an excellent selection of gooseberries that are resistant to freezing and produce a high yield of sweet berries suitable for making jam and eating fresh. And for many years, the variety has enjoyed well-deserved popularity among gardeners, attracting attention with its unpretentiousness in care.
Reviews
Alexey, Leningrad region
Gooseberries have never been sick.Gooseberries always produce a high harvest, and do not require much care. Just watering and pruning.
