Gooseberry Consul was bred not so long ago. Breeders wanted to breed a plant species for breeding in regions with difficult weather conditions. As a result of the work, we got a gooseberry that is not afraid of frost, with tasty fruits and a small amount of thorns.
gooseberry varieties "Consul"
the peculiarity of "Consul" gooseberry fruit is their thin skin and a small amount of seeds inside
of particular value for gardeners is the variety "Consul", characterized by the absence of thorns and high productivity
How did the variety appear?
The Consul also has a second name - Senator. Bred this type of fruit plant V.S. Ilyin is an employee of the South Ural Research Institute. Work on the creation of such a variety began in the 1980s. However, gooseberries were finally entered in the register in 1995. True, under his second name the Senator.
Such types of gooseberries as Chelyabinsk green and African took part in the breeding of the variety. From them, the Consul took good tolerance of low temperatures and adverse weather conditions. Such properties allow it to be grown in regions with a cold climate.
What does the Consul look like?
The Consul has almost no thorns. This is a significant reason why gardeners and farmers love him. Smooth trunks of the plant make harvesting more comfortable, in addition, gooseberries are easy to care for without fear of pricking your hands.
Description of the bush
The consul belongs to tall bushes, the height of which reaches 1.8 m. The crown is quite dense, sprawling. The shape of the gray-brown branches is straight or slightly concave. The foliage is bright green, wrinkled.
The Consul has very few thorns and they are mainly found in the middle part of the shoots. This allows you to significantly save space in the garden. One-year-old shoots usually have 1-2 thorns, but they soon disappear.
Description of berries
Consul gooseberry fruits are usually round and medium in size. The mass of berries can vary from 2.5 to 6.5 g. Their color is burgundy, which darkens when ripe. There are few seeds inside, the flesh is juicy and transparent, but the skin of the berries is very thin. The gooseberry taste is pleasant, combining sweetness with sourness.
Productivity and fruiting
The consul gives a high level of yield. With 1 ha, with proper care, you can remove up to 20 tons of berries. One bush in the first year after planting is capable of producing up to 3 kg of fruit per season, and then increasing its yield to 6-8 kg.
The video below presents an overview of the Consul gooseberry variety:
Gooseberry Consul is a self-pollinated variety. This means that there is no need to additionally plant plantings next to it for pollination. Moreover, the life of this fruit plant is over 20 years.
Susceptibility to drought and frost
This gooseberry species is renowned for its resistance to frost and dry weather. The bushes of the plant are able to withstand particularly low temperatures, dropping to 30 degrees below zero. They are not afraid of early frosts in the spring. Summer drought is also not capable of harming the Consul. However, to help the gooseberries fight the heat, they need to be watered frequently under these weather conditions.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is able to withstand various pests and diseases. This makes it possible to grow it without the use of a large number of chemicals. This gooseberry is not afraid of powdery mildew, sawfly, and septoria. True, in hot, dry weather, the plant can be "captured" by gooseberry aphids or moths.
Lighting and wind requirements
The consul is quite easy to care for, but if you find an unsuccessful place for growing, you can forget about a good harvest. Landing area should be well lit. In addition, the plant should be protected from winds. A good option would be to plant shrubs along the fence to protect it from drafts.
Soil requirements
Plant the Consul on loam or sandstone. Loam is preferable. On such a land, this variety takes root best. In this case, the soil should be of medium moisture.
Do not plant this type of shrub in too moist, heavy or clayey soil. Also for cultivation are not suitable sites located near ponds and wetlands. If there is no other way out, drain the holes.
Optimal soil acidity should not exceed 5.5. Moreover, do not plant the plant where raspberries or currants were previously grown. The soil after them is depleted, and there is a risk of infecting the shrub with some common diseases for these berries.
Advantages and disadvantages of gooseberries
Analyzing the characteristics and properties of the Consul, we can distinguish its main advantages and available disadvantages. By the way, not only experienced but also novice gardeners can grow this variety.
Advantages:
- high harvest;
- lack of a large number of thorns;
- self-pollination;
- the ability to tolerate low temperatures, which makes it possible to grow it in cold regions;
- resistance to pests and diseases;
- long life span;
- pleasant taste.
As for the disadvantages, they are:
- poor transportability due to thin skin;
- sensitivity to drafts and winds;
- susceptibility to over-dried soil.
Time, place and landing pattern
Plant the Consul between the first half of March and the last snow or early autumn, about 30 days before the first low temperatures. Try to plant the plant immediately after purchase, because it is not known how long the seedling was without soil.
When choosing seedlings, look at their roots: the cut should be a greenish or yellowish core. Moreover, if there are trunks that stand out in their dark color from the rest, do not take such a plant. The branches of the seedlings should not break, but be flexible.
Gooseberry Consul Planting Scheme:
- soak the seedlings before planting for a day in a substance that stimulates growth;
- plant gooseberry shrubs at a distance of at least 1.5 m;
- Dig holes with a diameter and depth of 50-60 cm;
- pour peat or a small amount of humus on their bottom;
- add fertilizer - 50 g each of potassium salt and superphosphate;
- remove non-living shoots on the seedling, if any, and cut the branches by a third;
- when planting a seedling, carefully straighten its roots - while deepening the root collar by 6 cm;
- fill the recess with earth and tamp;
- cover the soil at the roots with straw, sawdust or pine needles;
- Water the planted shrub well with water.
