Gooseberry Snezhana

The most popular among summer residents and farmers growing gooseberry shrubs are berry crops with a small number of thorns, which makes the harvesting process easier. These varieties include Snezhana gooseberries of a late ripening period.

Gooseberry Snezhana was bred by breeder I.V. Popova (Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Research Center of Horticulture and Nursery) in 2000. Enriched the ranks of the approved varieties in 2009. The berry culture is zoned in the Central region.

The late-ripening variety Snezhana is a tall shrub growing up to 140-160 cm in height. The berry bush is characterized by strong, erect shoots of greenish-red color, a compact crown with moderate thickening, shiny bright green leaves and slight thorniness. Thin and shortened spines are rarely located only in the lower part of the shoot. During the flowering period, a strong bush is densely covered with large flowers with a pale color. The shrub blooms in June-July.

The variety is self-fertile (more than 45%), therefore it does not need donor bushes. As practice shows, several types of gooseberries planted in the same area with the same flowering time can only increase productivity indicators.

Snezhana is a medium-fruited berry crop. Under favorable conditions, berries weighing 4-6 grams grow on the bushes. The shape of the fruit is unusual - oval-pear-shaped with a perfectly smooth surface covered with wax. Ripe gooseberries are endowed with a green-yellow color with pronounced whitish veins. In strong sun, a lateral blush may appear. The peel of the berries is quite dense, harsh in places. Thanks to the elongated, thin, but strong stalk, the berries do not crumble, even if they are not picked on time.

Berries have a universal purpose, so they are eaten fresh, used in cooking, stewed fruit, processed into jams and marmalades, and also frozen. A feature of the variety is the high transportability of berries and the ability to be stored for a long time in a cool place (about 15-16 days). Berries taken at the stage of technical maturity are especially transportable and prone to long-term storage.

The gooseberry has very high commercial and taste qualities. The pale yellow pulp of the berries is endowed with a fleshy, dense and at the same time tender, very juicy consistency. The taste of the fruit is balanced - pronounced sourness goes well with light sweetness and a weak fruity aroma. The pulp contains more than 7% sugars and less than 2% acids.

Snezhana belongs to the category of berry species with late ripening periods, therefore berries ripen when most varieties have already yielded their harvest. The bush begins to bear fruit in the second year after planting. The tasting period starts in the 3rd decade of July, and the active fruiting phase occurs in the first half of August.

The yield of the variety is impressive in its performance.Carrying out standard agricultural techniques, from 1 bush during the fruiting period, you can remove from 6 to 9 kg of ripe berries. When growing berries on an industrial scale, up to 74.2 centners of gooseberries are obtained per hectare.

Planting a seedling is carried out during the dormant period - early spring or mid-autumn. When planting in spring, you need to take into account how warm the soil and air are. In addition, planting is done before the start of the growing season. In the fall, bushes are planted after the foliage has completely fallen off. As a rule, it is October, so that there is time left for the adaptation of the root system to climatic conditions.

When planting seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a distance between bushes and trees, which is 2-2.5 meters. A one- or two-year-old seedling with a developed root and 2-3 healthy shoots 20-30 cm long is considered the best for planting.

For planting Snezhana gooseberries, it is recommended to choose a site with a sufficient amount of heat and light, as well as with a deep passage of groundwater, since the root system of the plant reacts negatively to stagnation of moisture in the soil. The soil should be fertile, with good moisture and air penetration. Experts advise growing gooseberries on loamy soils with a neutral acidity level. In addition, the site should be protected from gusty winds and drafts.

The agricultural technology of the plant consists of regular watering, fertilizing (if you add fertilizer when planting, then the next 3 years of fertilizing are not needed), loosening and weeding of the soil, annual sanitary pruning of branches, thinning bushes, protection from rodents, pests and viruses.

In addition, do not forget about soil mulching, which not only helps to maintain moisture, but also prevents the formation of weeds in the soil. Use black agrofibre or straw as mulch. Rejuvenating pruning is done after the fifth year of plant growth.

Snezhana has a high immunity, so she easily tolerates American powdery mildew, septoria and many viral diseases. To increase resistance, preventive treatments can be periodically carried out with special preparations - spraying with a solution of ferrous sulfate in the fall, as well as with a Bordeaux mixture in early spring (before the growing season). The shrub practically does not attract pests, therefore, the invasions of aphids, moths and glassworms are extremely rare.

Good growth and development of gooseberries are not affected by winter thaws, spring frosts, heat and short droughts.In addition, the variety is frost-resistant, withstands temperature drops to -20-25 degrees. Excess moisture and dampness, as well as excessive shading, can negatively affect development, which can reduce the yield or increase the acidity of the berry taste.

Snezhana is one of the favorite varieties of summer residents and farmers. This is due to unpretentious agricultural technology, weak thorniness, quick adaptation to climatic conditions, as well as the ability to develop on poor soils. Many housewives are captivated by the incredible taste of berries, their universal purpose, as well as the ability to store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks without losing taste and useful properties.

Along with the numerous advantages, it is worth pointing out the disadvantages of the variety. The most important drawbacks of the culture can be considered late ripening and too tough peel, which is felt while eating fresh berries.