When gooseberries ripen and how to determine their maturity

The gooseberry is popularly called the northern grape, since it grows throughout Russia, including the regions of the Far North. Various preparations are made from the fruits of this plant, therefore, gooseberries of varying degrees of maturity are used. The ripening time depends on many factors, so the correct harvesting requires some knowledge. When the season begins, you will learn from this article how to determine the ripeness and cut off the spiny gooseberries.

When gooseberries ripen

In the process of formation, the berries are green, but when ripe they gradually change color.

Depending on the variety, ripe fruit can be yellowish, red, light green or maroon.

The berries ripen 1-2 months after the plants have faded. Harvested from late June to August.

Reference. Shrubs bloom from April to June. Which month - depends on varieties.

What determines the ripening time

The following factors influence the ripening time:

1. Grade. The early ripening varieties of gooseberries ripen first, and later the mid-ripening ones. The very last to collect berries from shrubs of late-ripening varieties.
2. Region. In the southern regions of the country, harvesting is carried out earlier. There, spring warming begins faster, and therefore the shrub blooms relatively early. The latest harvest is harvested in the north of Russia.
3. The purpose of the berries. Depending on the purpose, gooseberries are harvested at technical or biological maturity.
4. The ripening time is also influenced by the illumination of the shrub., protection from winds, soil and air moisture level. Berries, which were planted on the south side of buildings and fences, reach ripeness earlier.
5. Regularity of watering, trimming and dressing.

Approximate calendar dates of ripening

Most gooseberries ripen in July. But the terms can be shifted by about 2 weeks in both directions. It all depends on the variety of berries and the region of its growth.

Gooseberry ripening depending on the growing region

When gooseberries are harvested in different regions of Russia:

1. In the Middle and Lower Volga, as well as in the southern regions of the country, the first ripe berries appear at the very beginning of July.
2. In central Russia in warm and hot summers, gooseberry harvesting begins in the second half of July. If the weather is unfavorable, the berries ripen about 2 weeks later.
3. In a hot summer with sufficient moisture in the Moscow region, the fruits ripen in the first decade of July. If there is frequent precipitation, and the air temperature remains below the climatic norm for a long time, maturity occurs at the end of the month. At the same time, gooseberries are harvested in the Northwestern District and the Leningrad Region.
4. In the Urals and Siberia, gooseberries ripen in early August... In these regions, experienced gardeners recommend planting mid-season varieties, and the shrubs themselves are placed only in well-lit areas.

If the berries are intended for jam, they are harvested at the stage when the skin is still firm.

Depending on the variety

The gooseberry variety also affects the time to ripeness:

1. The most common early ripening ones are Salute, Kazachok, Strawberry, Pink... If the weather is warm enough, they sing in the first half of July.
2. Mid-season - Senator, Lyubimets, Northern Captain, Malachite, Large, Nekrasovsky. These varieties begin to ripen from mid-July.
3. The most popular late-ripening ones are Charm, People's, Northern Prince. Ripen in early August.

How to determine the degree of maturity

How to understand that the gooseberry is ripe:

1. Technical ripeness. The berries reach the size declared by the breeders. The color of the fruit is often lighter than that of a fully ripe gooseberry. At technical maturity, the berries are pulled off the stalk with little difficulty. The peel and pulp of the gooseberry are dense and have a pronounced sourness.
2. Consumer ripeness. The skin of the fruit becomes thinner and begins to shine a little in the sun. The berries take on bright, rich colors. The fruits are juicy, soft, sweet.

Is it possible to collect unripe

Gooseberries are harvested green only if processing or long-term transportation is required. Such berries can retain their taste and presentation for a long time.

Harvesting early reduces stress on the bushes, which reduces plant wasting.

Important! Store unripe gooseberries only in the refrigerator or freezer. Otherwise, the berries will quickly deteriorate.

Will gooseberries ripen at home after harvest

Once harvested, the gooseberries stop ripening even if left at room temperature for several days.

It is advisable to pick the berries only after they are fully ripe. Green gooseberries contain much less vitamin C and other useful substances.

