Characteristics and description of Beryl gooseberry variety, planting and care

Gooseberries have long been valued for their taste and benefits. However, the bush has always been unstable to frost and disease, and harvesting was complicated by scratches from the thorns covering the branches. Therefore, breeding scientists tried to develop a more pliable variety. A new type of gooseberry, which appeared thanks to crossing, was named Beryl, and it became a favorite of gardeners for its unsurpassed qualities.

Description of the variety

Gooseberry Beryl differs from its relatives, having absorbed the best from its “parents” - the varieties Malachite and Samorodka.

Bushes

Appearance and characteristics of the bush:

• average height - about a meter, medium spreading, with a dense crown;
• shoots of medium thickness are curved and drooping;
• thorns are sparse and weak, mainly on the lower shoots, and directed downwards;
• leaves are bright green, soft and large, have three or five lobes without drooping;
• Beryl flowers are green or reddish, goblet-shaped, grow in pairs, forming a two-color inflorescence.

Berries

The description of Beryl gooseberries should begin with the main advantage - their weight can reach 9 grams. The fruits themselves are round, with thin but elastic pale green, sometimes red, skin and characteristic vertical veins. The taste is sweetish-sour, the flesh is juicy. There are few seeds inside. The stalks are thin and long.

Characteristics of gooseberry Beryl

In addition to external differences, Beryl has special characteristics that distinguish it from other varieties.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Gooseberries have fairly strong immunity to most diseases, especially powdery mildew and downy mildew. As for pests, Beryl is rarely attacked by insects.

Drought and frost resistance

Beryl is a frost-resistant gooseberry variety. It does not require winter shelter and can withstand temperatures down to -38 ºC, which is why it is considered an ideal choice for gardeners in Siberia and the Urals.

The plant is also unpretentious regarding drought and does not require frequent watering even on a hot day.However, you should not leave the bush completely without water.

Important! Beryl is very sensitive to excess moisture.

Ripening period and yield

Beryl is classified as a medium-late ripening variety. By mid-July, gardeners receive a decent harvest. An adult bush brings 5-10 kilograms per season. The number of berries depends not on weather conditions, but on the quality of care and age of the plant. Gooseberries produce the greatest yield five years after planting.

Transportability

Despite the thin skin, the berries tolerate transportation well. At the stage of technical maturity (slightly immature) they can easily withstand three days of transportation. If the crop is harvested during the period of removable maturity (full ripening), then transporting it over long distances is problematic.

Use of berries

The fruits of thornless beryl are considered dessert fruits, since the sweetness exceeds the sourness. In addition to taste, gooseberries have a whole storehouse of useful vitamins and microelements, which:

• help with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• tone and strengthen the body;
• Daily consumption promotes weight loss.

Important! Berries should be consumed with caution by people with diabetes.

In addition to consuming gooseberries in their pure form, they are used to make desserts (jams, marmalade, compotes, etc.), sauces, marinades and alcoholic liqueurs. Berries are also often used for cosmetic purposes - masks, creams or scrubs.

Main positive and negative aspects

Beryl has many advantages over other varieties:

• the plant is self-fertile and does not require additional pollination, which brings up to 50% of the harvest;
• Compared to other types of gooseberries, Beryl is more fruitful;
• the berries are large and have a special taste;
• fruits tolerate transportation well;
• frost resistance and drought resistance;
• immunity to most diseases and resistance to pests;
• a small number of thorns.

However, gooseberries are not without their disadvantages, of which there are significantly fewer:

• low resistance to septoria and sawflies;
• ripe fruits do not tolerate transportation well;
• without proper care, productivity decreases.

Subtleties of growing crops

As with any plant, the correct planting and cultivation of Beryl is important - the further growth and fruitfulness of the shrub depends on this.

Soil requirements

Before planting gooseberries, several conditions must be met:

• the soil should not be acidic. Otherwise, the acidity must be reduced with limestone or dolomite flour at the rate of 300 grams per bush;
• the planting hole should be dug up, cleared of weeds and debris;
• if the soil is heavy, you need to dilute it with a mixture of sand and humus;
• fertilize the soil with 20 liters of humus, 150 grams of ash and 25 grams of potassium phosphate and superphosphate.

It is better to plant gooseberries at elevations, where there is free access to sunlight and there are no strong winds.

