Gooseberry Prune

An unusual variety of Prune gooseberry (Grossularia / Ribes uva-crispa Chernoslivoviy) - in addition to the original shade, taste and aroma of the fruit, it also has a lot of other advantages. It has impressive commercial prospects and is transportable. Its versatility makes it suitable for processing, curing and drying.

The gooseberry was obtained by the breeder KD Sergeeva from the V.I. Michurin. When crossing, Plum and Plum 259-23 plants were taken. Prune has been on state variety trials since 1980. It was approved for use in 1992.

The bushes do not have outstanding characteristics. Their ability to grow and the degree of spreading is assessed as average, the branching density is also not excessive, the branches are directed obliquely. The spine is weak, sparse, single thorns, directed straight. Young growing shoots of this shrub are thicker, light green, without pubescence, lignified adults are light, thinner in diameter.

The main advantage of the Prune gooseberry is its fruits. Berries are oval or pear-shaped, with a dense skin, covered with a waxy bloom. The color depends on the stage of ripeness. Young berries are dark red, fully ripe - black. Weak veins can only be seen in unripe fruits.

Gooseberry Prune has a specific pleasant aroma and sweet and sour taste. It is clearly dominated by sweetness. Berries with a juicy tender pulp with a plum flavor receive a tasting score of 4.2 points.

The variety is medium early, with an unstable ripening frequency. Highly self-fertile.

Prune is a medium-yielding variety. 1.6-4.2 kg are harvested from the bush, on an industrial scale the indicators reach 5.4-14 t / ha.

The best conditions for this gooseberry are created in the Ural region, in the Middle Volga region, the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Fertile soil will provide excellent growing conditions for gooseberries. The shrub will need to be fed frequently if the soil is too poor for planting. You can place a seedling in a permanent place in the spring, before bud break, as well as in the fall, after leaf fall. It is important to give the bushes enough time to root.

When choosing a place for planting the Prune variety, it is very important to find an open space without noticeable shading. It should be separated from adult trees by at least 2 m, from the fence and buildings - about 1.5 m. Prunes take root well on light, moisture-permeable soils. A hole with a diameter of 0.5 m and a depth of 40 cm is prepared for each bush. The removed garden soil is mixed with compost, peat, sand. Soil with high acidity can be saturated with wood ash to reduce this indicator.

The root system of the bush must first be treated with a disinfecting solution. Ready mix "Ideal" or "Barrier" will do.The prepared gooseberry bush is placed in a hole, sprinkled with soil. You do not need to tamp it, but watering will definitely be required. The deepening of the root collar, when properly seated, will be about 50 mm.

After that, the branches are pruned for the winter. The remaining shoots should have 5 buds.

Plants need good lighting most of the day. The soil should be moderately moist, not overheated. The optimal temperature regime for the good development of gooseberries is in the range of + 20 ... 25 degrees Celsius. Regular loosening and mulching of the trunk circle are also among the main measures for plant care.

Before the onset of frost, you will have to take special care of young bushes in the first year. Before the first drop in atmospheric temperatures, the gooseberries are huddled, the roots are covered with a layer of mulch. Then it is covered with a layer of lutrasil, spruce branches are added on top. In the spring, when the bush wakes up, begins to grow intensively, it is placed in a ring support. Such measures will provide him with compactness, will keep the berries clean.

Top dressing for this plant is carried out in 3 main stages, starting 2 years after planting. Before flowering, you should add urea or potassium humate. A dosage of 100 ml is enough for 2 buckets of water. As soon as flowering is over, you will have to add a mixture of liquid organic matter or potassium humate to the plant's diet. When the fruits are formed, calcium-rich wood ash will be added to this top dressing recipe.

The most productive shoots of this gooseberry are 2-3 years. This growth is sure to be preserved, but old and dry, diseased, broken shoots will have to go to the trash. Regular thinning of the crown will provide it with the necessary ventilation. The bush looks neater, less likely to be affected by diseases and pests.

The variety is affected by fungal and viral infections to varying degrees. Its resistance to anthracnose is low, as well as to glass rust. Among the current preventive measures in this case, one can single out the cleaning of fallen leaves, digging up the soil, and early spraying with a solution of Bordeaux liquid. Resistance to American powdery mildew and common infectious diseases is high.

Sprinkling shoots with boiling water will protect the plants from bud mites before sap flow begins. Among other pests found on the bushes, one can distinguish the moth butterfly, yellow sawfly, and aphids. If they are found, a situational insecticidal treatment is carried out.

The gooseberry is winter-hardy, it even tolerates returnable spring frosts well. Not damaged without cover at temperatures up to -34 degrees Celsius. Drought resistance is low; during prolonged periods of heat, a lot of attention will have to be paid to caring for the plant.

Gardeners have a high opinion of the Prune variety. This gooseberry is often compared to real plums. For its sweet taste, children simply adore it. The small number of thorns makes it easy to harvest without fear of damaging your skin or clothing. The harvested crop is stored without any problems.

The obvious disadvantages of this gooseberry include perhaps an unstable yield. Bushes do not give an abundance of berries every year.