Review of the North Captain gooseberry variety, its pros and cons

From all the variety of gooseberry varieties, the Northern Captain stands out for its unpretentiousness and productivity. In addition, the hybrid is ideal for growing in harsh climates. The article discusses the features of the variety, its care and possible difficulties that can prevent you from getting a good harvest.

What is this gooseberry variety

The North Captain is a studless medium-late gooseberry variety with high frost resistance and tasty fruits.

Brief history of origin and distribution

The variety was bred by the Russian breeders of VSIPS under the leadership of Irina Popova using an experiment on crossing the variety Pink-2 and form No. 310-24. In 2007, the resulting hybrid called the North Captain was entered into the state register with the indicated zoning - the North-West region with a cloudy, damp summer.

Characteristics and description of the bushes

The northern captain is a perennial tall shrub with a dense crown. Under the weight of ripe fruits, young green shoots bend like an arch, and adult stems lignify and acquire a gray tint.

The variety has short, 5-7 mm each, thorns, which are rarely found on adult branches, and are completely absent on young ones. The spines are straight and thin, formed exclusively at the base of the shoots. The foliage is a rich green hue, large in size, with a glossy surface and a three-lobed shape.

The variety is characterized by greenish flowers with a red streak along the edge, collected in small clusters (2-3 flowers each).

Resistant to temperatures

In winter in northwest Russia, temperatures often drop to -30 ° C. The northern captain is able to withstand such frosts, subject to hilling and mulching... He is not afraid of strong winds, not needing shelter for the aboveground part.

Severe heat with a lack of watering can partially destroy the shrub. Therefore, it is not recommended to grow this variety in a hot summer, after + 30 ° C the harvest may suffer.

Moisture and drought resistance

The roots of the gooseberry are shallow, therefore prolonged drought negatively affects the health of the plant, part of the bush may die. If there is not enough natural rainfall, the roots may dry out. This should not be allowed, especially during the period of laying or pouring fruits. But it is also important to avoid stagnant water. Groundwater should be located no higher than 1.2 m.

Disease and pest resistance

Strong immunity is a hallmark of the Northern Captain. The shrub is not sick with powdery mildew, and cases of septoria and anthracnose are extremely rare. Gardeners claim that the main enemies of the gooseberry - the sawfly and the moth - bypass the variety.

Characteristics and description of fruits

The berries of the North Captain are small, within 3.5-4 g. They have a rich dark red or burgundy color, sometimes turning into a black shade. The rind is thick, with light streaks, and covered with a thin waxy coating. The pulp is juicy and sweet and sour, with small seeds.

The variety is self-fertile and does not need pollinating varieties. The North Captain shows his qualities best in those regions for which he was bred.Ripening of berries occurs evenly, at the end of July, so the variety is classified as medium late. Ripe fruits lend themselves well to harvesting, but do not crumble on their own. Up to 3.5-4 kg of berries are harvested from an adult bush.

With proper care and regular pruning, the bushes consistently bear fruit for up to 20 years.

Reference. The northern captain stably forms ovaries and brings up to 2 kg of harvest even in the absence of high-quality care.

Areas of their application

The North Captain is considered versatile. Its berries have a pronounced sweet and sour taste, so many people use them exclusively fresh. In addition, jam, jam, compotes, wines and juices are made from them, and a natural dye is obtained.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

A North Captain has many advantages:

• the ability to tolerate frosts down to -30 ° C without loss;
• strong immunity to major diseases and pests;
• thanks to its thick peel, it tolerates storage and transportation well;
• berries do not crumble, they are easy to pick due to the lack of thorns;
• reproduces in all vegetative ways;
• the versatility of the fruit.

Of the shortcomings, gardeners note:

• strong thickening with young shoots;
• small size of berries;
• the characteristic sourness of gooseberries, due to which the variety was attributed to technical, and not dessert.

Growing technology

Agricultural technology of this variety is standard. In places of zoning, it does not require frequent watering, special preparation for winter and worries about diseases.

Optimal conditions

For planting The North Captain is selected an area with good lighting and protection from drafts. It is important that when the snow melts, the melt water does not accumulate in the beds. The soil should be nutritious and loose, with neutral acidity.

Terms and rules of landing

It is best to plant young plants in autumn, adjusting to the weather conditions so that the seedling has time to take root before the cold weather begins. It is better not to plant in spring - the sprouts may suffer from recurrent frosts.

The seedling should be two years old, with lignified roots and flexible healthy shoots. Landing is done as follows:

1. The root system of the seedling is soaked for 2-3 hours in a stimulant (for example, "Kornevin").
2. For each bush, a pit of 50 × 50 cm is prepared. 1.5 m are kept between the bushes, 2-2.5 m between the rows.
3. Part of the soil is mixed with humus and returned to the pit, trying not to compact it too much.
4. The seedling is placed in the seat, gradually covering it with earth and compacting it.
5. The root collar should be immersed in the soil 6-8 cm, otherwise the seedling will die.
6. The bush is watered with 10 liters of water, after which the shoots are cut off, leaving 5-6 buds on each.

