Optimal timing and best ways to propagate gooseberries

Having a summer cottage, every gardener should know how gooseberries reproduce. The presence of this plant on the site is important because the berries have amazing taste and are extremely healthy. Further plant growth and productivity depend on the correct preparation of planting material that meets certain criteria and compliance with planting requirements.

What you will need for the procedure

Growing gooseberries does not require much knowledge or special tools. Necessary:

1. A healthy plant (mother bush), which is prepared in advance, a season before use: fertilized, irrigated in order to prevent diseases and damage to the bush by harmful insects.
2. Tools: sharp pruners or scissors. If the seedlings are not planted immediately in the ground, containers with a fertile mixture for growing, a film or a jar are needed to create a microclimate.

Optimal timing for propagation of shrubs

The priority period for gooseberry propagation is spring and autumn, which is determined depending on the chosen method. Layers from the bush are taken early in the spring. This action is combined with seasonal pruning. The main thing is to be in time before the plant begins vegetative growth. When the buds on the bush turn green or open, time is lost. It is enough to wait until the ground thaws at a depth of 0.1 m. In a temperate climate zone, this time occurs at the end of April or the first days of May.

It is recommended to plant green gooseberry cuttings throughout June, and woody ones - in mid-October. There is no need to prepare them; the work is completed in one day.

The division of the bush is carried out in spring and autumn. The main condition: the seedlings must have time to take root. In warm regions, the period from the end of September to the first days of October is suitable.To divide the bush, it is important to wait until the gooseberry goes into hibernation, then it will tolerate the division painlessly. In regions of temperate climate zones, dividing the bush is done in the spring.

During the summer, the plant has time to prepare for the winter cold. But in this case, you need to do it before the buds swell, since a plant that has not woken up will better tolerate this procedure.

When is it better to take cuttings: summer or autumn?

The growth rate of gooseberries mainly depends on weather conditions; accordingly, the appropriate time for cuttings differs. Basically, cuttings are taken early in the spring before the buds swell. It is necessary to plant in heated soil. Throughout the summer, standard care measures are carried out: watering, feeding, loosening.

Autumn is suitable for propagating the bush from woody cuttings. During the winter period, the cuttings are stored in the cold; planting is done in May in warm soil.

Recommendations for beginning gardeners

It is not difficult to propagate and grow bushes of this plant. For breeding, you need to choose a specific method, which depends on several factors:

1. Age of the plant being used. It should have one- and two-year-old shoots.
2. Gooseberries must be free from damage by insects, fungi and viruses.
3. Preparation for the breeding process begins from the previous season. Gooseberries are carefully cared for: watering, feeding with fertilizers, preventive measures against diseases and attacks by harmful insects.
4. The location for planting the bush is determined in advance. Gooseberries need warmth and plenty of light, the absence of which will affect the amount of harvest and the taste of the berries. Elevation is not suitable for the plant, the roots may freeze, and lowland, since melt water accumulates there, the cold remains for a long time.A flat area protected from the north wind is considered ideal.
5. The plant does not like high humidity.
6. Holes for planting are prepared in 12-18 days, diameter - 0.4-0.6 m, depth - 0.6 m.
7. You need to take into account the distance between seedlings; it is determined by the dimensions of the bush. The optimal distance is 0.8 m between seedlings and 1.5 m between rows.
8. If possible, it is recommended to plant so that the gooseberry bushes do not shade each other (checkerboard pattern).
9. During planting, mix the extracted soil with fertilizers: humus, superphosphate, potassium sulfate (wood ash).

Methods and technology of gooseberry propagation

There are many options for growing gooseberries. The gardener chooses the most convenient and optimal one for himself.

By layering

There are three methods of propagating gooseberries by layering, in which it is necessary to dig in branches or partially gooseberries.

Horizontal

This option for growing shrubs is recognized as one of the most effective. Carried out in October. In spring, it is also possible to plant layering, but this should be done as early as possible, before the buds swell and while there is enough moisture in the soil. Optimal time: last days of March - until mid-April. The period varies depending on climatic regions.

