Caring for gooseberries in spring is simple, but it takes time and attention. The main feature of the berry bush is that it begins to wake up faster than other crops. And since all activities (pruning, prevention, etc.) must be carried out before the appearance of the kidneys, then care is carried out in a short time.
Feature of gooseberry care in spring
The uniqueness of the berry bush - caring for it begins not with the onset of sunny spring days, but immediately with the arrival of the calendar spring - from the 1st. In the first week of April, the first leaves appear on the gooseberry, and each gardener must prepare the shrub for this period.
Taking shelter after winter
The time for removing the covering material from the gooseberry directly depends on the place of its germination. In a temperate and warm climate at the beginning of March, a mulching layer is collected around the gooseberry, which in the winter season served not only as a heater, but also as an excellent site for pests to live. So that the mulch does not damage the plant, it is taken outside the garden area and burned, thus destroying all the larvae and spores of the mushrooms.
In cold climates, the shelter is removed a little later, or rather, on the 2nd or 3rd week of March. First, the agrofibre and branches are removed from the plant, then the twine is untied and the mulching layer is destroyed.
Watering
Gooseberry is a drought-resistant crop, but the shrub will gladly accept not frequent large-scale watering. Also, these actions will ensure a good harvest in the future.
It is important to add water during the flowering of the shrub. It is advisable to pour water under the root system; for this you can make special grooves or build a drip irrigation system. The roots of the gooseberry are deep underground, so there must be a lot of water so that it soaks the upper words of the soil by 0.3-0.4 m.
An adult plant needs 50 liters of water.
It is impossible to irrigate with cold water by sprinkling. This technique reduces the plant's immunity to disease, and as a result, fungal diseases attack the shrub.
Loosening and removing weeds
The soil is loosened to a depth of 70 mm with a hoe, you can use a hoe. The depth between the rows is increased to 150 mm. The weeds are uprooted. If this is not done, then the grass will take away nutrients from the berry bushes. Often they try to combine loosening with top dressing.
Mulching
Mulching is an important step in gooseberry care in spring. A layer of mulch does not allow weeds to develop, it does not allow the formation of a dry soil crust, and retains water in the ground. Peat, sawdust, straw, cutted dried grass, humus, etc. can be used as mulch.
As a mulch layer, buds are not only beneficial but also beautiful.
Pay attention to the cut grass from the lawn. It dries quickly and serves as an excellent fertilizer for all berry bushes. The only negative is that the grass absorbs a large amount of water and does not "release" it, respectively, the root system of the bush always experiences an excess of moisture. When watering, it is best to remove the grass and then return it back.
Top dressing and fertilization
If the seedlings were planted last year, before that the soil was well fertilized, then there is no need to make top dressing. Nutrients are necessary for a shrub from the 2nd year of growth. It is better to use mineral and organic substances. They quickly and efficiently fill the earth with useful microelements.
Fertilization Algorithm:
- The first feeding - apply immediately after the buds begin to appear.
- The second feeding - carry out during the flowering of the plant.
- The third dressing is at the time of setting the berries.
Use the following mixtures as fertilizer:
- Minerals: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. An excellent option is urea (for 1 plant 55 g of the product).
- Along with loosening the soil, add 0.4 kg of wood ash.
- If the berry bush grows in badlands, add organic matter. After flowering shrubs, pour in 1 bucket of slurry (1 part of the product and 7 parts of water), chicken manure (1:12) or mullein (1: 5).
- Once every 2 years, add rotted manure under each shrub (12 kg per plant).
Do not use chlorine products as fertilizers, they are contraindicated for berry bushes.
Pruning
The main role of gooseberry pruning is crown formation, on which the plant's yield depends. Gooseberries grow very quickly, young branches grow actively, forming impassable thickets among themselves.
On neglected unkempt plants, the berries are small and their number is minimal.
If the gooseberries are not trimmed, they may develop fungal diseases and pests. Ovaries do not appear because pollination is difficult. Over time, the plants stop bearing fruit. Pruning in the spring season is considered preventive, because the main formation of the crown is carried out in the fall.
