Gooseberries are extremely healthy. At the same time, gardeners are trying to find a variety that would give a good harvest with large and tasty berries, and at the same time that care for the crop was minimal. Gooseberry Ural emerald meets all of these requirements. It gives a good harvest and does not require too careful care.
Origin history
The full name of this productive and very tasty variety is early gooseberry Ural emerald. Sometimes they add - dark green, which, however, is more related to its leaves, and not to berries. The variety was bred by crossing such varieties as Nugget and Firstborn Minusinsk.
Gooseberry Ural emerald: general view
Gooseberry variety The Ural emerald was created directly in Chelyabinsk, and it was bred specifically for the conditions of Western Siberia with its severe winters. But in other regions, such a variety will feel excellent.
Characteristics of the bushes
Gooseberry Emerald Ural is characterized by medium-tall bushes. They give a large number of shoots, but are considered low-spreading. Although in general these plants are prone to thickening of the crown, so seasonal cuts are indispensable.
In the spring, large pink flowers open on the bushes. This happens quite early, so flowering gooseberries attract early pollinators to the garden. These are not only bees, but also bumblebees.
Important! The branches of the bushes are covered with rather sharp spikes along the entire length. So gardeners have to think through very thorough protection against these thorns for harvesting. Experienced farmers are advised to use plastic bottles, cut off on both sides for convenience.
Bushes of this variety are covered with five-lobed leaves of different sizes, most often - dark green. They have a glossy surface, look pretty attractive.
Characteristics of berries
Gooseberry Emerald - this is another name for the variety Ural emerald. He is famous for giving a solid crop - up to 6 kg of berries. Moreover, he has large berries, the weight of one fruit is on average 7.5 g. The fruits are distinguished by their elongated shape and smooth skin. In addition, they have a characteristic green tint, thanks to which they got their name.
Grade Features
The main advantages of the variety are its high productivity and resistance to adverse environmental factors.
Ripening period and yield
The first fruiting occurs 3-4 years after planting a bush. The plant will give large yields for 15-20 years after this. This variety is characterized by early ripening - this occurs in early July, and in the south a little earlier.
Gooseberry berries
Even in severe and adverse northern conditions, the yield of this variety is from 2 to 5 kg per bush. But in a warmer climate, for example, Moscow region, it can reach 6 kg.
Important! To get the maximum yield, experienced gardeners advise planting nearby gooseberry bushes of varieties Beryl or Commander.
Taste qualities
Berries of this variety have a pleasant sweet and sour taste, it is customary for gardeners and breeders to call such a dessert.
Drought and frost resistance
This variety tolerates drought well. But the most valuable feature is its high winter hardiness, since it was developed for the Urals and Western Siberia with its harsh climate. It can easily tolerate winter temperatures up to -37 ° C.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Gooseberry The Ural emerald has an important feature - it is resistant to diseases characteristic of many types of gooseberries, such as anthracnose and powdery mildew. In addition, this variety is not affected by pests such as a pine sawfly and a moth butterfly.
Berry use
These berries are good and raw. But even from this variety is brewed the so-called "royal jam".
Gooseberry jam
Gooseberry Emerald, the description of which was presented above, has many useful properties. The composition of its berries is considered the most balanced in terms of carbohydrates - it contains only 9.3% sugars, but the fruits still have a pleasant taste. In addition, they contain up to 2.2% of organic acids, as well as pectins, which beneficially affect the digestive process, tannins, vitamins and minerals.
Interesting! Studies confirm the ability of berries of this variety to remove toxins and radionuclides from the body.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Ural emerald variety
This variety has many advantages:
- early ripening, which is very important for the northern regions;
- good productivity, and its fruits are easily removed, do not fall off branches for a long time;
- pleasant refined taste of the berries themselves;
- self-fertility, which means that it does not need to select specially pollinating neighbors;
- resistance to diseases and pests common for this type of shrub.
The main disadvantages of the variety are the rapid thickening of the crown, requiring quite laborious care, as well as an abundance of sharp thorns. On the other hand, the studless variety may not exhibit such drought and frost resistance.
Planting young seedlings on the site
In general, planting is done in the same way as planting other varieties, but there are several nuances that you should know about in advance.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
For planting, you need to select high-quality healthy seedlings. It is best to purchase them at centers or large farms specializing in the cultivation of this variety.
Time and landing pattern
Since this variety is considered medium spread, it is possible to plant several bushes on one site next to each other, they will not interfere with the development of plants. Moreover, along with self-pollination, cross-pollination will occur, and this will increase productivity.