To do this you need:

1. Choose healthy gooseberries. The preferred age of the plant is 5-7 years.
2. Identify several good branches, age range from one to 3 years. They should be as close to the ground as possible.
3. Trim growth on branches to one third of their length. The procedure activates the germination of buds and the appearance of sprouts; their roots develop well.
4. Bend the branches toward the soil, place them in previously prepared furrows, and secure them tightly with hooks made of metal, plastic, or wood.
5. Cover the furrows with a fertile layer of soil, water and mulch.
6. It is important to carry out weeding, fertilizing and watering in a timely manner.
7. The buds on the deepened branches will begin to grow and form vertical sprouts.
8. When the young shoots become 8-10 cm long, you need to hill them up.
9. September (last days) is the recommended time for transplantation. Separate a branch with rooted sprouts from the mother bush with scissors or pruners, dig it up, cut it, taking into account the number of sprouts obtained.
10. Sort the seedlings, shorten the roots, cut the shoots by ¼ of their length.
11. Plant on the prepared bed.

The main disadvantage of this reproduction option is its labor intensity. The advantage is considered to be the reliability of reproduction.

Vertical

Propagation of the bush by vertical layering is considered effective. Used for plant rejuvenation.

For this:

1. In spring, fill the bush with prepared, well-fertilized, moistened soil. The height of the embankment is 10-15 cm. As the branches increase, hill them up periodically.
2. In the fall, if the work was carried out correctly, rooting will occur, and young seedlings can be separated.

Arc-shaped layering

There are varieties of gooseberries that have arched soft shoots. They touch the ground and form roots quite actively. In such cases, rooting is carried out without human help. If you help the gooseberry bush, the process will go much faster.

To do this you need:

1. At the point of contact with the soil surface, make a hole, place a twig in it, secure it and sprinkle it with fertile soil mixture, forming a mound.
2. In the fall, separate the sprout from the mother bush and dig it up.
3. Inspect the sprouts, taking into account their condition, they are sent for growing or planted on a permanent ridge.

The advantage of this method is efficiency. The disadvantages include the fact that a single seedling is obtained from a branch. If reproduction is carried out for oneself, this is enough. This option is not suitable for industrial propagation.

Perennial branches

It is recommended not to destroy the gooseberry branches remaining after seasonal pruning, but to use them for propagation.

Recommended:

• make a hole in the soil;
• put a branch in it;
• sprinkle with fertile soil mixture, leave outside part of the twig with the green growth of this season;
• to stimulate lateral buds, it is recommended to pinch the green sprout;
• keep the soil moist;
• fertilizing is done after active growth;
• in the autumn, dig up and divide into sprouts;
• planted for growing on a special ridge.

Dividing the bush

Division is used if it is necessary to move a valuable bush to another ridge. To do this, you need to prepare the plant in advance:

1. Cut off old branches to the base. This procedure will stimulate the growth of new ones.
2. Next season, dig up the gooseberries and divide them into parts.
3. Plant the seedlings in prepared holes. It is recommended to transplant this bush in the autumn and spring, but not in the summer.

By cuttings

Gooseberries are propagated by cuttings in spring and autumn. The timing of cutting gooseberries is directly dependent on the type of cuttings being harvested.

Green cuttings

This option is considered effective in comparison with lignified cuttings, so gardeners are often interested in how to propagate gooseberries in the summer with green cuttings.The ideal time for this cutting is from mid-June.

For cutting, it is recommended to take young growth of the current season. They must be prepared early in the morning, late in the evening.

Mostly the length of the workpieces is 8-12 cm. You need to cut it with a knife or razor. Next, the resulting cuttings must be kept in a growth stimulator, which will promote their active rooting. Maintain for about 12-14 hours at a temperature of 20-23 ^OWITH.

Prepare a special container. The soil in it is prepared from several layers: 1st (lower) - drainage (the plant does not tolerate excessive moisture), middle - fertile soil, top - should consist of peat with humus and sand. The thickness of each layer is 0.1 m. Plant cuttings in it, deepening it by 20 mm, and carefully water it.

