Gooseberry Malachite is a low-calorie and healthy fruit. It is extremely popular for its colorful, bright green color with a waxy layer that gives the berries an unrivaled shine.
gooseberry grade "Malachite"
gooseberry "Malachite" is unpretentious and has good characteristics, for which many gardeners and summer residents appreciate it
differs from other varieties "Malachite" - large size of berries, increased productivity and transportability
Breeding history of the variety
Gooseberry is a traditional culture of the Currant genus. Recently, gardeners have developed few varieties. Work on the Malachite culture began in the 1940s. In 1959, the plant was entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation. The first successful plants began to appear in 1950, for 9 years the bush was tested in every possible way by breeders. Parents of the hybrid: Black Negus gooseberry and Date. Created at the Michurin All-Union Research Institute of Horticulture.
Advantages and disadvantages of "Malachite"
It is famous for its high yield and excellent indicators of frost resistance, but the plant is subject to anthracosis disease. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of the shrub.
Benefits of the Malachite variety:
- The yield is regular.
- With proper planting and further care, about 4 kg of ripe and juicy berries can be harvested from one plant.
- Great taste.
- The use of berries is unique. They can be eaten fresh and used for canning, freezing and drying.
- Resistant to powdery mildew.
- Berries do not crumble from the bush. They may remain on the branches for some time after full maturation.
- The fruits do not deteriorate during transportation, do not lose their presentation.
The main disadvantages of gooseberry malachite:
- weak immunity to anthracosis;
- with improper care, crop yields may fall below average.
Variety Characteristics
Reviews regarding gooseberry Malachite show it from different angles. Some growers think this is the best variety, while others are reluctant to grow it. But all these reviews are united by one thing - a real description of the bush.
Malachite is a perennial shrub variety. The plant is tested by time and various climates.
Shrub Features:
- Medium height (maximum height - 1.5 m).
- It grows widely, has an average number of thorns.
- The berries are small, round in shape with a pronounced waxy layer.
- To taste gooseberries are sour, but fragrant.
- The plant bears harvest early and bears fruit for a long time.
- The variety is frost-resistant, not afraid of sudden changes in temperature.
- Can be grown commercially.
Bush
To grow the Malachite shrub, you need to stock up on a large area, since the bush has spreading branches with dense foliage. Growth strength - medium-sized. The bark of the shrub is gray-brown, the leaves are large, matte, green. The flowers are small in size with distinct outlines.
Berries
The berries are large in size with light veins; they begin to ripen in the middle of summer. Want to increase the sugar content in fruits, then do not pick them immediately after ripening. Over time, the berries gain sweetness and acquire a more intense color. The mass of one berry is about 5 g.
Gooseberry fruits can be stored in a cool place for up to 1 week. It all depends on the maturity period. You can stack them in the refrigerator or in the cellar. The refrigerator keeps the berries a little longer.
For the winter period, gooseberry fruits are frozen, which helps to preserve a large number of useful properties. To do this, the fruits are folded in the refrigerator, and then transferred to the freezer.
Ripening period
The culture is characterized by medium early ripening, in May the plant blooms, the fruits ripen at the end of June, and you can harvest at the end of July. The shrub bears fruit unevenly, but for a long time. During the season, one plant can be harvested several times, it is only necessary to give the berries the opportunity to "reach", they will acquire a golden color and become sweeter.
Productivity
One of the main advantages of the shrub is that it is self-pollinated, that is, male and female flowers grow on it. It begins to bear fruit 2 years after planting. At first, there are not too many berries, but in the following years the shrub surprises its owner. The plant continues to bear fruit until 15 years, however, subject to proper planting and further care.
Transportability
The peel of the berries, although it seems thin, is strong. The gooseberry can be moved without harming the fruit. This does not spoil the taste or appearance.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
Malachite is a great option for growing in any region. Plus and minus marks are not scary to the plant. However, do not forget about shelters for the winter period of time and intensive watering of the plant in summer.
Disease and pest resistance
The State Commission examined all the indicators of the variety. The plant has a strong immunity to powdery mildew, sometimes it is attacked by sawflies and aphids. The biggest threat to the shrub is anthracnose disease, so regular preventive measures cannot be dispensed with.