In the first half of March they cut:
- dried, frozen or partially frozen branches;
- areas affected by pests or diseases;
- weak and thin branches;
- shoots thickening the shrub;
- branches too low to the ground.
The gooseberry crown must be formed before the start of sap flow.
Algorithm for regular shaping pruning:
- When planting the cuttings in the soil, leave no more than 4 large shoots on it, widely spaced from each other. Each shoot should have 4 buds. Delete the rest of the branches.
- Leave 5 strong branches for the 2nd year. Remove weak, sick, curves.
- For Year 3, do the same as for Year 2. Cut only strong branches of the second order by a third.
- For the 4th year, form a permanent crown. There should be about 20 branches of different ages on it. The rest are cut off.
- From the 5th year, a simple anti-aging pruning is carried out.
The first 4 years after planting the shrub, the crown is formed, the following years are maintained in proper form.
Transfer
If you decide to transplant the bush in the spring, then this must be done before the start of sap flow:
- Save only the shortened branches on the gooseberry.
- Dig carefully around the crown diameter.
- Dig a hole about 0.5 m deep.
- Pry up the root system with a pitchfork and gently pull it out along with the soil ball.
- Examine the roots for larvae and spores; if some areas are damaged, sprinkle with ash.
- Lay the prepared berry bush on a burlap and transfer to a new planting recess.
- In order for the plant to take root, about 2 buckets of water need to be poured into the pit, and the top is covered with earth and humus.
- Place the plant in a hole, cover it with fertile soil, and water it well again.
Gooseberry propagation in the spring
Gooseberries can be propagated by several methods, in the article we will consider some of them: root shoots and various layers.
Read our article on how to properly plant and grow gooseberries.
Root processes
Shoots are often formed around the shrub. They fight and destroy it, but it can be used as shoots for propagation of gooseberries in spring. This requires:
- In the spring season, dig out the shoots from the ground, cut off the root that connects it to the parent plant.
- Transplant young plants to the site in the same way as simple seedlings.
Layers
This method of propagation of the bush is effective, since shoots of the root system appear along the entire length of the shoot, they quickly grow and take root in the open field. The mother gooseberry should grow in open soil for 3-5 years, only in this case it will be able to produce good layering.
Around the plant, the ground is prepared in advance, it is dug to a depth of 0.1 m, humus is added, mixed with the top layer of soil and leveled.
Horizontal layering
This bush breeding technique brings a huge number of shoots. During this period, gooseberry fruiting does not stop. To create a layer, you need to use one-year or two-year branches. The top must be pinched.
In the video below, the gardener shows how to propagate gooseberries by layering:
Stimulating the growth of new shoots will provide anti-aging pruning. Reproduction algorithm:
- Make grooves 30 mm deep perpendicular to the base of the plant.
- Place the selected branch on the bottom, pressing it slightly into the ground.
- Secure in some places with large staples or slingshots.
- Do not let the soil dry out.
- As soon as the buds wake up and the shoots grow by 0.1-0.2 m, spud them to a height of 50 mm.
- Carry out re-hilling as soon as the increment increases by another 0.1-0.2 m. The total height of the soil hill should not be higher than 0.1 m above ground level.
- It is better to mulch the soil so that the moisture does not evaporate.
- In the autumn season (after 1 year), carefully dig out the shoots, separate the shoots. Leave a part of the mother branch on each.
- Do not allow underdeveloped seedlings before planting. Plant with undeveloped roots for growing. Plant in a permanent place with a strong root system.
Arcuate layering
This propagation technique is used when you need to get several highly developed plants. The main difference from reproduction by horizontal layers is that only 1 fully developed seedling will be obtained from the 1st shoot. The technique makes it possible to get a small number of plants, but they are of high quality, and after 1-2 years they will begin to produce crops.
Algorithm for reproduction by arc layers:
- Dig a hole 0.1 m deep.
- Bend the branch and place it in the groove so that the bud is in the middle of the hole (roots will appear around it).
