For the fresh tart taste of berries, the high content of valuable minerals and vitamins in them, gardeners respectfully call gooseberries northern grapes. In modern gardening, the interest in this magnificent berry has not faded away, and the efforts of breeders have recently led to the development of many wonderful varieties that are different in fruit color, taste, vitamin composition and fruiting.
Despite this, many remain attached to generations tested by generations, one of which is gooseberry Malachite. Description of the variety and features of this popular berry culture offers this publication. It was received back in 1959 as a result of crossing the Black Negus and Phenicia.
Gooseberry Malachite: description of the variety, the benefits of berries
The popularity of Malachite in amateur gardening does not dry out, since its characteristics are very impressive today. This is a medium early ripening variety with a long fruiting period. It is characterized by excellent winter hardiness and loyalty to temperature differences, which often happens in temperate and northern latitudes.
The yield from the bush is average, up to 4 kg of berries. But even a not too high yield indicator does not reduce the interest in this excellent berry plant that arose more than half a century ago. Despite the thin skin of the fruit, their transportability is quite high: it can be successfully transported to any distance without fear of loss of presentation.
An invaluable advantage of the variety is resistance to powdery mildew, traditional for this berry. Yes, and many other misfortunes bypass the gooseberry Malachite. We will continue the description of the variety by talking about the benefits of berries - round, bright green, like malachite mined in the Ural Mountains.
Gooseberry berries
Malachite is a large-fruited variety, and this is its significant advantage. Fruits reach 5-6 g, large, containing a large number of seeds and covered with a thin skin with veins appearing noticeably on it. The taste of berries is explosive-sour, characteristic of the culture and very pleasant. Such a bright taste is due to the high content of ascorbic acid (23-40.8 mg / 100g) and sugars (8.6%). The fruit is undoubtedly useful, in their composition there are many vitamins, pectins, micro and macro elements, the compounds of which are unique. Eating berries has a choleretic and laxative effect on the body, lowers cholesterol, tones, removes toxins and radionuclides.
The berries are universal: they are consumed “from a branch”, used in cooking and are successfully processed for long-term storage in traditional harvesting for the winter.
This gooseberry variety never stays on the market, seedlings are bought up quickly, because the large-fruited and pleasant taste of berries are not only positioned, but also meet the expectations of gardeners. That is why the long-bred variety does not lose relevance and is not inferior to new hybrids.
In addition, ripe berries do not crumble from the branches, but acquire an excellent amber hue and a noticeable sweetness. And this is another advantage of a garden culture called gooseberry Malachite. The description of the variety (reviews of gardeners who have been growing shrubs for many years, confirm) gives a general idea of the culture, the acquisition of a berry only reinforces a pleasant experience, since the unpretentiousness of the plant, along with confident resistance to diseases and excellent fruit quality, are its best. Residents of summer residents are unanimous: Malachite is large-fruited, tasty and disease- resistant gooseberry.
Species features
Being one of the most unpretentious and long-lived berries of the garden, gooseberry Malachite (the description of the variety confirms) is characterized by high winter hardiness, minimal demands on the planting site, soil composition and subsequent care. In one place, it is able to fruitfully bear fruit up to 30-35 years. The peak yield falls for the first 18-20 years, then the fruit productivity begins to decline. This thorny long-liver is beautiful, and with good care, even the presence of thorns does not spoil the overall garden interior.
Gooseberries wake up, start growing, bloom and begin to bear fruit faster than other garden crops, except for honeysuckle. Propagate the plant during dormancy - in early spring or autumn.
Gooseberry variety Malachite: description, reviews, care
We list the main stages of crop care, the features of cultivation agricultural technology and the requirements, taking into account which, the gardener creates optimal conditions for the quality development of the bush and maximum fruit yield.
Before planting gooseberry seedlings, you need to prepare the soil. The upper fertile layer is dug up, introducing 10 kg of humus, 200 g of ash and 50 g of superphosphate per 1 square meter. Planting pits are filled with this substrate by a third, seedlings are placed in them, carefully spreading the roots, and are covered with the remaining soil. For better rooting, the seedling can be installed in the pit at an angle, increasing the area of root germination.
The gooseberry bush is quite spreading, therefore it is necessary to plant young plants, keeping the intervals between them at least 1-1.2 m.The gooseberry Malachite, the cultivation features of which we have considered, should receive good care, consisting in timely watering, top dressing and other manifestations of care.
How to care for a plant: watering
After planting, the bushes are generously watered, giving 10-15 liters of water for each bush. In order for the plants to take root more quickly, the gardener needs to control the moisture of the soil layer, preventing its drying out. Mandatory are periodic weeding and loosening, which should be carried out carefully, since the root system of the plant is superficial.
Top dressing
Good fruiting is impossible without good nutrition. Fertilize the bush twice a season.
For the first time in the spring, humus and complex mineral fertilizers are applied; the second time, gooseberries are fed with phosphorus-potassium compounds after harvesting.
Summer residents cultivating gooseberry Malachite, the description of the variety of which is presented, assures that the berry is very responsive to care and annually pleases with a decent harvest.