TOP 20 best gooseberry varieties for Siberia and the Urals with descriptions

Useful shrubs are grown in all regions of Russia. The best varieties of garden gooseberries for Siberia were obtained by local breeders of the Research Institute named after. M.A. Lisavenko, as well as the Buryatinsk experimental station. The plants are acclimatized to the local climate and produce fruit with decent marketability and taste characteristics. An unpretentious crop still requires a little attention and care to ensure high yields and develop normally.

Features of growing gooseberries in Siberia and the Urals

The climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia are considered harsh. Not every variety is suitable for growing there. The plant must have increased frost resistance and be immune to disease. Summer in these parts is short and spring is late. Return frosts can destroy flower buds, so preference is given to gooseberries with a late growing season.

The best varieties of gooseberries

Experience and feedback from gardeners make it possible to select the best varieties from the available assortment that demonstrate acceptable results in difficult climates.

Large-fruited

Both beginners and experienced gardeners most often choose large gooseberries for their plots. They look delicious and serve as a real decoration for the bush.

Defender

New late-ripening gooseberry, characterized by high yields. The weight of the fruit is about 10 g; when ripened, it acquires an unusual dark burgundy color and a sweet and sour taste. It survives low temperatures well, and its resistance to pathogens is average. The bush is prickly and tall.

Candy

The bush has a large number of thorns. Gooseberry fruits weigh up to 6 g, and when ripe they become pink and sweet and sour. They have a strong aroma. Excellent immunity to diseases, but preventive treatments will not hurt. The variety is self-pollinating, frost-resistant, with high yield characteristics. Otherwise, there is a risk of septoria.

Cooperator

Medium late bush of small size. Spikes are not formed.The fruits gain weight up to 7 g and become dark red in color as they ripen. Each adult plant produces up to 5 kg of gooseberries. Belongs to dessert varieties due to its high taste. It has sufficient frost resistance and immunity.

Leningradets

A medium-sized bush almost does not form thorns on its branches. The ripening period for gooseberries is medium-late. The fruits gain weight up to 10 g and become red at the stage of technical ripeness. Each plant produces up to 7 kg of harvest. It resists fungi well, in particular powdery mildew.

Spring

A compact bush that produces berries weighing up to 8 g with dense skin. At the stage of technical ripeness, the fruits become yellow-green. Gooseberries can be eaten fresh or for culinary processing. It is characterized by increased resistance to fungi. It bears fruit even in unfavorable weather conditions.

Winter-hardy varieties

Gooseberry varieties for the Urals and Siberia should be characterized by good frost resistance. Heat-loving hybrids may not survive harsh winters even under cover.

Beryl

A medium-sized bush with formed spines at the bottom of the branches. The fruits gain weight up to 9 g and, upon reaching technical ripeness, retain a greenish color. Tasting assessments allow us to classify the variety as dessert. Each adult plant produces up to 9 kg of gooseberries. Withstands temperatures down to -35 °C in winter and has good resistance to fruit rot.

Commander

Breeders received this variety after successfully crossing African gooseberries and Chelyabinsk green gooseberries. The bush is compact, the branches are covered with thorns. Characterized by increased productivity. The fruits are small, tasty, and when ripe they become almost black in color.

Ural emerald

The bush is medium in size and does not form many thorns. The fruits gain weight up to 8 g. Gooseberries owe their name to the bright color of the berries, which they acquire during the ripening process. The variety is characterized by a strong aroma and pleasant taste. It begins to bear fruit only 3 years after the bush is planted. It has good frost resistance and can withstand temperatures down to -37 °C.

Consul

The variety is also known under another name - Senator. A compact bush whose branches are abundantly covered with thorns. The fruits gain weight up to 6 g, and at the stage of technical ripeness they become dark burgundy in color. Due to their thin skin, the berries are not suitable for transportation. Their application is universal. Gooseberries can withstand temperatures as low as -38 °C.

Belorussian

A small bush that produces a small number of thorns. The fruits reach a weight of 8 g; due to their thin skin, they do not tolerate transportation well. As they ripen, they acquire a beautiful malachite color. The taste is sweet, the flesh is juicy. One of the time-tested mid-season gooseberry varieties, it can withstand temperatures down to -39 C.

