The gooseberry variety Serenada was bred from the varieties Captivator 0-271 and Besshipny 3, registered in the State Register in 2004. Zoned in the Central Black Earth region. Let's consider the characteristics of the variety, pros and cons, how to plant and grow plants correctly, how to care for the crop, prune and prepare for the winter. How to protect against diseases and when to harvest.
Description and characteristics of gooseberry Serenade
Serenade is a late-ripening variety.Berries are universally used, suitable for processing and eating fresh. The plant is tall, slightly spreading. Branches of medium length, young green, without pubescence. The spines are single, sparse, light. They are located on the underside of the shoots. Gooseberry leaves are light green and medium in size.
Inflorescences are 1- and 2-flowered. The flowers are light, rather large, the ovary is slightly pubescent. Serenade's berries have an interesting shape - elongated conical or pear-shaped, with a medium-thick skin, sparse pubescence, and a violet-red color. There are few seeds. The taste is sweet and sour, average weight - 4 g. Average yield - 3.6 kg per plant. The Serenada variety is resistant to drought and cold, and relatively resistant to American powdery mildew.
Positive and negative sides
Advantages of the Serenade variety:
- large fruit;
- rare thorns;
- resistance to cold and water deficiency;
- high productivity;
- berries transportability.
Disadvantages: in wet years with poor care there is a risk of powdery mildew.
Rules for growing the variety
Serenade gooseberry seedlings are planted on the plot in the spring, before the buds bloom on them, and in the fall, after all the leaves have fallen off. Strong 1-2 year old seedlings with several woody shoots and strong roots are suitable for propagation. Choose a sunny place for planting; in the shade the bushes form small berries. Shrubs should not be planted in constantly wet lowlands and on heavy clay soil.
Planting gooseberries is simple: water the hole, lower the gooseberry 5 cm below the root collar and sprinkle with soil, then compact it a little and cover with mulch. Trim shoots to a height of 50-60 cm.
Further care of the crop
The Serenada variety requires care, including watering, feeding, forming a bush and covering it for the winter.
Watering and fertilizing
After planting, pour at least 5 liters of water under each seedling 2 times a week. After rooting, water no more than once a week. You should not leave the soil dry for a long time or, conversely, over-moisten it.
Pruning and shaping the bush
Each bush should be formed from 4-6 fruiting shoots and the same number of young ones to replace them. Every year you need to inspect the bushes and cut out old, diseased, broken, frost-damaged branches. The Serenade gooseberry is rejuvenated when it is 10 years old: all woody shoots are cut out, except for young and strong ones.
Wintering
In the fall, after the leaves have fallen from the bush, you should prune, water the soil if there is no rain, and cover the root zone with a 10 cm layer of straw and wood foliage. In cold regions, the branches should also be protected: tied together and covered with an agrofibre cover. Old mulch is removed in the spring.
Diseases and pests
Gooseberries of this variety can be affected by American powdery mildew; less common than this disease, but also possible - mosaic, goblet rust and anthracnose. Spray plants with suitable fungicides at the first signs of diseases, if preventive treatment has not been done. To destroy fungi, it is necessary to carry out at least 2 treatments.
After pruning, all branches should be taken away and burned, and the ash should be used as fertilizer. You also need to weed out weeds, where pests often breed. Gooseberry Serenade can be affected by moths and shoot aphids, to destroy which insecticides are used. The drugs Fufanon and Actellik are recognized as effective. For processing, you need to choose products with a minimum waiting period so that you can safely harvest.
Cleaning and storage
Harvesting is carried out after the berries acquire the size and color characteristic of the variety. They need to be removed from the branches slightly unripe if transportation or storage is required. Fully ripe berries are best suited for processing into blanks.
Gooseberries should be stored in containers or plastic bags, closed with a lid and placed in the refrigerator. Dry gooseberries can be stored in the cold for about 2 weeks. Fruits should be transported in small containers to prevent them from choking.
The Serenada variety is one of the best late-ripening varieties of the crop. It is distinguished by large fruits that withstand transportation and storage well. Among the advantages of the variety is the rare thorniness of the shoots, which greatly facilitates plant care and especially harvesting. The variety attracts not only the color of the skin, but also the unusual shape of the fruit.It is cold-hardy and drought-resistant, so it can be grown in regions of the country with any climate.