Interesting! The best time for this is considered autumn, and in central Russia this is the period from the end of September to mid-October. But, of course, you need to focus not only on the calendar, but also on the weather forecast. Bushes should be planted before the onset of the first frost (in about three weeks). Then they have time to take root well and survive the winter perfectly.
Choosing a landing place
This gooseberry variety prefers open and well-lit places. However, it is resistant to temperature extremes and wind, so choosing the right site for it is not so difficult. The only difficulty is that this gooseberry is picky about the soil, and a good crop can only be obtained on loose loam.
But the humidity level should be moderate. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant bushes in the lowlands. On the hills, the plant may not have enough moisture, but it all depends on the specific conditions.
Site preparation
Special preparation for planting is not necessary. Unless on the site groundwater is too high. In such cases, if it is not possible to plant a bush on a hill, you have to arrange something like a flower bed 40-50 cm high and square in shape - 70x70 cm or even more, 80x80 cm.
You do not need to dig a deep hole, unless it is a plot with poor soils. Then part of the pit (about a third of it) is filled with compost mixed with humus and topsoil. But ash during planting does not hurt to make, regardless of the wealth of the soil.
Landing process
The seedling is lowered into the prepared hole, its roots are straightened and covered with soil from above. The root neck should fall 5-7 cm under the ground, only then additional roots can form normally. After planting, the bush is watered with water.
Features of seasonal care
Since this variety is resistant to diseases and pests, the main care is associated with watering, mulching and loosening the soil, removing weeds growing around the bush, periodically applying fertilizers and seasonal pruning.
Watering and feeding
This variety needs moderate watering because it is drought tolerant. Seasonal top dressing is very important, but the use of fertilizers has its own nuances. For example, in the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the soil, you can use urea, which is simply scattered under the bush before the snow completely melts.
Interesting! During the flowering period of the bush, you need to examine its leaves, and if they are large enough, then you can not make nitrogen fertilizers, only potash and phosphorus. If the growth of shoots is small, then you can add a little nitrogen, but this is done with caution so that the berries do not accumulate nitrates.
Autumn top dressing will help the bushes better survive the winter. At this time, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are used.
Mulching and cultivation
The bush is mulched with hay and sawdust. Loosening of the soil is carried out regularly, as well as weeding of weeds, which only spoil the appearance and take away nutrients from the plant.
Use of props
As a rule, they do not use supports, since the bushes grow slightly sprawling, with strong branches that are resistant to wind.
Preventative treatment
Since this plant is resistant to diseases and pests, additional treatment is not necessary, it is enough to follow the basic rules of care.
Pruning
Since this variety is particularly prone to thickening the crown, it needs pruning. Periodically remove those basal shoots that can be called superfluous. In addition, you need to trim the old branches, which differ in a darker shade. Such procedures should be carried out in early spring, since the growing season of this variety starts very early.
Interesting! Alternatively, you can delay pruning until the end of summer.
Winter preparations
Since it is a frost-resistant variety, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter, it already tolerates such conditions.
Breeding
There are several basic ways of propagating gooseberries, including cuttings, dividing the mother bush, layering, even seeds and perennial branches. The simplest options are considered to be cuttings and propagation by layering.
Gooseberry cuttings
Cuttings
This method is not as popular as layering, but you can use it. For cuttings, choose the time when the growth of shoots stops. This occurs around mid-July, rarely later. If the cuttings are carried out too soon or already closer to the end of summer, then new plants take root much worse.
Layering
The most popular option is reproduction by horizontal layering. It is considered the best way for three or four year old bushes. Its advantage is that from one bush you can get up to 10 layering, suitable for its propagation. It is best to attend to the selection of material in March, in order to have time to do this before the buds open.
Propagation by layering
As layering, annual root shoots are chosen, they are taken symmetrically from all sides of the bush, and then they are interfered with pre-arranged furrows, the depth of which is 10 cm. At the same time, the shoot branches must be in contact with the ground, including at the base where they are attached to to the bush.
Important! They are sprinkled with earth only when buds appear on the shoots.
Pest and Disease Control
The variety is not susceptible to fungal disease and is resistant to pests. All problems that arise during its cultivation are associated either with an improper irrigation regimen, or with a lack of nutrients.
Subject to agricultural technology, gooseberries Ural emerald will please the gardener with a good harvest for a long time.