Growing conditions
Planting Malachite requires, first of all, a well-lit place; it is necessary to take into account the nearby fruit trees, which can make the area shady. The plant does not die from a draft or strong wind, but the berries can crumble, so it's worth making a small shelter.
Landing close to groundwater is impossible, such a step by a gardener can lead to fungal diseases. The site should be flat or slightly elevated; it is not necessary to plant shrubs in low places.
Malachite grows in clean and well-groomed land without weeds or last year's foliage. Aeration is of particular importance; for planting, it is better to give preference to chernozems or loams.
Boarding time
You can plant the plant in open soil in spring and autumn. However, the autumn version is preferable, in this case the root system will have time to gain a foothold before the onset of cold weather, and already in the spring season, Malachite will begin to fully develop. Planting is carried out in clean soil. The distance between the bushes must be at least 1 m.
Landing scheme
Buy seedlings only in specialized stores, because sellers in the market can replace the cutting with another cheap plant variety.
Rules for planting gooseberry Malachite:
- Deepen the root section by 5 cm, thanks to this the seedling will be able to quickly form the root system of placement and easier to transfer the transplant.
- Land before sap flow.
- Finished cuttings should have up to 5 shoots.
- Before planting the plant, process the root system of the seedling, use ash and a disinfectant. This is especially important if you notice damage on the root system.
- Shoots no more than 15 cm. The length of the stems should not be more than the main root - when buying a seedling, pay attention to this.
- Leave a distance of 1 m between the seedlings, remember, if the bushes are very thick, then care for Malachite will be very difficult in the future. And this will negatively affect the taste of gooseberries.
- If you plan to plant a large number of bushes, then increase the distance by 1.5-2 times. Dig a hole depth of 0.5-0.6 m. Do not feed.
- Limit yourself only to watering the plant, add fertilizers to the root circle after the gooseberries finally take root in your garden. During the autumn planting in sandy soil, pour 10 liters of water under each seedling. Use 5 liters each in spring, as the soil is wet on its own.
Seasonal care basics
Cultivation of a crop has certain properties that you need to pay attention to. Main care activities: watering, loosening, pest control, mulching, fertilization and pruning.
We recommend reading the article on how to care for gooseberries in the fall.
Soil care
Standard soil maintenance includes loosening the soil and removing weeds. In the summer, you can use mulch, it helps to retain moisture, for this you can use sawdust, straw, nut shells. It improves the structure of the soil, prevents the appearance of a crust from drought and slows the appearance of grass.
Support
The height of the gooseberry reaches 1.5 m. Shoots of this length often fall to the ground or simply lean towards it. This is especially observed during fruiting. To protect berries from falling to the ground, and branches from damage, you can use several types of supports.
Supports for gooseberries Malachite:
- Twine tying. This is the simplest method used during shrub ripening. The option saves the stems and berries from death, they do not fall close to the soil and do not fall under the attack of pests. The support is uncomfortable, especially during harvesting.
- Square or round pillars on racks. They are installed around the plant and take up a lot of space. The height of one support is about 0.5 m. In this case, the branches rest on the rigid walls of the uprights.
- Tapestries. The height of the shrub makes it possible to place it on a trellis. This method is ideal in every way. Installing them is not so difficult, and the harvest is quick and easy.
Watering
A decent harvest is obtained only when the plant receives all the nutrients in full, and the water balance is not disturbed. Water the gooseberries during the formation of ovaries, young shoots, and during the ripening period. To enhance the growth of the root system and prepare the shrub for the cold, moisture-charging watering should be done in mid-autumn.
With a lack of water in gooseberries, the berries begin to shrink and the leaves quickly fall off.
Shrubs are watered at the very root so that fungal diseases do not attack the wet greens of the culture. Do not use cold water. To prevent moisture from evaporating, the root area is mulched.
Top dressing
Malachite is an unpretentious crop, but it needs fertilizers, like other berry plants. Top dressing should be applied several times a year:
- Fertilizers are applied in the 2nd year after planting, it is carried out to improve flowering - add 60 g of ammonium nitrate and 40 g of urea under the bush.
