Content
The Northern Captain gooseberry stands out among the wide variety of varieties for its unpretentiousness and productivity. It is rare to find a garden crop so immune to typical diseases and pests. Bright, aromatic Captain berries have not only culinary value, their beneficial properties are used for healing and restoring the body.
History of variety selection
Northern Captain is a product of modern domestic selection, obtained by experimental crossing of the Pink-2 variety. The culture has been listed in the State Register since 2007, as zoned specifically for the North-Western region. The variety is distinguished by its vitality and the ability to bear fruit stably in damp, cloudy summer conditions.
Description of gooseberry Northern Captain
Gooseberry Captain grows as a tall, dense bush. Under the weight of the harvest, the young green shoots bend archly.Adult branches become lignified and acquire a gray color. Stems are strongly branched without pubescence.
Short thorns (up to 7 mm) rarely grow on adult branches, and are completely absent on young shoots. The spines are thin, straight, single, most often formed at the base of the branches. The overall degree of studding is assessed as weak.
The leaves of the Captain gooseberry are large, glossy, and three-lobed. Just like on the buds and stems, there is no pubescence on them. The leaf blades are rich green in color and slightly wrinkled.
Greenish large flowers, collected 2 or 3 in a raceme. Each petal is marked with a reddish stroke along the edge.
Characteristics of Northern Captain gooseberries:
- the size of the fruits on the bush is even, the weight is within 3.5–4 g;
- color – from dark red to deep burgundy and black;
- the veins stand out in a light shade;
- the peel is thick, covered with a waxy coating;
- the seeds are small.
Sugars in ripe fruits accumulate up to 9%, but the significant content of vitamin C gives the berries a sour taste. The unpretentious crop can be grown both in the north-western part of Russia and in warmer regions.
Characteristics of the variety
The self-fertile variety Captain can be cultivated in single plantings. The presence of other types of gooseberries in the garden increases its yield slightly. Cross-pollination with other varieties is not necessary for Captain.
The crop is distinguished by its increased ability to restore dead shoots, the roots are frost-resistant, the yield is stable, and with appropriate care it is consistently high.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
As a rule, Northern Captain bushes easily tolerate the cold season with extreme temperatures down to -30 °C.Winters in the north-west of Russia are frosty, windy, and in recent years the snow cover has been unstable. Therefore, gooseberries need hilling and mulching. Additional cover of the above-ground part is not required.
The crop tolerates slight drying out of the soil. But gooseberry roots lie shallow, so prolonged drought can lead to the death of part of the bush. During periods when natural precipitation is insufficient, Northern Captain requires moisture once a week. The roots should not be allowed to dry out during fruit laying or filling. Without watering at this time, the berries become smaller.
Productivity and fruiting
The gooseberry variety Northern Captain in the regions where it is zoned shows the best varietal qualities. The berries begin to ripen at the end of July. The variety belongs to the mid-late variety. Ripe berries are easily removed when harvesting, but do not tend to fall off on their own.
The Captain gooseberry bush is capable of not losing yield for up to 20 years. Proper care and pruning significantly prolongs active fruiting. According to gardeners, an adult Northern Captain gooseberry bush produces an average of about 3 kg of berries per season. There is evidence of yields of up to 4 kg per adult plant.
Area of application of fruits
In food production, Captain gooseberries are used in the production of wines, juices with pulp, and a natural dye is extracted from it. At home, the berries are processed into jams, jellies, marmalades, compotes, and tinctures. Gooseberry desserts are preserved for the winter.
Thick skin and a high content of natural preservatives provide Northern Captain berries with a long shelf life and excellent transportability.
Gooseberry Northern Captain, according to the description of the variety, belongs to industrial crops. It is not considered a dessert, although reviews from amateur gardeners indicate its popularity as an independent delicacy.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Captain variety has increased resistance to most diseases. Plants do not suffer from powdery mildew; cases of septoria and anthracnose are rare. Dangerous gooseberry pests (sawfly, moth) avoid the bushes of the Northern Captain.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantage of Northern Captain over other varieties is its vitality and durability in adverse conditions. Other advantages include:
- frost resistance;
- immunity to infections, pests;
- high nutritional value of berries, their keeping quality;
- ability to reproduce by all vegetative means.
Among the disadvantages is the high acid content in the fruits. Gardeners also note the tendency of the variety to form many shoots. Young stems greatly thicken the middle of the bush in one season.