Besides the humus, when landing use a mixture of compost, potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Experienced gardeners recommend adding a little sand and wood ash to the soil (250 g for each bush).

Further care

In order for a seedling to grow well and give a stable harvest, it needs proper care. It includes the following agrotechnical techniques:

1. Watering. In the north-west of Russia, in the places of zoning of the variety, the Northern Captain does not experience a lack of moisture, receiving it from natural precipitation. In spring, the plant wakes up early and uses melt water for growth. In a rainy summer, gooseberries are not watered, but if there is not enough rainfall, 10-15 liters of water are poured under each bush once a week, preventing the roots from drying out.
2. Top dressing. The first two years after planting gooseberries are enough of those fertilizers that have already been applied to the soil. In the future, the bushes are required feed in the spring, using a mixture of 10 kg of rotted manure, 80 g of superphosphate, 40 g of nitrate and 20 g of potassium chloride.
3. Loosening. In a rainy summer, caring for a North Captain can be as little as weeding and cleaning up. Remember that the roots of the gooseberry are shallow, so only loosen the topsoil.They do this after every rain or watering, along the way removing stones, branches and other debris.
4. Pruning. Since young shoots thicken the crown every season, gooseberry pruning is required regularly. From the second to the fourth year, formative pruning is done, shortening the adult branches by half. Crooked, dry or weak branches are removed completely. From the fifth year, the thickening of the crown is eliminated, leaving 20-25 shoots aged from 3 to 6 years. More mature branches practically do not bear fruit and only draw strength from the bush. Pruning is done in the fall, after the foliage has fallen off.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

The northern captain belongs to sustainable berry crops, so he is not afraid diseases and pests... It is enough to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner and there will be no problems with growing this gooseberry.

Important... After trimming the bushes, the crumbling foliage and eliminated shoots are burned outside the site. This will prevent pests and bacteria from successfully overwintering and damaging the planting next season.

Preventive measures include the following:

1. In the spring, before the buds swell, the branches of the Northern Captain are watered with hot water from a watering can.
2. Twice a season, before flowering and after harvesting, each bush and the ground beneath them are treated with Fitosporin-M solution, according to the instructions on the package.
3. Branches, foliage and other debris are removed in a timely manner.
4. You can plant mint, tomatoes or wormwood next to the gooseberry. These plants repel insects.
5. At the first signs of the disease, the affected branches are cut and burned, and the bushes process Bordeaux liquid (100 g per 10 l of water) or a solution of wood ash (200 g per 10 l).

Wintering

The variety is frost-resistant, so it does not need additional shelter. It is enough to huddle it up and then mulch it with rotted manure.

Reproduction

The North Captain reproduces in all vegetative ways, but the following three are most effective:

• dividing the bush;
• the use of cuttings cut in early summer;
• reproduction by layering.

The easiest way is propagation by layering. In the spring, a small groove is made under the bush, into which the shoot is laid. It is sprinkled with earth, leaving only the top on the surface. The soil around the stem is kept moist. Over the summer, roots will appear on the branch, after which the layers can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Dividing the bush is suitable when transplanting an adult plant to another site. The planting rules for this breeding method do not differ from planting a young seedling.

When propagating by cuttings in early summer, it is necessary to cut off a shoot up to 15 cm long from a bush, which is planted in the ground or a container with fertile soil. Throughout the season, it is looked after in the usual way, regularly watering and loosening the soil, and after the roots appear, in early autumn, they are transplanted into a prepared hole.

Features of growing this variety, depending on the region

The North Captain does not require careful maintenance - only basic agronomic techniques are required. However, in warmer climates, it needs regular watering - at least 10-15 liters of water for each bush.

Reviews of summer residents

Due to the large number of positive qualities, the North Captain gooseberry variety is popular among summer residents, despite the young age of the culture.

Elena, Karelia: “The winters in our region are harsh with strong winds. The northern captain tolerates frost well and is able to recover, even if the shoots have suffered from the cold. The acidity of the fruit makes this variety an ideal ingredient for jams and preserves. If you are not lazy and carry out regular pruning, gooseberries please with a rich harvest and do not get sick. "

Oleg, Novgorod region: "This is not the first gooseberry variety on my site. The previous two suffered greatly from powdery mildew, which bypasses the North Captain.I collect 4 kg of berries from each bush, make jelly and liqueur from them. I don’t cover for the winter, the variety does not need it, recovering on its own in the spring. Definitely the perfect culture for the harsh climate. "

Valentina, Kamchatka: The climate on our peninsula is very unpredictable. Frequently, return frosts kill the hope for a harvest from many crops. In the fifth year of the North Captain's cultivation, unexpected frosts hit the flowering period. I covered the bushes with foil with small holes for air, and wrapped them with burlap on top. At the end of summer, she harvested a decent harvest, so I am satisfied with the variety, excellent frost resistance.

Conclusion

Gooseberry North Captain is one of the best of its kind. Differs in high frost resistance and strong immunity, is not demanding in care and stably bears fruit for 20 years. With proper watering and timely pruning, you can get a rich harvest of sweet and sour berries, which are consumed fresh and used in homemade preparations.