Description and characteristics of gooseberries of the Spinefree variety, its planting and care

Among the late varieties of gooseberries, both beginners and experienced gardeners often give preference to specimens that are rarely affected by diseases and are characterized by increased winter hardiness. Such crops do not require complex agrotechnical care and from year to year they delight with large and tasty berries. Gooseberries of the Spinefree variety bloom in May, and the first fruits are harvested at the end of summer.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The thornless gooseberry variety Spinefree has gained popularity among gardeners for its unpretentiousness to growing conditions and stable fruiting, which does not depend on the vagaries of the weather.

The description of the variety indicates the following characteristics of the plant:

1. The variety belongs to late-ripening crops - the harvest is harvested in the last ten days of August.
2. Powerful shoots of the bush grow up to 1.2 meters in height, the branches are arched, densely covered with light green foliage.
3. The gooseberry crown is spherical in shape and has an average degree of branching.
4. There are no thorns on the shoots, making it difficult to pick berries.
5. The variety blooms in May, and at this time the bushes look very beautiful, decorating the garden plot.
6. At the very beginning, the berries are light green in color; by the time they are fully ripened, they become dark red, with greenish veins clearly visible on them.
7. The weight of each fruit is approximately 5 grams. The taste is sweet, with slight sourness.
8. The berries have a universal purpose - they are consumed fresh, preserved for the winter in the form of jelly and jam.
9. Due to its unpretentiousness, the variety is suitable for cultivation in any region.
10. The high transportability of the berries is due to the dense skin, which protects the berries from cracking.

Pros and cons of Spinefree gooseberries

Gardeners who have been growing Spinefree gooseberries on their plots for a long time noted the pros and cons of the variety.

The benefits of the plant include:

• stable fruiting, starting from the age of 3 years of the bush;
• pleasant taste of fruits and universal purpose of berries;
• absence of prickly thorns on gooseberry shoots;
• high transportability, which allows you to grow crops for subsequent sale on the market;
• ease of propagation of the variety, which even a beginner in gardening can handle;
• no need to arrange a shelter for the winter period due to high frost resistance.

There are some drawbacks; the disadvantages of Spinefree gooseberries include the following:

• high growth of shrubs, which makes harvesting difficult;
• the need for full lighting to obtain the declared yield and sweet berries;
• poor fruiting on heavy clay soils.

Agricultural technology

Knowing the basic rules of gooseberry agricultural technology, you will be able to grow a strong and abundantly fruiting plant.

Landing

Seedlings of the variety are planted in open ground, both in early spring and in the first autumn month. Each option has its own disadvantages and advantages, but experienced gardeners recommend doing this in September. Before the onset of cold weather, the root system of the plant adapts to the new location and will safely survive the winter, beginning to bloom profusely in the spring.

Two weeks before the proposed planting work, the site is dug up using a shovel, immediately selecting weeds so that they do not choke out the young seedlings. When digging, humus is added at the rate of 8-9 kg per square meter of territory.

Planting the Spinefree variety is carried out according to the following instructions:

1. A week before planting, dig holes 60 cm deep; their width should be twice the size of the root system of the seedling. A distance of 1.5 meters is maintained between rows.
2. A nutrient cushion consisting of soil with humus, as well as superphosphate and wood ash is placed at the bottom of the planting pit.
3. The roots of the seedling are cut off from dry fragments and soaked for an hour in cold water, to which a rooting agent has been added.
4. Place the gooseberry in the middle of the hole at a slight slope and cover it with fertile soil.
5. Pour a bucket of water under each seedling and lay a mulch layer to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.

Watering and fertilizing

Despite sufficient drought resistance, gooseberries require additional watering at the stage of flowering and berry formation. However, the variety does not tolerate excessive moisture. It is enough to moisten the bushes once a week using drip watering.

If fertilizers were placed in the hole when planting, then in the first 2 years of cultivation there is no need for additional fertilizing. After this, they begin to add nutritional complexes several times a season. In the spring, nitrogen compounds are used, for example, ammonium nitrate, in the summer - liquid organic matter, and in the fall - fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus.

Pruning and shaping the bush

Many gardeners, in order to save space, grow this variety on a trellis, forming it in height rather than in width. In early spring or autumn, before preparing for winter, all diseased and broken shoots, as well as old branches, are removed, leaving only 3-4 annual specimens. Also, if you do not plan to propagate the variety, remove all root shoots.

Preparing for winter

Due to its high frost resistance, the variety does not require special insulation for the winter.Before sub-zero temperatures, abundant watering is carried out (30 liters per 1 adult bush). If the frosts are severe, then the tree trunk circle is insulated with snow.

Diseases and pests

Thanks to its strong immunity, gooseberries are rarely affected by diseases and pests. Twice a season (spring and autumn) preventive spraying is carried out with copper-based preparations.

Reproduction

Spinefree is propagated by cuttings and root shoots.

Collection and storage

When the berries acquire a dark red hue, they are removed from the bushes. Without loss of quality, the fruits are stored in the refrigerator for about 10 days. The surplus is sold at the market or processed into jam and jellies.