How to grow gooseberries from seeds at home

Almost every owner of a garden plot grows gooseberries. And there are reasons for this, in particular, the berry is distinguished by beneficial properties, has excellent taste, and is also characterized by early fruiting and high yield. However, getting a healthy plant requires effort from the moment of planting. Next, we will tell you how to properly grow gooseberries from seeds.

Is it possible to grow gooseberries from seeds?

Those who want to grow gooseberries from seeds at home need to know that there are cases when the “baby” does not have all the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.

The loss of certain properties of the mother liquor in a plant is due to the fact that it has the ability to cross-pollinate. As a result, the process of transferring pollen from a plant of one variety to a plant of another leads to the fact that seedlings receive new characteristics that are not always positive.

In addition, most varieties are now hybrids, which in the process of selection received both their characteristic characteristics and their parents. Over time, such seedlings may develop characteristics of the parent crops.

Varieties that are best suited

Breeders are trying to ensure that the taste of gooseberries is qualitatively improved, and that the bush itself is not so prickly, as this makes harvesting difficult.

If we talk about the most common varieties of gooseberries, it is worth highlighting the following:

1. The Russian variety is an early ripening variety and is distinguished by its high growth. Gives a good harvest. The berries are oval in shape and dark red in color. Weight - approximately 4 grams. One bush produces up to 6 kilograms of fruit.
2. Malachite is a medium-ripening variety. The shoots are also tall. From 6 to 7 kilograms of berries are harvested from one bush. Gooseberries have a round berry, the color is green. This variety tastes sweet, but there is a slight sourness, which does not spoil the overall impression of the berry.
3. Date - this variety is a late ripening variety. The bush grows tall and bears fruit well. So, from an adult plant you can collect up to 12 kilograms of berries, and the weight of one berry will fluctuate around 20 grams.The taste of the berries of this variety is sweet and sour.

Basic principles of cultivation

To grow gooseberries from seeds, you must adhere to certain rules of agricultural technology. Next, we propose to dwell in detail on each of them.

Seed preparation

Ripe berries are collected, seeds are taken out of them, which are thoroughly rinsed in warm water so that no pulp remains. Next, the seeds are laid out on a clean, dry cloth to dry.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

For sowing, containers are prepared, at the bottom of which a drainage layer of pebbles or expanded clay is placed. As for the soil substrate, for planting gooseberries it is prepared from fertile soil, river sand and organic matter (manure).

Sowing seeds

Seeds must be placed on the soil surface approximately 5 centimeters apart from each other. It is worth deepening them slightly, sprinkle about half a centimeter of the remaining soil on top

Containers with soil are watered and covered with film on top. Gooseberries are kept at temperatures around +3-+5 degrees.

The following spring, the pots are placed in the ground in the garden plot. This should be done only when the seedlings have two leaves.

Further care for gooseberries

Planting is not all that is necessary to obtain a harvest. So, further gooseberry care must also be correct, as you will learn later.

Tillage

For the stable development of gooseberries, as well as for the crop to bear fruit, it is worth systematically digging or loosening the soil. As for the depth and force of cultivation, it depends solely on the structure of the soil.Thus, dense soil requires digging with a shovel, but loose soil can be sufficiently “fluffed” using a garden fork.

The roots of the bush are close to the soil surface, so processing that is carried out near the crown should be carried out as carefully as possible. At the time of loosening, it is permissible to touch only the top layer of soil, without going deeper than 7 centimeters. As for the perimeter around the bush, you can cultivate the land more confidently.

Equally important is the timely destruction of weeds, which provoke high humidity at the bottom of the bush, and these are suitable conditions for the occurrence of various diseases.

Feeding and watering

Gooseberries bear fruit for many years, taking a large amount of useful substances from the soil, so the annual application of various fertilizers is a necessary measure. In spring, each bush needs half a bucket of compost, 50 grams of superphosphate, 25 grams of ammonium sulfate, and potassium sulfate. If the bushes are large and produce a good harvest, the norm is doubled.

Fertilizers must be applied around the perimeter, namely in those places where the roots of the plant are located; after these places are abandoned, the soil is loosened. The first time fertilizer is applied immediately after the crop blooms, then, after 2-3 weeks, fertilizing is carried out using a solution of manure in a ratio of 1:5.

Bush pruning

Some people believe that the formation of bushes is not so important when growing gooseberries, however, this opinion is erroneous. So, first, pruning helps to form the base of the bush: perennial branches are cut in half, and root shoots are also removed.

From the fourth year, pruning of bushes is carried out in order to eliminate thickening.As part of this procedure, weak and dried shoots are removed. Old shoots are pruned from bushes that have reached the age of 3 to 6 years.

Cold protection

The plant cannot be called whimsical, and even under a layer of snow, the gooseberry roots will be protected. However, experienced gardeners recommend treating the crop with preparations before the onset of cold weather that will prevent it from getting sick and will help it bear fruit well when the time comes.

After the harvest is harvested and the leaves have fallen, plant debris must be removed. Next, the gooseberries are treated with Bordeaux mixture. Next, you need to dig up the soil near the trunk so that insects cannot infect the gooseberries. Afterwards the crop needs feeding.

Methods of controlling diseases and pests

Gooseberries are sometimes attacked by moths, sawflies or aphids. To protect against such attacks, use Karbofos, ash caste or biological agents. Processing is carried out in the spring. If such a need arises, spraying is carried out again after flowering begins.

Another problem with the plant is powdery mildew, which is identified by gray spots on the leaves. To combat this disease, a solution of baking soda and iron sulfate is suitable. Such processing is carried out as soon as a problem is detected.