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Some gardeners prefer to replant gooseberries in the fall, while others prefer to replant them in the spring. But few people know what time is the most optimal and how to avoid mistakes during work. It will be useful to know the rules of agricultural technology for transplanting redberries.
In what cases should gooseberries be replanted?
The reasons why there was a need to transplant adult gooseberry bushes can be very diverse. Sometimes it is not possible to choose the right place right away; gardeners do not always take into account the future size of an adult shrub when planting. As a result of the struggle for nutrients and territory, the gooseberry either begins to suppress its neighbors, or neighboring plants begin to negatively affect its development and fruiting.
Another significant reason for which replanting a shrub is often simply necessary is its defeat by various diseases that develop as a result of being located in unsuitable conditions. Sometimes, replanting is the only way to save a plant withering before our eyes. For example, when placed in lowlands, gooseberries become easily susceptible to fungal diseases.
When is it better to replant gooseberries: in autumn or spring?
Many gardeners wonder when is the best time to replant gooseberries. Both autumn and spring are suitable for this procedure. However, the most optimal time for replanting is still the autumn period, when fruiting has already completed and the bush has entered a dormant state. The plant will thus be able to direct all its forces to rooting in the soil without compromising the formation of fruits. That is why it is better to transplant gooseberries to another place in the fall.
It is possible to transplant gooseberries to a new place in the spring, but the buds on the shoots of the bush begin to form too early, which is why choosing the optimal time for transplantation during this period is not an easy task. After the formation of buds begins, it is undesirable to stress and injure the root system of the shrub. It will be very difficult for it to recover later, since all the forces of the plant during this period are aimed at the formation of deciduous mass. As a result, adaptation of the transplanted plant will occur slowly, which, in turn, will negatively affect its development and the quality of the harvest.
How to transplant gooseberries to a new place in spring or autumn
After deciding to transplant gooseberries from place to place, you need to familiarize yourself with all the intricacies of this process. Otherwise, it is easy for an inexperienced gardener who has never dealt with this crop before to make many mistakes during replanting, which in the future may negatively affect the development of the plant.
When to replant gooseberries in spring
In order to properly transplant gooseberries in the spring, it is important, first of all, to determine the timing of the work. The buds on the shoots of the plant begin to swell very early, with the arrival of the first warm days. And by the end of May, most varieties of this shrub are already beginning to bear their first fruits.
For each region, the optimal timing for transplanting gooseberries in the spring is individual; moreover, in different years they can shift forward or backward within one region.
Is it possible to transplant gooseberries in April?
In some regions where spring warming begins too late, shrubs can be replanted in early April. These include, for example, the territory of Siberia and the Urals. In this case, the main thing is to also rely on the basic rule and begin planting work before the sap begins to flow.
When to replant gooseberries in the fall
It is much easier to determine when exactly to transplant gooseberries to a new place in the fall. As a rule, the period from the end of September to the beginning of October is suitable for replanting, when vital processes have already slowed down and all the leaves have fallen from the shoots. The exact date is selected depending on the weather conditions of the region.Before the onset of the first frosts, there should be enough time for the transplanted bush to take root and get stronger.
Site selection and soil preparation
When choosing a place for planting, you should take into account that gooseberries love well-lit areas with moist soil. However, it is not recommended to place the plant in lowlands where stagnant water occurs, as a result of which the soil often becomes swampy. Prolonged stay in waterlogged soil can lead to rotting of the root system and the development of fungal diseases, to which most varieties do not have immunity.
The place should also be protected from gusts of through wind. That is why the plant is often planted next to the fence. In this case, the distance from the bush to the fence should be at least 1.5 m.
It is not recommended to place gooseberries in areas where raspberries or currants grow or have recently grown, since these crops are characterized by the same diseases and pests. As a result, an absolutely healthy bush after transplantation can acquire any disease from its predecessor.
When replanting, it is also important to consider that light loamy soil is most suitable for gooseberries. In soil that is too heavy, peat or sand is added to lighten it; in soil that is too light, clay is added. The acidity of the soil should be weak. The selected area must be dug up, while clearing it of all plant debris.
To obtain a rich harvest next spring, care should be taken in advance to ensure that the plant can receive from the ground all the nutrients necessary for normal shoot growth, development and formation of fruits. For this purpose, a fertile soil mixture is prepared, which will subsequently be filled in the planting holes. It consists of the following components:
- 2 parts topsoil;
- 1 part compost.
Preparing gooseberry bushes for transplanting
Gooseberry bushes must first be prepared for transplanting. The preparation algorithm is as follows:
- Trim old, thorny shoots. Only the youngest and strongest branches should be left (6 - 7 pieces). Shorten the remaining shoots by a third. This will make working with the plant easier.
- Draw a circle around the bush at a distance of about 30 cm from each side. Dig the bush along this circle, cutting off all the roots located outside it with a shovel or ax.
- Using a shovel or crowbar, pull the bush out of the ground, put it on film and deliver it to the place chosen for replanting.
If the transplanted bush is too large and massive, then the diameter of the part that needs to be dug can be determined based on the size of the crown. The bush itself should be removed from the ground carefully, trying not to damage the root system.
How to properly transplant gooseberries to another place
Gooseberries can be transplanted to another place using several methods. Below is the simplest and most popular of them.
Transplant algorithm:
- Dig a planting hole at the selected location with a slightly larger diameter compared to the size of the earthen ball. The depth of the planting hole should be, on average, about 50 cm.
- Pour 4 buckets of water into the hole and fill with pre-prepared soil mixture.
- Place the bush in a vertical position or slightly inclined in the hole, deepening it no more than 7 - 10 cm. Holding the plant, fill the free space on the sides with the remains of the fertile mixture.
- Compact the soil, moisten it abundantly (3 buckets of water per 1 plant).
Rules for caring for gooseberries after transplantation
Immediately after transplanting gooseberries in the fall, it is recommended to mulch the tree trunk circle with a layer of peat, thanks to this the moisture will not evaporate so quickly. The shoots should be cut to the last buds located at the very bottom.
Further care is simple and consists of regular watering, before which the layer of mulch is removed and then put back. The transplanted bush does not need shelter for the winter: you just need to sprinkle it with sawdust.
Caring for gooseberries after transplanting to a new place in the spring is somewhat different. Watering at this time should be done carefully, trying not to over-moisten the soil. First of all, you should focus on the amount of precipitation. Among other things, regular weeding, fertilizing with complex fertilizers and measures to protect against pests are added to the care of the transplanted bush in the spring.
A plant transplanted in the spring will be capable of bearing fruit as early as next year. The exception is bushes whose replanting is caused by disease. You should expect a harvest from them only in the 2nd - 4th year.
What mistakes do gardeners most often make?
The most common mistakes among gardeners when transplanting gooseberries are:
- Removing the earthen clod before transplanting. An adult plant does not like exposed roots: if planted without a clod of soil, it will take root worse, develop more slowly and get sick more often.
- Planting in depleted soil, neglecting the addition of organic fertilizers. For normal development, gooseberries need a lot of nutrients, and in ordinary soil, as a rule, they are not enough. That is why compost must be added to the planting holes.
- Water temperature when watering is too low. A comfortable water temperature for gooseberries is from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Conclusion
When to replant gooseberries, in autumn or spring, each gardener must determine for himself. The optimal time for work is autumn. However, there are situations when it is simply not possible to wait until autumn, as, for example, in the case of a bush affected by various diseases. If you adhere to the basic rules, replanting will only benefit the plant.