For good rooting, special conditions are needed: warmth and high humidity. Daytime temperature is recommended not lower than 18 ^OC, nighttime not lower than 16 ^OC. Watering is done with warm liquid.

During hot periods, the nursery is opened slightly to prevent overheating. It is also necessary to shade from the sun's rays. Throughout the summer, feed the seedlings with urea or manure solution. After rooting, reduce the humidity level to 75% and gradually bring it to open ground conditions.

Lignified cuttings

Since cuttings of this plant take root poorly, gardeners advise against using cuttings. In industrial production there is a big risk of not getting seedlings. But at home, if 3-4 out of a dozen cuttings take root, that will be enough.

To do this you need:

1. In early spring, prepare cuttings 0.2 m long. This is done until the plant wakes up and the buds swell. In autumn, prepare cuttings immediately before planting.It is better to cut from the top of the shoots; they will take root better than the lower ones.
2. In spring, plant only after the soil has thawed to a sufficient depth. Before planting, the workpieces are kept cold, wrapped in a dampened cloth or in a plastic bag.
3. Plant on the ridge. The distance between the cuttings is 0.2 m. Plant while maintaining an angle of 45^O. In this case, better conditions for rooting are obtained.
4. After planting, thoroughly compact the soil between the cuttings, carefully water, avoiding soil erosion, and mulch. The optimal mulch thickness is 6-7 cm.
5. The soil must be carefully fluffed up, weeded out, and watered and fed in a timely manner.

Combined cuttings

A cutting with a green sprout, part of which contains last year's lignified growth with a length not exceeding 3-6 cm, is considered to be combined. Cuttings are prepared:

• with a heel: the branch is directly broken off;
• with a crutch: cut off the green twig with the woody fragment, the cut is made along the dark growth of the previous season;
• with a stand: cut from a side branch, with the woody fragment (crutch) connected to the green one perpendicularly.

Gooseberry propagation begins at the end of May, when green sprouts reach 50-70 mm in height, and then for almost the entire growing season. Plant the cuttings in loose soil, deepening the heel and part of the base by 30-40 mm. Water the soil generously and make mulch. Roots appear in 12-16 days.

Seed method of gooseberry propagation

The seed is taken from ripe berries. They need to be mixed with sand and stored until autumn. In winter, bury the box to 0.5-0.7 m and cover it with a layer of soil.In early spring, sow the seeds in a greenhouse and cover with a layer of peat. You need to plant it when 2 leaves appear. The seedlings are watered, weeded, and nourished. In the fall, plant the strengthened sprouts in the garden bed.

Reproduction by shoots

It is considered the most humane way. This is the timely planting of the growth that has naturally formed near the bush. In spring, pinch the shoots for better branching. Reproduction is carried out in the fall, after the end of the season. The shoots are carefully separated from the bush and transferred to a new location. It is worth noting that if large berries are needed, the shoots must be removed regularly.

The nuances of propagating gooseberries without thorns

Thornless gooseberry will develop well if you take into account some nuances:

• does not tolerate highly acidic soil;
• does not like excessive humidity;
• tolerates several days of drought well;
• layering is the best method of breeding.

Features of caring for young seedlings

Weeding, loosening, and watering are carried out within the radius of the bush's crown, since the root system does not extend beyond the edges of the shoots. Loosening is carried out to a depth of 40 mm, so as not to injure the roots; most of them are located at a depth of 50 mm. When the weather is stable, watering once a week is necessary.

The spreading bush will require garters or supports in the future. It is necessary to remove root shoots. Pruning should be done in the fall. Diseased and damaged branches are removed down to the soil. In the second year, you need to cultivate the soil, especially if manure was not used during planting. In spring it is necessary to add saltpeter.

After harvesting, it is recommended to rake out fallen leaves (pests can overwinter there) and carry out preventive treatment with fungicides (Topaz) to prevent the development of diseases.To prepare for winter, the bush needs to be fertilized. Recommended: “Sotka Autumn”, “Autumn”, Bona Forte. Growing gooseberries does not cause any difficulties. If all agrotechnical requirements are carried out correctly, the bushes will delight you with a tasty, large harvest.