Harvesting

Gooseberries are harvested in several ways:

• hands;
• mechanical devices;
• comb method;
• using a plastic bottle.

Manually

The easiest way to pick berries from bushes is by hand. Large volumes cannot be collected in a day. But this method has a big advantage - the berries remain intact, retain all the useful properties and appearance. Also, the integrity of the fruit increases the storage time.

Important!Always wear thick, long-sleeved clothing and garden gloves before starting to pick berries manually. This will protect your hands from sharp thorns.

In order to carefully remove the entire gooseberry from the bush, one hand picks up the branches with one hand, and with the other one picks the berries, not forgetting about the stalks.

Mechanical method

With the mechanical method, a special device is used - a vibrator. This is a handy device that allows you to quickly collect all the fruits.

The principle of operation is mechanical action on the bushes. All berries fall off under the influence of vibration.

The sequence of actions with this method of harvesting:

1. Fabric, polyethylene or tarpaulin are spread under the bushes.
2. The vibrator is installed and turned on.
3. A stream of air is directed to the fallen berries to remove debris.
4. All spoiled fruits are removed.
5. The berries are sorted.

This method of collection has one big drawback: absolutely all berries fall from the branches of the bush, including spoiled and unripe ones.

Comb

The next way is with a comb:

1. A thimble is put on the thumb of the working hand.
2. A device is fixed on it, which looks like a comb with several teeth. The length of each is about 1 cm, and the width is 0.7-1 cm. Usually this device is made with their own hands from wire.
3. With one hand, they lift the branch, and with a comb they draw it towards themselves. The device picks berries. They fall into the palm.

Collecting quickly in this way requires a knack that comes with experience.

Using a plastic bottle

On one side of the bottle, a drop-shaped hole is made, which tapers to the bottom, but does not reach it by about 4 cm. The container is fixed on a rail or stick.

The collection is carried out as follows:

1. The bottle cut is placed slightly below the berry.
2. They lead the container towards themselves so that the gooseberries easily fall into the bottle. In doing so, he will come off the stalk.
3. When the bottle is completely filled, the picked berries are poured into the main container.

How to collect gooseberries to avoid pricks

In order not to get hurt when picking gooseberries, summer residents observe safety precautions:

1. Clothes are worn only from dense fabric that is able to protect the arms and legs from thorns.
2. They pick berries with gloves.
3. If possible, use special devices that facilitate and accelerate manual labor.

Storage and processing of berries

The main task when storing gooseberries is to protect the berries from high humidity. The shelf life depends on maturity:

1. In the cold, well-ripened fruits are stored for up to 5 days.
2. If the gooseberry is picked in dry weather, it remains fresh for 10 days.
3. When picking unripe berries, the shelf life is increased to 20 days.
4. If the gooseberry is taken at technical maturity and stored at zero temperature, it is permissible to use it for 3 months.

It is advisable to process the crop as quickly as possible. Fresh fruits are immediately sprinkled with sugar and sent to the refrigerator.

Most gooseberry varieties are too sour to eat. Only lilac or overripe berries are sweet. But they are not transportable, so they cannot be found either in the market or in the store.

When cooked, the fruits become sweeter even without sugar. Small gooseberries retain their flavor better than large, so it is used for making jams and sauces. Also, wines of various varieties are made from gooseberries. They taste very similar to sherry.

What ripeness should gooseberries be for jam

For jam use gooseberries of technical maturity.

The most delicious preparations for the winter are obtained from dense berries. They hold their shape well in sweet syrup.

In the Moscow region, the fruits of early maturing varieties are harvested for jam in early July. In other regions, the dates are shifted by 2 weeks depending on the climate.

Conclusion

Gooseberry is an unpretentious crop with a high yield. It has 2 stages of maturity: technical and consumer. In the first case, berries are used to prepare various dishes and preserves, in the second - for fresh consumption.

Harvesting is difficult, so gardeners use a variety of tools. Also in recent years, thornless gooseberry varieties have become popular, for example, Tender and Senator.