Description and characteristics of the gooseberry variety Northern Captain, planting and care

In Europe, thorny bushes were grown on an industrial basis. Berries with thick skin were used in cosmetology and cooking, but gooseberries were affected by spheroteka and died. In recent years, crop varieties have appeared that are immune to powdery mildew. And the plant, whose homeland is considered to be Africa, produces berries in regions of Russia where winters are cold and summers are not very warm. Low gooseberry bushes Northern Captain are resistant to fungal infections and are rarely affected by pests.

general information

By crossing the Pink variety with a form that has no name and is designated by numbers, Russian breeders developed gooseberries that received various positive characteristics. There is no pubescence on the green shoots of the shrub, which have large leaves. With age, the branches become lignified, acquire a grayish tint, and are covered with short thorns. The light green flowers, which are collected in clusters, have red stripes.

Based on the description of the Northern Captain gooseberry, the ovary on the plant is formed without the proximity of pollinators. The presence of such varieties does not greatly affect the yield. Towards the end of July, dark red berries with light veins ripen. The dense skin of the fruit, whose weight does not exceed 4 grams, is covered with a purine coating.

Gooseberries do not crumble even after ripening, they have a unique taste; they are sweetened by sugar and acidic by vitamin C. The dark-colored berries are rich in:

• carotene and rutin;
• pectins and serotonin;
• iron and phosphorus;
• zinc and magnesium.

Juice is squeezed out of the fruits of the Northern Captain, which cleanses the body of salts and metals and improves the condition of the digestive tract. The berries are used to make jams, marmalade, and homemade wine. Gardeners who grow this variety claim that gooseberries practically do not suffer from powdery mildew and are not affected by anthracnose or white spot.

From 2 to 3 kg of berries are collected from the bush. Proper care can extend the fruiting of the plant up to 20 years.

Pros and cons of culture

Northern captain is not a thornless variety, but there are no thorns on young shoots, and very few on mature branches.Gardeners adore gooseberries for their resistance to frost, but they also have other advantages:

1. The plant reproduces without problems and takes root quickly.
2. Is immune to fungal diseases.
3. It is not damaged by the sawfly and does not suffer from moth.
4. The berries do not lose their presentation either during transportation or during long-term storage.

The gooseberry variety Northern Captain is not without its negative sides. The bushes bend towards the ground and do not hold up without a garter. Not everyone likes small fruits, and they also have a specific taste.

Growing the Northern Captain variety

Gooseberries can be found less often in cottages and courtyards than raspberries and black currants, but many gardeners set aside an area for thorny bushes, since they are unpretentious and do not require special care.

Selecting a location

Gooseberries love the sun, do not tolerate drafts, and cannot withstand excess moisture. The Northern Captain variety is not recommended to be placed in an area where water comes close to the surface, otherwise the roots may simply rot. You need to plant bushes in a place that is ventilated and illuminated by the rays of the sun.

Soil composition

Northern captain does not grow in clay soil that does not allow air to pass through; any variety of gooseberry does not develop well in soil with a high level of acidity. You can change the composition of the soil using river sand. When planting, pour a bucket into each hole, add a little lime or dilute the soil with dolomite flour.

Well preparation

The area allocated for gooseberries is carefully dug up, plant remains and dry leaves are removed, and weeds are pulled out by the roots. 2 or 3 weeks before planting the bushes, holes are made up to 60 cm deep and 0.5 m in diameter. Northern captain is better accepted in the fall.In regions with cold climates, spring comes late, and it is difficult to guess the time for gooseberries to take root.

Selection of seedlings

To purchase a variety that can withstand frost and bear fruit in Siberia and the Urals, the plant must be purchased in a nature reserve or in a nursery; there is a large assortment on the market, but it is not a fact that they will sell Northern Captain. For planting, it is recommended to choose bushes 2 years old with healthy branches. The roots of the gooseberry should become woody.

Planting seedlings

The holes dug in advance are filled with earth, mixed with humus, compost, and a little superphosphate, ash and potassium nitrate are added. A gooseberry seedling is lowered into the hole and covered with soil so that the root collar is buried 5–7 cm from the surface. The soil is compacted and moistened abundantly. After it settles, mulch and immediately cut off the shoots, leaving 5 buds. The distance between spreading bushes should be at least 1.5 m, between rows - 2 meters.

How to care for Northern Captain gooseberries?

Any summer resident can grow a variety of Russian selection; no special knowledge of caring for the crop is required.

Watering rules

In cool climate regions where Northern Captain is planted, it often rains and there is no need for irrigation. Melt water formed in early spring is quite enough for gooseberries. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture and disappears in wetlands. In dry weather, the shrub is watered before flowering; during prolonged rainfall, the soil must be constantly loosened and freed from weeds.

Fertilizer application

Early vein, gooseberries, which do not like to sleep for a long time and wake up quickly, are fed with ammonium sulfate or urea, which contains nitrogen.

Before flowers appear, plants are watered with liquid rotted manure or bird droppings. Mineral fertilizers - superphosphate, potassium salt - are applied to the gooseberries 2 times a season.

Bush formation

In dense plantings, pests infest and fungi that cause powdery mildew begin to multiply. Although the Northern Captain is immune to disease, it is not worth the risk. In damp and rainy weather, the crown quickly overgrows, which contributes to the activation of pathogenic microorganisms.

Gooseberry shoots are shortened during planting, as well as at the end of the growing season.

To properly form a bush that is already producing berries:

1. At the beginning of autumn, young branches are removed to the stump, leaving up to 5 stems. The tops of annual plants are trimmed.
2. Get rid of old shoots.
3. Fruiting branches are shortened.

If an adult gooseberry has no more than 25 strong stems, it will please you with berries for a very long time. Northern captain gives a harvest of 18–20 years.

Methods of controlling diseases and pests

Gardeners claim that the variety is resistant to fungal infections, does not attract sawflies, and aphids do not grow in cold climates. To protect gooseberries from diseases, it is enough to rake dry leaves and burn dried shoots in which parasite larvae overwinter. The bushes are pollinated with ash, which serves both as a fertilizer and as a remedy that insects do not tolerate.

In regions where frosts exceed 30 °C, gooseberries are covered with pine needles or sawdust in late autumn.

Breeding varieties

Northern captain can be propagated in any way. But many summer residents prefer not to take cuttings, but to use layering.In the spring, a groove is dug into which the shoot is placed so that the top is above the ground, for which it is pinned and secured with wire. The layering is covered with soil and watered. By autumn the shoot will take root in several places. After cutting, plants are obtained that can already be sent into the soil. Adult bushes are divided into 3–4 parts and planted in the ground.

Collection and storage rules for gooseberries

The berries on the bush should be picked carefully so as not to be pricked by thorns, although the Northern Captain variety does not have many thorns. Gooseberries are harvested in late July or early August. Unripe fruits are well transported, do not spoil for several days, but do not ripen well. The berries are picked into a basket and then sorted; soft ones are immediately used to make juice or jam; hard fruits can be frozen.