Gooseberry Chernomor

Gooseberry is a very useful berry for the human body, and it is also very tasty, therefore, when planning the cultivation of a garden, it is given a separate place. One of the varieties proven over the years with good yields is the Chernomor gooseberry, which even a novice summer resident can cope with.

Chernomor is a gooseberry with a long history, which appeared thanks to the efforts of Soviet breeders in 1979. The author of the species is the scientist KD Sergeeva, representing the N.I. Michurin. To breed the variety, many species were used - seedling 21-52 and a mixture of pollen of varieties Green Bottle, Brazilian, Date and Seedling Maurera.

After the variety testing procedure, the berry crop was added to the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 1994. The variety is recommended for cultivation in the Central region - Moscow, Ryazan, Tula, Bryansk, Vladimir, Ivanovsk and Kaluga regions.

Gooseberry Chernomor is a vigorous shrub that grows up to 150 cm in height. The bush is not very spreading, more compressed, with a strongly thickened crown with dark green shiny leaves and upright shoots. The thorniness of the bush is weak - single thorns are concentrated in the lower part of the shoot. The buds of the plant are small, oblong and light in color, grow, deviating from the shoot.

Inflorescences consist of 2-3 elongated flowers. During the flowering period, the shrub is covered with flowers of a pale green color with a pinkish edging. The flowering period is late April - early May.

The self-fertility of the berry crop is low, accounting for only 5 to 14% of the total yield, so you will need to plant other gooseberry species on the site, blooming at the same time as the Chernomor variety.

Chernomor is a medium-fruited species, the mass of the berries of which is 3 g. The shape of the berries is correct - oval with a smooth surface, without a pronounced edge. Ripe berries have an unusual color - rich black with a waxy bloom. At the stage of technical maturity, the gooseberry is evenly covered with a dark red color. The venation of the berries is weak, and almost imperceptible when fully ripe. The peel of the fruit is of medium density, firm, not tough. The firmness of the peel prevents cracking of the berries and allows for mechanized harvesting.

Berries have a universal purpose - they are eaten fresh, processed into jams and marmalades, which is due to the huge content of pectins, frozen and widely used in cooking. The gooseberry is characterized by excellent transportability and long shelf life.

According to the tasters, the fruit tastes great. The flesh of the berries is fleshy, tender and very juicy, with few seeds.The taste is balanced - sweet and sour, complemented by a light dessert aroma. The pulp contains about 12% sugars and less than 2.5% acids. In addition, gooseberries are famous for their high content of ascorbic acid - almost 30%.

Chernomor is a medium-late ripening berry. The early maturity is good - already in the 2nd year after planting, you can taste the harvest. The first ripe berries can be seen in mid-July. The active fruiting phase occurs in the second half of July - early August.

Excellent yield is what summer residents love this variety for. With proper agricultural technology and favorable conditions, from 1 bush can be removed from 3.1 to 4 kg of gooseberries per season. On an industrial scale, the indicators are as follows - up to 10.3-13.3 tons per hectare.

The variety showed itself as productive as possible when grown in the central part of Russia. In addition, the culture is popular in Ukraine - the central and southern parts.

You can plant a plant both in autumn and spring. According to experienced summer residents, it is better to plant seedlings in the fall - late September - early October. For cultivation, it is better to buy a one-year / two-year-old seedling with an open root system. Before the planting procedure, it is recommended to treat the rhizome with a growth stimulator. When planting bushes, the distance between plants should be observed - 1.5-2 meters.

In addition, gooseberry shrubs should not shade the crown of neighboring trees, as this can lead to a significant inhibition of development and a decrease in yield indicators.

Gooseberries do not cause any difficulties during care, but they are a little picky about the place of growth. The site should be chosen even, well covered with light and heat (sun). Loose, air- and permeable fertile soil - medium and light loams, as well as forest-steppe soils - would be ideal. Regardless of the type of soil on which the gooseberry will grow, it must be well fertilized before planting by adding a mixture of superphosphates to the hole. Groundwater should be deep so that the roots are not stagnant, as this can provoke rotting.

Reproduction of culture occurs in two ways - cuttings and horizontal layering, however, the maximum survival rate is observed precisely in cuttings.

Agrotechnical care of berry crops consists of a number of activities: regular watering at the root (4-5 times per season), fertilization (alternation of organic matter and mineral fertilizing), sanitary and rejuvenating pruning, constant thinning, since shrubs quickly overgrow, protection from viruses and insects. In addition, for the first few years, the shrubs are recommended to be tied to a trellis, a peg, which will prevent damage by strong winds and ensure proper growth upright. Preparation for winter involves cleaning the site, digging up soil between the rows, as well as shelter with an agrospan.

The variety has a stable immune system to many standard diseases, while you should not forget about preventive measures. The shrub is completely unaffected by American powdery mildew, and is also practically not affected by the moth.

Chernomor has a high resistance to stress. It easily tolerates severe drops in temperature, prolonged drought and summer heat. Strong shade and excess moisture negatively affect the development of the shrub.

Chernomor is a favorite of many summer residents and farmers. The variety attracts with its unpretentiousness, high yields and quick adaptation to the place of growth. Most housewives are captivated by the versatility of the berries, as well as their incredible taste.

Among the many advantages, there are some disadvantages, which are indicated by experienced summer residents - baking berries in the sun, if not collected in time, as well as a tendency to cracking after prolonged rains.