Rules for planting gooseberries
Having only one gooseberry bush, the Northern Captain variety, it can be easily propagated by any of the vegetative methods. Layers and cuttings take root well. Bush division and grafting are applicable. To obtain all varietal characteristics and stable yields for decades to come, the greenery of the plant should be planted correctly.
Recommended timing
Young plants are planted in the fall, calculating the timing so that there is at least a month left before persistent cold weather.Gooseberry roots adapt to frost and begin the growing season earlier. In spring, it is difficult to choose the right time so that the young shoots of the Northern Captain do not fall under recurrent frosts.
Choosing a suitable location
For varietal gooseberries, choose sunny areas in the garden. From the north, plantings will be well protected from cold winds by tall buildings, fences, and dense plantings.
The Northern Captain gooseberry is unpretentious to the soil. It should not be too heavy, exhausted and sour. It is not desirable for gooseberries to have close groundwater or stagnation of moisture when snow melts.
Selection and preparation of planting material
A healthy varietal seedling of Captain meets the following criteria:
- age – 2 years;
- woody roots;
- shoots are healthy and flexible.
If the roots dry out during transportation, you should soak the gooseberry seedlings overnight in water. Increases survival rate by adding growth stimulants to the solution.
Landing algorithm
Preparing the site for the Northern Captain begins with weeding weed, digging, adding necessary substances to the soil. Acidic soils are limed or dolomite flour is added for treatment. On heavy soils, permeability is increased by adding sand, peat, and compost.
Sequence of planting gooseberries Northern Captain:
- Prepare a pit 50x50 cm.
- Half is covered with fertile soil mixture.
- Lower the seedling onto the planting site and straighten the roots, gradually adding soil.
- The soil is lightly compressed, tamping as the hole is filled.
- Water the seedling abundantly and wait until the soil settles completely.
- Check the height of the root collar: for the Captain gooseberry, it should be sunk 6–8 cm into the soil. If necessary, correct the planting depth.
After planting is completed, the soil around the gooseberries is mulched and the first pruning is performed. All shoots are shortened to 5–6 living buds.
Follow-up care for gooseberries
Gooseberry Northern captain loves moisture, but can respond to swampiness with soreness. The variety does not require constant watering - in zoned areas, natural precipitation may be sufficient for it.
In spring, gooseberries wake up early and manage to use melt water for accelerated growth. At this time, the variety can be helped by applying nitrogen fertilizers.
Before flowering, it is permissible to water the Northern Captain bushes with a solution of chicken droppings or well-rotted manure. Further nitrogenous feeding of gooseberries is excluded. Twice a season, potassium and phosphorus mineral compositions are applied to each bush.
In a rainy summer, caring for the Northern Captain can be reduced to periodic loosening and weeding. Fertilizers can be scattered in granules around the bush; they will gradually be soaked by rain and penetrate into the soil.
Pruning is a mandatory procedure for caring for the Northern Captain variety. Shoots grow not only on the outside, but also inside. A thickened bush can get fungal infection, despite varietal resistance. Overgrowth of the crown is especially dangerous during the rainy season.
The principles of pruning young gooseberries Northern Captain are shown in the photo, where:
- pruning after planting;
- formation at the end of the first season.
Features of the formation of an adult fruit-bearing bush of the Northern Captain:
- In autumn, all young shoots are cut down to the ground, leaving 4–5 of the strongest stems. The tops of annual shoots are removed.
- Damaged and old branches are cut off, the remaining ones are shortened.
- An adult gooseberry bush should consist of 20–25 strong stems of different ages. All branches older than 6 years are removed into a ring near the soil surface.
By following these principles, you can maintain the fruiting of the Northern Captain bush for more than 20 years.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Gooseberry Captain, according to the description of the variety, belongs to the resistant berry crops. It is not damaged by major infectious diseases.
Pests typical of gooseberries also do not threaten the bushes of the Northern Captain variety. To protect plantings, preventive measures are sufficient. Pollinating the soil under the bushes with wood ash simultaneously repels insects and feeds the gooseberries with potassium.
Conclusion
The Northern Captain gooseberry shows amazing hardiness in the humid, cool climate of the northwest of the country. Its beneficial properties, due to the content of vitamins and organic acids, are superior to dessert, sweeter varieties.