- Secure with a slingshot.
- Fill with fertile soil, it should rise 0.1 m above the ground.
- Leave the end of the branch 0.35 m long above the ground.
- Place the support in an upright position.
- Be sure to pinch the top.
In early autumn, the shoot is separated from the mother plant, but it must be planted in October.
Dig up a seedling with a lump of soil, so it will take root faster and better.
Vertical layering
In this way, the bush is propagated at the age of 4 years. The plant after such a process will not bear berries for the next 2 years.
Algorithm for propagation by vertical layers:
- Underdeveloped, diseased shoots are immediately removed.
- The remaining branches are shortened by 0.2 m.
- When the branches reach 0.25 m, the base is slightly woody.
- Carry out the hilling of the shoots by 50 mm.
- After 18 days, carry out hilling again, increase the height of the mound by another 50 mm.
- Be sure to water abundantly before hilling.
- When falling asleep plants, be careful, make sure that the shoots are at a distance, and their roots do not twist during growth.
In the autumn period of time, the soil is carefully raked off, the seedlings are taken out and transplanted to a permanent place.
Protection against diseases and pests
From the first days of spring, care should be taken to prevent plants from diseases and pests. If the procedures are not carried out on time, then there is a high risk of infection of the gooseberry.
Prevention | Period | Implementation method | Result |
Pouring boiling water over the bush | early March | The water is boiled, poured into a metal watering can and carefully poured over the bush. | The bush wakes up, pests and bacteria are destroyed. |
Preventive pruning | last week of February - early days of March | Pruning dry and old branches. | Pathogens that can live on dry branches are destroyed. |
Chemical treatment | last week of February - early days of March | Spraying plants and soil with Bordeaux liquid (1%) or copper sulfate (3%). | Prevention of diseases and pests. |
Treatment with systemic chemicals | after flowering | Use "Hom", "Strobi", "Horus", etc. Spraying is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 2 weeks. | Destruction of fungal diseases |
Treatment with systemic chemicals | after flowering | Use "Denis", "Iskra", etc. Spraying is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 2 weeks. | Pest control |
Subtleties of care in different regions
Gooseberry is common throughout Russia and beyond. There are some nuances of caring for the bush, depending on the region of its germination.
In the middle lane (Moscow region)
The description of caring for a berry plant in spring is fully consistent with the Central Russia. The first manipulations are carried out in early March. There are no specific care nuances in this area.
In the Volga region
Exclusivity - leaving begins after March 15th, since winter is long on this territory, and you should not start manipulating the bush earlier. In those areas where a large number of clay and sandy soils, plants are often fertilized. After flowering, the gooseberries are watered abundantly, because the soil dries out very quickly.
In the Urals and Siberia
The cold climate is famous for unexpected frosts that destroy gooseberries. So that the plants do not die, summer residents are advised to observe climate changes, and if necessary, cover the gooseberries with agrofibre at night. If it is impossible to keep track of the change in the weather, then several types of gooseberries with different flowering periods can be planted on the territory.
The soil in Siberia and the Urals is heavy, so regular loosening is indispensable. Proper care will help grow a healthy and strong bush, and the yield will increase significantly. Gardeners opt for resistant and cold-resistant varieties, excellent options are: Bright, Shalun, Oksamit, Green rain and Grossular. They begin to take care of the berry bush in late March or early April.
Common mistakes
Even an experienced gardener sometimes makes unforgivable oversights in caring for this shrub.
The most common care mistakes:
- Watered with tap water (without settling) and by sprinkling. As a result, harmful insects and fungal diseases appear on the plant.
- Weak branches are not pruned, as a result, the bush is sick and practically does not yield a crop.
- Do not pay enough attention to anti-aging pruning. They do it once, but this is wrong. There is no need for haste in this matter, the gooseberry may die.
- The shrub is transplanted at the time of bud break. The same applies to plant pruning.
Taking care of your gooseberries in the spring will ensure you have a good harvest. The main thing is to follow all the recommendations and not make banal, but fatal mistakes.