- After harvesting, apply potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
Pruning and shaping the crown
Immediately after planting the shrub, it is necessary to carry out the primary pruning of the crown. All shoots are shortened without touching about 6 lower buds. In subsequent times, pruning is carried out in the spring before the buds swell and at the end of autumn until the time when the shrub throws off the yellowed foliage.
Do not delay pruning in the spring, if the sap flow has already begun, then the event with branches can harm the shrub. In autumn, low-growing shoots should be cut. A similar fate awaits sick and too dark branches. The tops are also shortened, especially if the berries of the bush have begun to shrink.
Reproduction
4 kg from the 1st bush is not a lot of harvest, but if you plant a few dozen gooseberries Malachite in the territory, then the number of berries will increase tenfold.
Shrub propagated:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the plant;
- vaccinations;
- with bones.
Preparing for winter
Malachite belongs to frost-resistant shrubs, but it still needs to be covered for the winter. Warming helps the plant to wake up faster after hibernation. As a covering material, agrofibre can be used.
In the spring season, before the plant wakes up, the protective layer must be removed. Further, surface loosening of the soil is carried out in order to avoid the finds of pest larvae. During the "sleep" of insects, pour boiling water on the ground and spray hot water on all branches of the bush. "Shower" will awaken the kidneys and destroy all harmful insects.
Pest and Disease Control
Gooseberries often die from diseases and pests. Shrubs are susceptible to disease, the main thing is to take preventive and protective measures in time. After determining the symptoms of the disease, you need to help the plant quickly cope with the disease. At the first stage, gooseberries can be helped with folk remedies without using chemicals.
Plants can be damaged by: moth, aphids and sawflies. Regular care and compliance with all plant maintenance rules will reduce the likelihood of their appearance. If an invasion happened, then you should use special solutions.
Powdery mildew gooseberries are not afraid, but septoria, rust and anthracosis can damage the culture.
Basic preventive measures:
- Follow all guidelines for planting and growing gooseberries.
- Do not thicken Malachite; prune in time.
- Remove leaves from bushes by burning them.
- Dig up the ground under Malachite.
- Plant pest repellent plants near gooseberries.
- In the spring, treat the bush with hot water.
- Apply fertilizers that help strengthen plant immunity.
- Spray gooseberries with special products.
If diseases or pests attacked the plant, then it is urgent to cut off the branches affected by the infection and burn them. Then dilute organic dressings with water and spray the bush with them. You can use the concentration of ferrous sulfate.
Uses of gooseberries
Sourness makes the fruit a piquant ingredient in cooking. They are eaten fresh, salads are prepared from them, compote is cooked, jam or jam is covered. Berries can be frozen.
Gooseberries serve as a good filling for sweets, they are used to make marshmallows, refreshing drinks, and decorate desserts. Unrivaled taste brings poultry and meat dishes. The fruits are used to create homemade liqueurs, liqueurs and wine.
Reviews of gooseberry Malachite
Alina, 34 years old, teacher, Novorossiysk.Mom persuaded to plant Malachite gooseberries in the country. At first I thought that leaving would be difficult, but I have no time at all. But how surprised I was when I discovered that the culture is not whimsical at all, but what berries it brings! Just a jumble!
Yana, 27 years old, teacher, Norilsk.I remember collecting this gooseberry from my grandmother in the garden. She always cooked various goodies from gooseberries: jam, compotes, even baked pies! It was a wonderful childhood.
Andrey, 50 years old, entrepreneur, Sochi.Like Malachite for its transportability. For me it comes first. I translate the berries without problems, they always remain intact, and the taste is not lost.
Natasha, 44 years old, seller, Odessa.Our bush died, unfortunately. I did not cope with pests. They processed it, and carried out preventive measures, like everything was done as it should, and gooseberries could not cope with aphids.
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Gooseberry Malachite berries are helpers for people. They please with an excellent harvest and do not need special care. For summer residents, this is an excellent option, because such people are constantly on the road.