Description and characteristics of the gooseberry variety Consul, cultivation and care

Every year, summer residents strive to increase the number of fruits obtained by selecting new varieties and conditions for their maintenance. Among gooseberries there is a wide variety of species that differ in the amount of yield, ease of cultivation, and duration of ripening. The gooseberry variety Consul (also called Senator) is popular; it produces a lot of sweet fruits that are easy to pick due to the absence of thorns on the bush.

History of culture development

The variety was bred by breeders recently, in the late 90s, by crossing the African and Chelyabinsk green varieties. The goal was to obtain a completely new frost-resistant variety. The breeding result was successful, agricultural technicians began to actively engage in cultivation, obtaining a considerable amount of sweet fruits.

General description of the Consul variety

Description of the gooseberry variety Consul:

• The bushes grow dense and vigorous. They reach a length of up to two meters. The branches have a bright green tint. In the first year, a small number of single thorns form on the shoots. Subsequently they disappear and never appear again.
• The shoots are medium thick and brown in color.
• Inflorescences are single-flowered and two-flowered.
• The sepals are bright pink.
• Large-fruited gooseberry.
• The leaf has deep cut-outs in a matte green shade. The leaf has a total of five lobes, of which the middle lobe is the largest. The lateral ones are small, widely spaced from each other.

Productivity and fruits

Senator fruits are large in size. The weight of one berry can reach six grams.

Under favorable growth conditions, in the first year you can collect up to 3 kg of ripe berries from a bush. In subsequent years, the number of fruits increases to 6 kilograms.

Gooseberry Senator has berries that are round in shape, red in color, and when ripe, turn reddish-black. The skin of the fruit is thin. The fruits are medium-grained and have a sweet taste.

Bush and root system

The bushes are tall and lack thorns, which is very convenient for harvesting. The root system of the bush is closed.

Frost resistance

Senator is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand cold temperatures down to -30 degrees, which allows you to grow the plant in harsh weather conditions and get tasty fruits every year.

What diseases and pests is it susceptible to?

The plant is resistant to most common diseases and pests due to its strong immunity. Occasionally, on dry days, a moth or aphid attack is possible.

The most common gooseberry diseases are powdery mildew, sawfly and septoria. To avoid this, it is necessary to carry out periodic processing.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the variety are:

• Compared to other varieties, Senator produces much more yield.
• It is a self-pollinating variety.
• Thornless look.
• Delicious fruits.
• Frost-resistant.
• Drought resistant.
• Requires little maintenance.
• Resistant to diseases and pest attacks.

Among the shortcomings, some note:

• Difficulty in transportation.
• Does not tolerate windy places.

In which regions can the Senator variety be planted?

Due to its unpretentiousness to temperature conditions, the variety is grown in many regions: the Urals, Far East, Siberia, and southern regions. It can grow in moderate temperatures, in heat, and also survive cold winters.

Nuances of planting varieties

You should not grow gooseberries in places where currants or raspberries used to grow, since the soil after the bushes is poor.

The growing rules are simple, even a novice gardener can handle it. The only feature that needs to be taken into account before planting is choosing a bright place. It is important that the bush receives direct sunlight.

Choosing a location and seedling

In order for the gooseberries to begin to actively grow and bear fruit on time, you need to choose a good seedling:

• The recommended age of the bush is 2 years.
• The presence of shoots must be at least three, the length of which is approximately 25 centimeters.
• The bush should fit tightly in the planting container, from which there should be no roots sticking out.

Important! You cannot buy seedlings in unverified places to avoid purchasing a diseased plant.

The landing site is chosen on the south side. Gooseberry bushes love sunlight. The area must be level. It is important to note that bushes are sensitive to strong winds.

Dates and step-by-step instructions for disembarkation

Gooseberries of the Senator variety are planted in autumn or spring. In order for the bush to take root, you need to follow the scheme:

• Before planting, soak the sprout for a couple of hours in a growth stimulator (sold in specialized stores).
• Dig a shallow hole 35-50 cm deep.
• Put humus on the bottom.
• Fertilize with 45 grams of potassium salt.
• Leave the hole to soak in fertilizer for a day.
• Before planting, remove dried branches from the plant.
• Place the seedling into the prepared hole at a right angle, cover it with soil, and pour plenty of water (about 5 liters).

After planting the gooseberries, you need to trim the shoots a little (by 3-5 cm).

Features of caring for gooseberries

Gooseberries take root well in any soil, but loamy soil is preferable:

• Regular watering and saturation with nutrients are important for the plant.
• You must remember to trim the shoots, this stimulates more active growth of the bush.
• Periodically, it is necessary to remove weeds from the area where the shrub grows.
• It is advisable to spray the leaves every summer month with a remedy against pests and diseases, despite the variety’s resistance to them.

Proper watering of the plant

There is no need to water the shrub every day. During the summer period, three abundant waterings will be sufficient:

• During flowering.
• During fruit ripening.
• At the beginning of the autumn period.

Important! To absorb moisture after watering, loosening the soil is required. Irrigation time is either early in the morning or late in the evening.

Garter and bush formation

To prevent the bush from falling and crumbling, it must be formed at the very beginning of planting. This is done by tying it to installed supports. Dig columns around the plant and tie overgrown branches to them, cut off any excess shoots that extend far beyond the boundaries of the supporting columns.

Hilling

Gooseberries prefer loose soil, so you need to remember to hill up the plant. Dig up the soil around the bush to a depth of about 20 centimeters. Hilling frequency:

• Spring, as soon as the snow cover melts.
• Monthly, starting from the first month of summer until the second month of autumn.

Feeding gooseberries

Like any plant, the Consul needs fertilizers for active growth. Fertilize according to the following algorithm:

• The first feeding is carried out when the leaves appear. A solution of 15 grams of urea + 30 grams of nitrophoska is perfect for it. Stir the substances in a bucket of water.
• When the gooseberries have bloomed, you need to feed them a second time using 30 grams of potassium sulfate and 60 grams of “Berry” fertilizer diluted in two buckets of water.
• During the appearance of fruits. Dilute 40 grams of nitrophoska and 80 grams of potassium humate in 30 liters of water.

Pour the fertilizer into the soil without getting on the leaves.

Preparing the bushes for winter

Gooseberry Consul safely tolerates even the coldest winters if the crop is well prepared for the cold.Usually, the branches of the bush are applied one by one to the ground and fixed with covering material (sold in agricultural stores) or covered with a layer of straw 15 centimeters thick.

This method will protect the plant from freezing.