Content
Gooseberries are a useful shrub berry that grows in summer cottages and garden plots, which, with proper care, produces a stable harvest. Gooseberries do not bear fruit in conditions where the rules of agricultural technology are violated or planting requirements are not met.
The main reasons why gooseberries do not bear fruit
Gooseberries are classified as shrub varieties. It can grow up to 1.2 m. Fruiting can be uneven: it begins in June and lasts until August. The exact timing depends on the varietal characteristics.
The absence of ovaries or the inability to form full-fledged fruits may be a consequence of one or more reasons:
- the bushes have not reached the age suitable for the start of fruiting;
- the gooseberry does not bear fruit because it is too old;
- landing requirements were violated;
- there are not enough nutrients in the soil;
- the bush is thickened, imaginary shoots are not pruned;
- the root system rots due to fungal infection or pest damage.
Wrong variety selected
One of the reasons that gooseberries do not bear fruit may be a mistake when choosing a variety; varieties of the crop come without thorns and with thorns. This affects the characteristics of the bush and care features.
When choosing a variety for a region, consider:
- indicators of frost resistance and winter hardiness;
- soil requirements;
- air humidity conditions.
Poor quality planting material
Gooseberries do not bear fruit due to poor-quality seedlings either in the second or third year of existence. You can determine the poor quality of a seedling by the appearance of the young bush. The bush develops slowly or stops growing at a certain stage. During an external examination, you can notice shortcomings of the root system due to underdevelopment of hairs.
Violation of landing rules
This reason is especially common. It may include a complex of factors that influenced the adaptation and further growth of the shrub:
- Incorrect selection of placement. Gooseberries do not bear fruit well in full or partial shade. Bushes are not planted under the dense crowns of tall trees. Gooseberries also do not tolerate draft winds and stagnant water in the lowlands.
- Unsuitable soil. Neutral or low acidic soils are selected for gooseberries. Excess acid interferes with the development of roots and stems.
- Violations during the preparation of the planting hole. For each crop, the size of the planting holes is important.Excessive deepening prevents the trunk from growing and forming shoots. Gooseberries are planted in holes up to 50 cm deep.
- Disturbances during landing. A distance of about 2.5 m is left between the rows of gooseberries. Indentations of 1.2 to 1.5 m are made between the seedlings. Gooseberries will not bear fruit if the seedlings are planted too close - this will prevent the roots from growing in breadth.
Violation of the rules of care
After planting the seedling, an important and long period of care begins, but at this stage gardeners make typical mistakes.
- Watering. In order for gooseberries to bear fruit, they need regular watering. In this case, stagnation of water can cause rotting of the root system. The bushes are watered weekly, and 4–6 liters of warm water are prepared for each adult plant.
- Fertilizer application. During the growing season, 3 main feedings are made. If the soil is depleted and nutrients cannot be absorbed, the gooseberry will not bear fruit. In the spring, nitrogen is added to form leaves, then fed with potassium-phosphorus mixtures to support fruit formation.
- Loosening and mulching. Failure to implement these agrotechnical practices cannot be the main reason, but they may be a prerequisite for the lack of fruiting. Loosening provides the soil with additional air, which makes it lighter and promotes root growth. Mulching helps retain moisture during drought and prevents the spread of weeds.
Violation of pruning rules
Removing excess branches, damaged shoots and forming a bush is important for shrub crops. Gooseberries are pruned several times throughout the season, taking into account the varietal characteristics and condition of the bushes.If pruning is carried out superficially, then the gooseberry stops bearing fruit or does not bear fruit at full strength.
Fruiting can be inhibited by improper pruning during planting. Seedlings are completely pruned to 4 buds, weak shoots are cut out at the root.
In the second year of life, formative planting is important. With insufficient pruning, partial or complete thickening, the gooseberry does not have the necessary strength to form fruit.
Shrub age
Varietal characteristics imply different timing of the beginning of fruiting. Usually gooseberries bear fruit in the 2nd - 3rd year of existence. The period can extend until reaching 4 years of age.
The first 8 years of fruiting are considered the most abundant for gooseberries, then the yield gradually decreases. Gardeners observe bursts of activity after radical anti-aging pruning.
Adverse weather conditions during the flowering period
The onset of frost when the gooseberries begin to bloom can cause the fruit to not appear. This is stress for the bush, after which the adaptation period begins.
Temperature fluctuations are especially dangerous during flowering. Hot weather, followed by lower temperatures and precipitation, leads to the fact that the gooseberries drop their buds and, as a result, do not bear fruit.
Lack of pollinators
Among the hybrid varieties, there are several varieties that have the ability to form dry winds. This happens during May-June, when the weather is hot for a long time and there is no precipitation. As a result, pollen that falls on dry pistils cannot lead to the timely formation of the ovary.
In addition, gooseberry pollination depends on the degree of self-pollination. Among the varietal varieties, specimens with varying degrees of pollination are selected, this depends on the neighboring plantings:
- high rates of self-pollination: Smena, Russian, Plum;
- medium: Chelyabinsk green, Chernomor;
- low: Record.
Pests and diseases
The absence of fruiting or a noticeable decrease in its volume may indicate that the bush is beginning to hurt. Fungal diseases of the root system pose a danger. They develop slowly and prevent the formation or full ripening of berries.
You can determine that the gooseberry does not bear fruit due to the development of the disease by the accompanying symptoms:
- change in color of leaf plates;
- the appearance of dry spots on the ends of leaves;
- wilting of leaves, shedding of buds.
Insects are found on leaves upon careful inspection. As a rule, they leave traces of their vital activity or lay eggs on the back of the leaves.
What to do and how to make gooseberries bear fruit
Factors that lead to gooseberries not bearing fruit can be eliminated. Adjustments can take from several months to a whole season:
- When thickening, formative pruning is indicated. In summer, branches that block access to the main part of the bush from sunlight are removed. In the fall, damaged shoots are pruned, and in the spring, planned shortening is carried out.
- Under the canopy of trees, in the shade, the gooseberry begins to suffer from fungus and stops producing fruit. The bushes are transplanted to sunny areas, but it is taken into account that fruiting will be delayed for several years due to adaptation.
- Many gardeners are wondering what to do if the gooseberries do not bear fruit due to poor pollination.The best option is to plant other varieties of crops in the neighborhood.
- Yellowing of the tips of the leaves, dryness and falling buds may be evidence of a lack of nutrients. Then, during the flowering period, watering is carried out with solutions of potassium nitrate at the root. Fertilizing with mineral mixtures with the addition of magnesium and phosphorus is suitable.
- If the reason was non-compliance with the placement scheme, then the bushes should be thinned out. Some of the bushes are transplanted to a new location, but fruits are not expected until next year. Old bushes will begin to bear fruit this year.
- If the development of a fungus is suspected, the bushes are watered with a solution of manganese, wood ash, and treated with a tobacco solution. Treatments are carried out at intervals of 2 - 3 weeks. During this period, the appearance of the bush is observed. The appearance of young leaves indicates that the gooseberry has been cured.
Conclusion
Gooseberries do not bear fruit for various reasons. If the lack of fruiting is not a consequence of reaching the maximum age of the bush, then the situation can be corrected. Gooseberry fruiting is restored completely the next season.
