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Gooseberry is a shrubby plant of the Gooseberry family, belonging to the Currant genus. There are a huge number of varieties of this crop, differing in terms of fruiting time, thorniness, yield, color and taste of berries, so choosing one to suit your taste will not be difficult. Gooseberry Sirius is a medium-late ripening variety, popular among Russian gardeners due to its low thorniness.
Description of gooseberry Sirius
The Sirius variety was developed by crossing two types of gooseberries: Captivator and Thornless. It was included in the State Register of Russia in 1994 and is recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region.
Gooseberry Sirius forms an upright bush of medium density. The height of the crop is about 1 m. The branching of this variety is vertical and strong; without pruning, the bush is prone to thickening the crown.
Young shoots of the Sirius gooseberry are straight or with a slightly curved top, the color is light green, there is no pubescence. Old (woody) branches are thickened, light beige in color. There are practically no thorns on the branches of this variety. Rarely occurring thorns are located at the bottom of the shoot.The spines are single, short, dark in color, directed downwards.
In gooseberries of the Sirius variety, the leaf buds are enlarged, have an ovoid shape with a blunt tip, the color is dark brown or brown, no pubescence is observed.
The foliage is matte, light green in color. When palpated, wrinkles and slight pubescence are noticeable. The leaves are convex with large, blunt teeth along the edges. The leaf has 3-5 lobes with deep notches. The veins do not differ in color from the main color of the foliage.
The leaves are attached to the branches at an angle of 45° using elongated petioles of medium thickness.
The Sirius gooseberry blooms pale, the flowers are medium-sized, inconspicuous. The brush is formed by 1-2 flowers. The ovary of this variety has slight pubescence.
The diameter of the berries of the Sirius variety is different, the weight ranges from 3.5-4 g. The dark red berries have a round shape, a waxy coating is noticeable on them, and there is no pubescence. The peel covering the berries is of medium thickness and quite dense, which is a plus for transportation. There are seeds in the berries, but not in excessive quantities. Light veins are visible on the fruits; they differ in color from the main color.
The taste of gooseberry fruits of the Sirius variety is dessert, after ripening it is sweet with a pleasant sourness. Rating on a five-point scale – 4.3 points.
Gooseberries are self-fertile crops, but with cross-pollination it is possible to significantly increase the yield, so it is advisable to plant 2-3 varieties on the site that bloom at the same time as Sirius. In addition, gooseberries are pollinated by bees, but in cold weather and high humidity during flowering there is a risk of partial shedding of flowers, which affects the yield.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Sirius gooseberry is a drought-resistant variety, but during prolonged drought, watering is necessary. Moisturizing is especially important during the period when the ovaries appear and after harvesting. Young seedlings need regular watering (2-3 times a month).
The gooseberry variety Sirius is characterized by good frost resistance; in snowy winters it can withstand up to -32 °C, but if the growing region has little snow, it is recommended to insulate the roots of the seedlings with mulching materials.
Fruiting, productivity
The Sirius variety belongs to the medium-late variety in terms of ripening. The first harvest on the bush can be harvested 3-4 years after planting. The ripeness of gooseberry berries occurs 1.5-2 months after flowering, i.e. approximately in the first half of August.
The yield from each bush depends on the growing conditions and weather in the region, the average is 3-3.5 kg.
The berries of this variety have a pleasant sour-sweet taste. They have a universal purpose. The harvested crop can be processed or used fresh. Jams, preserves, and compotes are made from the berries. Thanks to its durable peel, the Sirius variety is well transported and stored.
The variety is not resistant to berry caking. In the southern regions, under direct sunlight, the bush may suffer from burns of foliage and fruit. In this case, shading is necessary.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gooseberry Sirius inherited the best parental characteristics. The advantages of the variety include:
- tallness;
- a small number of thorns;
- good keeping quality of berries;
- transportability;
- frost resistance;
- drought resistance;
- dessert taste of fruits and their versatility.
The disadvantages include:
- poor resistance to powdery mildew;
- caking of berries during the hot period.
Proper care, fertilizing, shading from the scorching rays of the sun, and preventive treatment against diseases will help increase the yield of Sirius gooseberries.
Features of reproduction
Propagation of gooseberries of the Sirius variety is carried out in various ways. The seed method is considered economically infeasible, since the result can be a bush that does not match the characteristics of the mother plant. Effective propagation methods for Sirius gooseberries:
- layering;
- lignified and green cuttings;
- dividing the bush (over five years of age).
If you choose between lignified and green cuttings, the latter show the fastest survival rate in all gooseberry varieties.
