Content
Caring for gooseberries in the spring has its own characteristics, on which not only the quality of the bush’s growth, but also the quantity of the harvest largely depends. Therefore, it is important for beginners in gardening to know about certain rules for caring for a plant.
How to care for gooseberries in spring after winter
Many garden owners believe that caring for gooseberries is simple - just harvest them on time and occasionally trim the branches. In fact, the shrub needs more serious care, especially in the spring, when its vegetative process begins.
Activities for caring for gooseberries in spring consist of the following points:
- Removing the covering material and mulch layer.
- Shrub trimming.
- Loosening the soil and removing weeds.
- Watering.
- Adding mulch.
- Fertilizer.
- Preventive measures aimed at exterminating pests.
- Transfer.
Removing cover
The start of work occurs during the period when the snow layer has melted and the air temperature will not drop below 5 degrees Celsius even at night.Typically, this period in the middle zone occurs in the second half of April.
First of all, it is necessary to remove the cover from the bush, which protected it from winter frosts. In the northern regions, fruit bushes are insulated using wooden boxes, which are recommended to be removed at a temperature of 2 - 3 degrees Celsius.
In the middle zone, gooseberry insulation is carried out with a layer of mulch, which must be carefully raked out using a rake. Otherwise, a fungus may begin to develop under the bush, and various pests may attack it. Removing the cover will also allow the soil to warm up faster, which will stimulate the plant to begin growing.
Cleaning the root zone
The root system must also be cleared of various debris, including last year's foliage. This will also protect the bush from pests and the occurrence of fungal and infectious diseases. All waste should be taken off site and, ideally, burned.
When inspecting a bush, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the shoots in order to promptly identify frozen and broken bushes. If damaged parts of the crop are found, they are removed by pruning so that the plant does not waste vital energy on dead shoots.
How to care for gooseberries in spring
Caring for gooseberries in the spring after winter is the key to a high harvest in the fall. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider this issue and follow all recommendations for growing the plant.
Watering, fertilizing
When the snow masses completely melt and dry weather sets in, the bush should continue to receive moisture. Therefore, it should be watered occasionally, focusing on the presence of precipitation and dryness of the soil. This should be done with slightly warm water at least once every 10 days.
If the spring is rainy, then the gooseberries do not need additional watering until the onset of steadily hot weather.
Another important step in caring for gooseberries in early spring is feeding the bush.
- During the period of kidney swelling, the addition of nitrogen-containing preparations will help. This promotes the growth of green mass.
- Before flowering, it is necessary to add potassium and phosphorus.
- After harvesting, repeated feeding with phosphorus-containing preparations and potassium is required.
Weeding, loosening the soil
Caring for gooseberries in the spring at the dacha also involves careful weeding. This event promotes:
- oxygen supply to the roots;
- unimpeded receipt of nutrition and moisture by the bush.
After the weeds are removed, it is necessary to thoroughly loosen the soil. This must be done extremely carefully, since the gooseberry root system is superficial and can be damaged. Therefore, when loosening in the spring, they use special hoes or improvised means that can be used to lift the soil in a layer of no more than 5 cm.
Mulching the root zone
Gooseberries require special care after winter, which also includes adding mulch in the spring. It is needed to prevent weeds from growing, and also to prevent moisture from evaporating so quickly.
The following materials can also be used as mulch in spring:
- cones;
- sawdust;
- straw;
- compost;
- humus;
- peat.
Preventative treatments
Spring gooseberry care includes treatment for pests and diseases. In the spring, as a rule, they pour boiling water over the bush, but such an event is not always enough. Therefore, the bush is sprayed with special preparations intended for crops of this species.
How to care for gooseberry bushes in summer
Caring for gooseberries in summer involves watering and applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
- Gooseberries only need watering in dry weather and during the flowering period.
- Fertilizers are applied at the time of budding and after harvesting.
- The soil is loosened once every two weeks, and weeds are removed at the same time.
The most important thing is to take care of the gooseberries in July, when flowering and fruit set begin. During this period, it is necessary to inspect the bush for the presence of pests and diseases, even if preventive treatment was carried out in the spring.
Gardeners' tips for caring for gooseberry bushes in spring
Advice from experienced gardeners will help you properly care for gooseberries; they can protect beginners from a number of the most common mistakes:
- It is important not to miss the time to start processing fruit bushes in the spring. You can begin work after the air temperature does not drop below 5 degrees Celsius.
- Leaves and mulch left over from last year should be removed from the site.During the winter period, various pathogenic fungi could develop in them, which could spread to other plantings. Therefore, in the spring, all garbage and litter is removed from the site and burned or buried in the ground.
- Pruning should be done before sap flow begins in the gooseberries and buds form.
- Pruning is necessary, since weak branches are a good target for fungal and viral diseases. If you spare gooseberry bushes in the spring, then in the fall you may not get a large number of berries.
- It is necessary to treat the plant after pruning and pouring boiling water on the bush. Otherwise, the gooseberry will not receive protection from pests and diseases.
- Gooseberries need fertilizing not only in autumn, but also in spring. The quality of the crop depends on how well the soil is fertilized.
- Each fertilizer has its time. Nitrogen is needed for foliage. Therefore, in the spring you need to feed the gooseberries with it. Then the plant needs phosphorus and potassium, which must be added twice more per season.
- Watering is important for gooseberries even in spring. This is especially true during periods when the weather is dry and warm. Therefore, you should not count on moisture reserves in the ground, but water the bush at least once every 10 - 14 days.
- Caring for gooseberries in spring and summer consists of watering and removing weeds. Therefore, we should not forget that even such an unpretentious plant will bear fruit and grow better in moist and clean soil.
- Timely loosening of the soil allows the gooseberries to be enriched with oxygen and nutrients. If the soil is covered with a dense crust, the gooseberries will grow small and quite sour.
By following the above tips, you can lay a reliable “foundation” for a rich harvest in the spring.
Conclusion
Caring for gooseberries in the spring is no different from caring for currants or raspberries. The main thing is to protect the plant from pests and diseases, remove diseased shoots in a timely manner, apply fertilizer and follow the watering schedule. Responsible care of gooseberries in the spring is the key to good growth.
