Why is the Baltic gooseberry variety good and why it is worth growing

The gooseberry is called a northern grape - its berries are not inferior to the southern culture in taste, content of vitamins and mineral salts. Even in Ancient Russia, the wounded and sick people were treated to the fruits of the gooseberry, and in the monastery and princely gardens it was planted with whole plantations.

In the days of Yaroslav the Wise, gooseberries were called "bersen". The modern Bersenevskaya embankment was named so for a reason - in its place was the largest grand princely plantation of berry culture. The northern grapes have many varieties and hybrids for the northern regions of the country. One of the best among them is the Baltic variety.

Description of the Baltic gooseberry variety

The Baltic gooseberry is rightfully called one of the best varieties for the North-West region. The plant gives high yields, is resistant to diseases, unfavorable weather conditions and unpretentious in care.

History of origin and distribution

The scientists Alekseeva N.M and Studentskaya I.S. were engaged in breeding the variety at the Leningrad fruit and vegetable experimental station in 1947. Having crossed Mysovsky 17 and Industriya, the breeders bred a new berry bush promising for risky farming. The Baltic gooseberry has not become widespread among amateur gardeners, but scientists predict a great future for the culture.

Characteristics and description of the bushes

The gooseberry has a Baltic spherical crown no more than 110 cm in height. The shoots are erect, with a large number of large thorns. Leaves in appearance and color do not differ from other varieties of culture. They are cordate-oval, with 3-5 lobes, dark green in color, wrinkled and leathery. Above, the leaf blade is covered with a waxy bloom. Leaves and petioles are completely devoid of pubescence.

The Baltic gooseberry belongs to mid-season varieties.

Resistant to temperatures

In the regions of central Russia, the variety shows high frost resistance - it is not afraid of temperature drops to -30 ° C. With frosts down to -35 ... -38 ° C, the growth of the current year freezes in plants. Therefore, in the gardens of Siberia and the Urals, gooseberries are grown with light shelter for the winter.

Moisture and drought resistance

The plant has medium drought resistance. With a prolonged absence of soil moisture, the gooseberry sheds part of the foliage. If the drought occurred during the period of formation and filling of fruits, this will affect their presentation and taste. The berries will be small, without a pronounced taste and aroma.

Disease and pest resistance

The variety is highly resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose. These diseases are common in central Russia in years with unfavorable, rainy summers.

Characteristics and description of fruits

During fruiting, the branches of the bush are abundantly covered with large (2.5-3.5 cm long) oval greenish-yellow berries. The mass of one does not exceed 4 g. The fruit pulp is refreshing, sweet and sour. In the period of full ripeness, they acquire a honey color and taste.

The berries ripen in the 1st decade of August. The average yield per bush with proper agricultural technology is 8-10 kg.

Application area

If not 1-2 bushes are planted on the site, but a whole plantation, it is important to think about the rational processing of the collected raw materials. From Baltic berries you get:

• jam;
• jam;
• confiture;
• candied fruit;
• dried fruits (berries are dried in the sun or in an airfryer).

For the most sophisticated connoisseurs, you can prepare "royal jam": each berry is stuffed with hazelnuts, after the preparatory work, the fruits are boiled with sugar, like ordinary jam.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The northern variety is gaining popularity due to its large list of positive qualities:

• even a summer resident without experience can cope with growing;
• high productivity with minimal labor costs;
• resistance to severe frosts, short drought and powdery mildew;
• fruits have a universal purpose in cooking.

The variety has only one drawback - all the shoots of the plant are covered with sharp, large thorns. This makes it difficult to care for and pick berries.

Growing technology

Baltic gooseberries are not picky about the place and growing conditions, but in order to achieve abundant fruiting (as the producers promise on the label), it is advisable to adhere to the recommended agricultural techniques.

Optimal conditions

Gooseberries of any kind are best planted in spring. During the summer season, the shrub will develop a good root system and will be more prepared for winter than a plant planted in autumn.

The condition of the shrub depends on where it will grow. For normal growth and fruiting, the Baltic needs:

1. A sunny place, protected from through and north winds.
2. Good drainage if the site has a close groundwater table.
3. Fertile, light, aerated soil with slightly acidic reaction of the environment. Depleted soils will have lower yields.

Read also:

An unpretentious gooseberry variety "Yarovaya".

Sweet, frost-resistant, English Yellow gooseberry variety.

Sweet and juicy gooseberry variety Yubilyar.

Terms and rules of landing

The optimal planting dates are chosen depending on the climatic zone in which the site is located:

• in the middle lane - in mid-April;
• in the south - at the end of March;
• in the Urals and Siberia - in late April - early May.

For planting, 1-2-year-old seedlings or perennial bushes, divided into parts, are suitable. Planting technology is traditional for all types of gooseberries:

1. When planting a plantation, planting holes of 1 m³ are dug. For one-year-olds, it is more rational to dig a trench 0.5 m deep and wide.
2. The distance between plants, taking into account further growth, is 80-120 cm.
3. Drainage is poured at the bottom of the pit.
4. The soil for planting is prepared in advance: humus, sand and long-acting mineral fertilizers (for example, "AVA Universal" or "Osmokot") are additionally introduced into the garden soil.
5. Plants are planted in a hole on a small mound, spreading the roots.
6. Cover with earth along the root collar and compact the soil.