Krasnoslavyansky

A medium-sized bush with few thorns. The fruits gain a mass of 9 g and become rich red during ripening. Due to its excellent taste characteristics, gooseberries are classified as dessert species. It begins to bear fruit the very next year after planting. An adult plant produces up to 7 kg of harvest. Immune to powdery mildew.

Thornless gooseberry

Over time, they have become increasingly popular among gardeners. thornless gooseberry varieties. They do not cause discomfort during harvesting, and in terms of general characteristics they are not inferior to conventional varieties.

Eaglet

A medium-sized bush that does not form thorns at all. The berries gain weight up to 6 g and become black when ripe. Their skin is thin, the flesh has a sweet and sour taste. The ripening period is early, the yield indicators are constant and high. Frost-resistant gooseberry with good immunity to fruit rot.

African

A small bush without thorns with large fruits that turn purple when ripe. The taste is unusual, sweet, with notes of black currant. It begins to bear fruit a couple of years after the bush is planted. It resists well almost all common diseases, except anthracnose. Frost-resistant variety.

Northern captain

The variety most loved by gardeners with a low-growing compact bush. The fruits become almost black when ripe and weigh up to 5 g each. The ripening period is average, the taste is good. Subject to the conditions of agricultural technology for growing gooseberries in Siberia and proper care, up to 12 kg of crop is harvested from each adult plant. It is characterized by increased resistance to drought and low temperatures.

The plant is not afraid of any common disease when preventive measures are taken.

Ural thornless

Compact, large-fruited, mid-season variety, the fruits of which retain a green color when ripe. Each of them reaches a weight of up to 8 g. The skin is dense, which ensures the suitability of the crop for transportation and storage. Cold resistance is good. One of the disadvantages is the ability to drop fruit early, therefore they try to collect gooseberries of this variety before full ripening.

Thornless gooseberry

A compact small bush, the fruits gain weight up to 5 g. When ripened, the berries become red, sweet, with a barely noticeable sourness. Gooseberries are immune to powdery mildew and are cold-resistant.

How to choose the right variety?

Depending on climatic conditions, the same gooseberry variety can change its taste, fruit size and yield. In order not to be disappointed, gardeners select a crop zoned specifically for their region. Residents of the Urals and Siberia rely on the frost resistance of the crop, and only then select other characteristics of the crop to suit their personal preferences.

The self-fertility of the selected variety is of great importance. If the shrub does not have this ability, then you will also need to select and plant a pollinator for it. The gardener can choose the taste, shape and color of the fruit at his discretion from those that are suitable for cultivation in his region.

Growing and caring for Siberian gooseberries

In harsh climates, it is better to plan planting gooseberry bushes in the spring. Due to the rapid onset of cold weather that characterizes the Siberian autumn, seedlings may not have time to take root and will not survive the winter.

The plant prefers illuminated areas without excessive stagnation of water; it does not tolerate shade.

When planting shrubs, the distance between them is left equal to 2 m. The width and depth of the hole is approximately 50 x 50 cm. Before planting, organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer is added there. The seedling is placed at an angle, the roots are carefully straightened, sprinkled with soil, the soil is lightly compacted and watered abundantly.

In harsh climates, it is worth providing gooseberries with care so that next year the bush will please you with a harvest of healthy berries. A special place is given to preparations for winter. After fruiting is over, fallen leaves are collected, weeds are pulled out, and the resulting debris is burned.This will help prevent the development of pathogenic flora in the area. You must work extremely carefully to prevent damage to the root system of the shrubs.

Before the onset of cold weather, water the soil around the gooseberries generously. This procedure stimulates the formation of new roots, which increases the cold resistance of the shrub. All diseased, damaged or shriveled branches must be cut out. In winter, 10 strong shoots are left, located at a sufficient distance from each other.

To kill pests hibernating in the ground, you need to carefully turn over the top layer of soil with a shovel or pitchfork. This procedure also helps improve air and moisture permeability. You should dig no deeper than 7 cm. This is enough to kill not only the pest itself, but also the deposited larvae. During the same period, organic and mineral fertilizers are added to the soil.

To protect gooseberries from pathogens and pests, preventive treatment with insecticides and fungicides is carried out. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture or iron sulfate will help prevent fungal diseases. The work is carried out after the leaves have fallen.

Sanitary pruning is considered an important step in caring for shrubs. As a rule, this is done in the spring, removing dry, broken and frozen shoots. The soil around the plant is mulched.