The main method of propagation of the Sirius variety is the layering method. To do this, choose powerful annual growths or biennial shoots with good growth. Algorithm for the procedure:
- soil preparation in spring. The soil under the bushes is dug up and fertilized;
- formation of grooves. From the mother gooseberry bush, grooves are made in the ground;
- fixation of shoots. Selected branches are bent to the ground, placed in furrows and secured using available materials.
After this, the shoots are covered with earth, watered, and the tops are pinched.
The emerging shoots are covered with humus or wet soil. At the beginning of autumn, Sirius gooseberry layerings are ready for transplanting. They are separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a prepared place.Young layering will definitely need shelter for the winter.
Planting and care
The best time to plant gooseberry seedlings is considered to be early autumn. The growing season is already over, but there is time for rooting before frost. If planting is done too late in the fall, there is a risk of the seedlings freezing.
For good fruiting, gooseberries need to choose a place for planting. This may be a fairly well-lit area with fertile soil.
The selection of planting material is carried out according to the following criteria:
- root system. It should be well developed, branched;
- aboveground part. The seedling must have at least two strong shoots.
It is better to purchase gooseberries in a peat pot, in which case the risk of damage to the root system during replanting is reduced to zero.
The planting technology is as follows:
- The planting hole is prepared in advance. The size depends on the dimensions of the root system. Approximate pit size: diameter 40 cm, depth 60 cm.
- Drainage is poured into the hole, then a nutrient soil mixture consisting of 1 bucket of compost (humus), 200 g of superphosphate and 200 g of wood ash. The last component can be replaced with 50 g of potassium sulfate. Add 50 g of limestone.
- A seedling is installed, the roots are spread over a mound of soil.
- Fill the hole with the remaining soil mixture.
- Water with water; each bush will require 5 liters.
- To avoid rapid loss of moisture and prevent the growth of weeds, the tree trunk circle is mulched.
Growing rules
Gooseberries of the Sirius variety are sensitive to soil drying out, especially during the period of fruit set and ripening, so it is recommended to carry out drip or subsoil watering. During watering, the soil should be wet by 20-30 cm. The amount of watering depends on precipitation. During the season, 3 to 5 waterings may be required. Young seedlings are watered more often; they require more moisture for rooting.
Sirius gooseberries are pruned in spring or autumn. Before sap flow begins, weak, frozen and broken branches are removed, and in the fall they get rid of thickening shoots. If the procedure is planned once a year, then preference is given to autumn pruning.
Feeding is carried out several times per season:
- in the spring two feedings are needed - before buds open (March) and before flowering (May). During this period, organic matter (rotted manure, bird droppings, compost) or minerals (urea, superphosphate, potassium nitrate) are used;
- in summer (June-July) phosphorus-potassium compounds or organic matter (liquid manure) are introduced;
- in autumn The soil around the bush is loosened, humus, compost, and wood ash are added, and the tree trunk circle is mulched on top.
The branches of the Sirius gooseberry can bend to the ground under the weight of the berries, so many gardeners arrange supports. Gooseberries of this variety can be grown on a trellis or using a hoop to support the branches. You can make a welded structure from pipes or buy a special bush holder.
To protect gooseberries from rodents, it is necessary to place poisoned baits on the site. You can pour spruce needles treated with creolin into the tree trunk circle.A mousetrap will be an effective tool. It is made from a plastic bottle and buried in the ground (see photo).
Young Sirius gooseberry seedlings need shelter for the winter. After pruning, the gooseberries are tied with soft twine and wrapped with agrospan or other insulating material. In early spring, the shelter is removed. For mature shrubs, increasing the layer of mulch in the tree trunk circle is enough.
Pests and diseases
The following insects pose a danger to gooseberries of the Sirius variety: aphids, moths, sawflies, and moths. To prevent pest invasion, treat the crown with copper sulfate. Digging the soil around the seedlings is mandatory. The following will help eliminate insects: Chlorophos, Karbofos, Fitoverm. Damaged shoots must be pruned and burned.
Diseases on gooseberries of the Sirius variety can be found:
- powdery mildew. For preventive purposes, early spraying of bushes and soil with a 2% Nitrofen solution is carried out. The crown is treated with a soap-soda solution (50 g of soda and laundry soap per 10 liters of water);
- anthracnose. To eliminate this, use copper oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture;
- white spot. Bordeaux mixture (1%) is suitable for processing;
- rust. The bushes are treated with Bordeaux mixture three times (every 8-10 days).
Conclusion
Sirius gooseberries can be grown in various regions of Russia. In areas with cold winters with little snow, the bushes will need shelter. The gooseberry fruits of this variety are distinguished by their dessert taste and beautiful colors. Used in the food and cosmetics industry.