After planting, the plants are watered abundantly. During the week, it is necessary to monitor the state of the new plantation, shading the plants from the bright sun at midday.

Further care

When the adaptation period has passed, the gooseberry is treated with the standard care for this berry culture: systematic feeding, watering, and weeding are carried out regularly. In the first year of planting in the heat, the seedlings are shaded from direct sunlight. If stable cold and rainy weather is observed, the gooseberries are watered with a solution of "HOM" (70 g per 10 liters of water).

Possible problems, diseases, pests

The Baltic variety is resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose, but can be affected by various pests. The most common are:

1. Aphid. This insect always spreads quickly and has a large population. Sucking the juices from the leaves, the pest strongly oppresses the plant, weakening its immunity.
2. Caterpillars of butterflies (gooseberry moth, moth).
3. Glass moth caterpillars.A dangerous pest is common not only on black currants, but also on gooseberries.
4. Gallica. It affects all organs of the plant. The pest is visible only when its larvae have already laid eggs.

In order to prevent the invasion of pests and diseases, it is important to carry out preventive procedures annually:

1. In early spring, as soon as the above-zero temperature is established, plantings on the crowns are watered with hot water heated to + 75 ° C. At this temperature, most of the larvae that winter in the soil and parts of plants die.
2. For fungal diseases (powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose), the bushes are regularly, once a month, treated with Bordeaux liquid. To prepare the solution, take 300 g of copper sulfate, 300 g of quicklime and dissolve them in 10 liters of hot water. After the liquid has cooled to an acceptable temperature, they begin to process the plantation.

Besides diseases and pests, gooseberries can suffer from nutritional deficiencies and drought. These reasons are easily eliminated by adjusting agricultural techniques.

Wintering

Many gardeners living in areas with harsh winters are worried about how the Baltic variety winters. In regions with little snow and severe winters, the plant needs to provide an easy shelter. After the autumn sanitary pruning, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (35-50 g / m²) are applied to the soil under the bush. The entire surface around under the crowns of shrubs is mulched with peat.

Reference. In the north, light cover (thin white spanbond) is recommended.

Features of cultivation depending on the region

The care technology is determined by the climatic characteristics of a particular region:

1. In the Urals and Siberia, the culture is planted only in spring, when the soil warms up and the threat of frost has passed. Plantations need white spanbond cover and mulching of the near-trunk area. In winters with little snow, snow is thrown from the paths onto the crowns.
2. In the Moscow region and the Leningrad region, regular preventive treatments for fungal diseases and intensive feeding are needed.
3. In the south, the variety can be planted even in October. Shelter for the winter is not required.

Pollinating varieties

The high yields of the Baltic gooseberry are due to the fact that the variety is 50% self-fertile. This means that the flowers of the culture are able to pollinate themselves without the help of insects. To increase the number of ovaries, other yellow-fruited varieties are planted next to the plantings: Russian yellow, Masheka, Russian.

Reproduction

The most productive breeding method for the Baltic variety is the use of green cuttings or cuttings from 2-year-old shoots of the mother plant. For green cuttings, a young growth of the current year is chosen. Cuttings are cut into 3-4 buds and rooted in a mixture of humus and sand (1: 1).

Attention! For rapid root formation, the lower sections of the cuttings are immersed in Kornevin powder.

Reproduction by layering is simpler and gives 100% rooting. Long lashes are tilted to the ground as much as possible and pinned down with an iron bracket (a piece of wire). A small mound is made from above at the point of contact of the stem with the ground.

Reviews of summer residents

Gardeners note the high yield, frost resistance and pleasant taste of the Baltic gooseberry.

Anastasia, Voronezh region: “A neighbor recommended a variety with beautiful large yellow berries - Baltic. I bought it, looked after other varieties (I have 2 of them - Russian yellow and Varshavsky). The result pleased me - in the first year I collected half a bucket from a small bush ”.

Mikhail Petrovich, Omsk: “I am an experienced gardener. I am cautious about new varieties. I was looking for a productive gooseberry that can withstand the harsh Siberian winters, and I found it! Baltic withstood the March frost (-32 ° C) with little snow. "

Anna, Moscow region: “I love collecting interesting new berry bushes - my children love to eat garden berries from the bush. Enriched the gooseberry collection by purchasing the Baltic variety. The whole family liked the honey taste with a slight sourness.The only caveat is that it's better to harvest with cloth gloves. "

Read also:

How can you process gooseberries from white bloom on berries?

Powdery mildew on gooseberries: signs, causes.

Gooseberry diseases and pests and methods of dealing with them.

Conclusion

Due to the characteristics of the Baltic gooseberry variety, its popularity will increase every year. Increased frost resistance and easy adaptation to any conditions allows planting crops in any climatic region of the country. Even in areas with unfavorable climates, the shrub stably bears fruit.