Important! Beryl should not be planted in swampy areas or in places where groundwater flows near the surface.

Boarding time

Beryl should be planted in the spring or autumn (late September-early October) period, several weeks before the cold weather, so that the roots take root.

Important! The temperature at night should not fall below 5 degrees.

Selection of planting material

Selecting a Beryl gooseberry seedling is an important process. An unsuccessful bush may not take root or produce a poor harvest.Therefore, when purchasing gooseberries, preference should be given to seedlings:

• with an open root system.

Age – no older than 2 years, with 2-3 strong shoots, no shorter than 20 centimeters. The kidneys are enlarged, but not dilated. The tops may be covered with greenery. The roots are moist and developed. Externally, the seedling should not be damaged;

• with a closed root system (container growing).

There is no specific age. Developed and leafy shoots are 40-50 centimeters. Important! The roots should form a dense lump of earth. External damage is not allowed.

Disembarkation process

It is extremely important to place the gooseberry seedling in the ground correctly:

• dig a deep hole, fill it with compost and compact it so that there are no voids. Important! The planting hole is fertilized only during spring planting. In autumn, fertilizers are not needed - various types of parasites and diseases like to overwinter in them;
• Place the seedling strictly vertically. The core of the bush is deepened into the soil by 8 centimeters;
• roots are distributed evenly;
• when filling in the soil, you should carefully compact the layers so that there are no voids and the soil tightly covers the bush;
• after planting, the buds are pruned so that there are no more than 5 on each branch;
• pour a bucket of water;
• After absorption, sprinkle the ground with sawdust or leaves.

Nuances of plant care

Unpretentious Beryl does not require complex care, but it is necessary for the growth and fruiting of the bush.

Watering

During dry summers, water gooseberries at least once a week, especially at the time of flowering and ripening. Pour a bucket of water into the circle around the trunk, avoiding getting on the leaves and shoots.

Important! 2-3 weeks before harvest, frequent and heavy watering will deteriorate the quality of the berries.If the summer is rainy, additional liquid is not required.

Soil care

For better and healthy growth of gooseberries, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil (4-5 times per season) and remove debris and weeds. This will help in getting the roots the air they need.

Important! Loosening is carried out carefully so as not to harm the root system. In addition, you will have to mulch to retain moisture in the ground.

Feeding

Annual fertilization of the soil with useful substances is essential to obtain a regular and high-quality gooseberry harvest:

• mulching with humus is carried out in early spring;
• at the end, fertilize the soil with mineral substances (ammonium nitrate) or organic substances (litter, manure);
• after flowering - potassium phosphate or superphosphate;
• in the first half of autumn, before cold weather, a mixture of potassium phosphate, superphosphate and magnesium.

Trimming

Regular gooseberry pruning necessary to prevent the bush from becoming overgrown, as well as to form new shoots. To do this, every spring, after the snow melts, you should trim off old, diseased or damaged branches. Annual shoots need to be shortened. Leave 4-5 of the strongest ones from the root ones. Cut the main branches by half. As a result, no more than 20 branches of different ages should remain on the bush.

Protection from winter cold

Start preparing gooseberries for cold weather when the average temperature drops below 0 °C. During this period it is necessary:

• water the bush with 4-5 buckets of water;
• lower the branches to the ground and secure. Important! Distance from the ground – 8-10 centimeters;
• mulch the soil with a layer of at least 8 centimeters, at temperatures below 15 ° C - a layer of 20 centimeters;
• In snowy weather, cover the bush with snow.

In early spring, all coverings must be removed to avoid premature bud formation and freezing.

Diseases and pests

Despite the high resistance of Beryl to various types of fungi and insects, this variety still has an “Achilles heel”. Gooseberries are susceptible to septoria, a fungal disease that appears on the leaves. In the absence of timely treatment, the fungus spreads, the yield drops noticeably, and the plant dies.

Regarding insects, the shrub is susceptible to varieties of sawfly, aphids and moths. Without the necessary treatment, the parasites will eat all the leaves, causing the bush to become sick.

Reproduction methods

Beryl propagates in three ways: by cuttings, dividing the bush or by grafting. The gardener himself determines the appropriate option.

Collection and storage

The ripening of berries is simultaneous. In the northern regions it begins in mid-July, in the southern regions - from June. The shelf life of Beryl gooseberry fruits is 7 days.