Description and characteristics of the gooseberry variety Ural Emerald, planting and care

The Ural emerald gooseberries ripen early. The variety was bred for Siberian gardeners. The bushes winter well. In summer they do not require much care. The taste of the berries is highly rated. Ripe gooseberry pulp contains vitamins, tannins, and pectins. Berries are useful in fresh and processed forms. They remove radionuclides from the body.

History of selection of Ural emerald

Selection work was carried out on the basis of the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing. During hybridization, V.S. Ilyin used the forms Nugget and Perborn of Minusinsk.

The Ural emerald is used as a parent form to create new hybrids. On the basis of the South Ural Research Institute with his participation, the following gooseberry varieties were obtained:

• Ozersky;
• Beautiful.

The variety passed tests, and in 2000 it was included in the State Register. The form is recommended for amateur and industrial gardening, intended for the regions of Western Siberia.

General description of the variety

The Ural emerald is early in terms of ripening. After planting, it begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year. The lifespan of bushes is from 15 to 20 years.

Features of yield and characteristics of berries

The variety is partially self-fertile (40%). Productivity is increased by planting pollinators nearby. A hybrid of Ural selection Beryl and gooseberry commander.

Other varieties of gooseberries are also used, blooming at the same time as the Ural emerald.

About 5 kg of berries are collected from one mature bush. Productivity directly depends on age. The harvest takes place in mid-summer. The berries ripen from late June to mid-July. They need to be collected as they ripen. When left on bushes, they crumble and bake in the sun. The productivity of industrial gardens is 87.8 c/ha.

The berries are round-oval with thin emerald green skin without pubescence. The size is medium or large (3.5-7.5 g). There are few seeds in the pulp. It has a sweet and sour taste, juicy.The taste is rated 5 points. The use of the fruit is universal.

Hive and root system parameters

The bushes are dense, medium-sized, moderately spreading. The average height is 1.5 m. The roots are well developed, going to a depth of 40-60 cm. The shoots of the current year are green, woody - light brown. The branches are covered with thorns along their entire length, but not often. They are of medium length, extend from the shoot at an angle of 90°, and are colored light brown.

The bushes are densely covered with medium, small, large five-lobed leaves of dark green color.

The surface of the leaf blade is wrinkled, shiny, concave along the central vein. The flowers are single, large, bright pink. They are bisexual.

Frost and drought resistance

It does not tolerate drought well and needs regular watering. Stop them 2 weeks before picking the berries. The variety confirms the frost resistance (-35 °C) declared to the producers. At lower temperatures, the bushes freeze slightly.

Diseases and pests of the variety

The description of the variety indicates the genetic resistance of the Ural emerald to fungal infections. Bushes get sick if they are planted in the shade or in an area with high groundwater levels. Unfavorable summer weather (heat) and lack of regular watering cause diseases:

• septoria;
• anthracnose;
• powdery mildew.

Among the pests, emerald gooseberries are attacked by borer, aphids, and spider mites.

Pros and cons: is it advisable to plant crops on the site?

The bushes are not very large, so the yield is low. In some years it can decrease by almost half. This is the only drawback of the variety.

The advantages of the Ural emerald include:

• high taste and commercial characteristics of berries, their transportability, keeping quality, versatility;
• high winter hardiness, the variety is adapted to harsh climates;
• small number of thorns;
• early ripening of the crop;
• self-fertility;
• stable immunity.

For which regions is emerald gooseberry suitable?

The frost resistance of gooseberries allows the variety to be grown throughout Siberia. Early ripening gooseberry seedlings are in demand among gardeners in Eastern Siberia. Good harvests are obtained in the republics of Sakha, Buryatia, Tyva, and Khakassia. It is grown in the Trans-Baikal, Krasnoyarsk Territories, and in the Irkutsk Region.

The variety is grown in the climatic conditions of the West Siberian region in the Tyumen, Tomsk, Omsk, Kemerovo regions and in the Altai Territory. The variety is of commercial importance and is grown in amateur and industrial gardens.

Landing technology

The bushes are medium in size; they can be planted at intervals of 1.7 m. The taste of the berries will depend on the choice of location.

Choosing the optimal location and quality seedling

Heavy, acidic soils are not suitable. The Ural emerald seedling will not grow on them. It is not suitable for places where melt or rain water stands for a long time; groundwater lies close to the surface (< 1.5 m). Gooseberries grow better in the sun than in the shade. He reacts poorly to drafts.

The variety grows in partial shade, but in this case the berries are smaller and less sweet. When choosing a seedling, you need to evaluate its condition. It should have a non-dried root system, 2-3 shoots at least 25 cm long. There should be no cracks or signs of disease on them.

Time and step-by-step disembarkation instructions

Seedlings with a closed root system are transplanted to a permanent place at any convenient time; they easily tolerate transplantation even during flowering. Plants with an open root system are planted in spring or autumn (late September). The variety is for Siberia, so spring planting is preferable.

Landing algorithm:

• dig up the soil, add 1 liter of ash and 1 bucket of humus per square meter;
• 10 days before planting, they prepare the planting hole, its diameter is 0.5 m, depth 0.5 m;
• if the soil is clayey, add 10 cm of crushed stone or pebbles to the bottom;
• prepare the soil for filling the hole, add 2 buckets of humus, 40 g of potassium sulfate, 250 g of superphosphate to fertile soil taken from the top layer, pour it in the form of a mound into the center of the hole;
• the roots of the seedling are spread along the sides of the mound, evenly covered with fertile soil mixed with fertilizers, and carefully compacted;
• pour out 1 watering can, wait until the water goes away, add more soil if necessary, the seedling should be buried to the point where the shoots meet the roots (to the growing point).

The hole is watered and mulched with peat or humus.

Proper plant care

The quality of agricultural technology determines the yield, taste of berries and life expectancy of the bush.

Irrigation

Gooseberries love moisture; in hot weather they are watered regularly. One watering of a bush requires 2-3 buckets of water. 3 irrigations are required:

• before flowering;
• during the ripening period of berries;
• before frost.

Fertilize correctly

The Ural emerald is fed 3 times. In the spring, humus and simple mineral fertilizers are added in dry form. The second feeding is carried out during the flowering period. With normal growth, up to 100 g of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied; with weak growth (up to 20 cm), urea 30 g/m² is added.In autumn, the bushes are watered with a superphosphate solution (20-100 g per 10 l).

Trimming Features

Pruning is carried out on 4-5 year old bushes. Its goal is to thin out the crown, remove old branches (2-3 per year), rejuvenate the bush, and increase productivity. A properly formed bush consists of 10-15 shoots.

Hilling

The ground around the bushes needs to be loosened shallowly. After watering, mulch with humus or peat.

Disease Prevention

For powdery mildew, bushes are treated with Fundazol, Fitosporin or a 3% solution of iron sulfate. Treatment and prevention of anthracnose and septoria are carried out by spraying with copper sulfate. Take 100 g of product per 10 liters of water. The bushes are treated the first time when symptoms of the disease are detected, the second time - at the end of summer.

Do I need to prepare gooseberry bushes for winter?

The soil under the bushes is cleared of leaves and dug up. Damaged branches are cut out. Water abundantly and fertilize. Moisture-charging watering protects the roots from frost. Fertilizers containing phosphorus increase frost resistance. Tree trunk circles are mulched with peat or humus. The layer thickness is at least 10 cm. In winter, the bushes are covered with snow.