Then water the Consul, rid the soil of weeds, remove diseased, dry branches. The landing site should be protected from drafts and well-lit, otherwise the berries will ripen unevenly and very slowly.
How to care for gooseberries
To get a rich harvest, it is not enough to properly plant gooseberries. You also need to properly look after him. This includes control over soil moisture, various top dressing, pruning the bush and tying it up, competently preparing the plant for winter, etc.
You can learn about how to care for gooseberries in the fall after harvesting from this article.
Humidity and watering
The soil for the Consul should be saturated with nutrients and at the same time have optimal moisture for the plant. Water the gooseberry systemically during its development and when it blooms. Loosen the soil after watering.
Do not get carried away by excessive watering. It is enough to do this when the gooseberry blossoms, the first fruits appeared, and autumn began. Otherwise, waterlogged soil will lead to the death of the root system of the shrub.
Top dressing
You need to feed the plant the next year after planting:
- at the beginning of the spring months, apply nitrogen fertilizers for the active growth of branches and leaves - 12-15 g of water diluted in 10 liters of saltpeter will be needed per bush (feed in 2 stages, with a difference of 7-12 days);
- in summer, before flowering, add 70-80 g of potassium chloride and superphosphate - these substances can be replaced with 0.3-0.4 kg of wood ash;
- after harvesting, also feed the gooseberries with manure or humus - about 5 kg per plant.
How to trim and shape bushes?
Before the buds bloom, the gooseberries must be trimmed to form a crown:
- remove all diseased and dried branches;
- in a young shrub, leave only large and well-developed trunks;
- after pruning the leaves, loosen the soil under the gooseberry itself.
Garter and support
Gooseberry branches need a garter and support - tree pegs with a net. You need to tie the shrub so that the branches with gooseberries do not lower to the ground, which can lead to damage to the crop. In addition, it is easier to pick berries from tied shrubs.
How to tie a gooseberry:
- carefully drive the stakes with a net into the ground, being careful not to damage the roots of the plant;
- tie large branches with berries to the structure;
- many supports are not needed, since the branches of the Consul grow upward.
Preparing for winter
The amount of harvest depends on how well the plant has survived the winter. Since the Consul is not afraid of frost, it is not necessary to cover him. This should be done only if there is not too much snow in the region.
What else needs to be done before the arrival of winter:
- cut branches of a bush;
- spray gooseberries against pests;
- remove and burn accumulated garbage and fallen leaves;
- feed the plant with the necessary fertilizers.
How to propagate a variety?
Consul can be propagated in two ways:
- With the help of cuttings. Cut the plant from July to autumn, cutting obliquely a part of the branch about 15 cm long. The cut cut must have at least a couple of buds.
Then treat the cuttings with substances that enhance the growth of the root system, and place the shoots at an angle of 45 degrees in loosened soil so that 2-3 buds remain above the ground. Next, just water the plant. - Layers. In this case, bend the annual shoots to the ground, and then secure them with a metal bracket and sprinkle with soil. Systematically water the shoots, and when young branches appear on them, separate the seedling from the mother plant.
Protection against diseases and pests
Despite the Consul's resistance to some diseases typical of gooseberries, he also needs protection. This plant is vulnerable to columnar rust and anthracnose. Also, sometimes gooseberries are attacked by moths, goose aphids and spider mites.
How to deal with it:
- Column rust and Anthracnose... To get rid of diseases will help Cuprozan or 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. Spray gooseberries with substances before flowering and after harvesting.
- Ognevka and gooseberry aphids. Such drugs as Karbofos (dissolve 60 g in 10 liters of water) or Inta-vir (dissolve 1-2 tablets in 10 liters of water) will help fight pests.
- Spider mite. You can get rid of it with Actellik (dilute 2 ml of the drug in 2 liters of liquid). The drug will also help get rid of aphids and moths. Please note that Actellic is toxic to organisms living in water. Therefore, if there are ponds nearby, it is better to choose another drug.
Do not forget to regularly inspect the bushes and remove damaged or diseased branches, as well as monitor for the absence of insect colonies on the gooseberry. Dig up the soil in the fall and loosen it in the summer, and rake and burn the falling foliage to help control pests.
Harvesting
Consul refers to fruit plants with an average ripening period. You can pick berries already at the end of mid-summer as they are ready. Do not overexpose the fruit on the branches, as they can start to deteriorate due to their thin skin.
Transportability
The consul's portability is the weak point of this variety. Due to the fact that the berries have a very thin and delicate shell, they do not last long and are poorly transported. That is why the fruits must be transported carefully and used quickly, preferably immediately after they are harvested.
Berry use
Due to its rich composition and pleasant taste, this gooseberry can be used in:
- culinary - for making sweets, as a filling for various baked goods and desserts;
- cosmetology - gooseberry juice helps to whiten the face, reduce pigmentation, moisturize the skin;
- folk medicine - the use of gooseberries is recommended for liver and kidney diseases, as a sedative.
Gooseberry Consul reviews (Senator)
Igor, 45 years old, Kirov, builder.I want to note that this gooseberry is very unpretentious in leaving. You don't need to do anything special with it - just water and trim the bush in time. The good news is that the variety is resistant to disease - for all the time that it grows, it has never been sick.
Alexandra, 32 years old, Belovo, accountant.A very good crop is obtained from the bushes. I like the fact that there are few thorns. You pick gooseberries and you don't feel any discomfort. Easy to care for - did not harbor during winter time and this did not affect the yield of the variety in any way.
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The consul is in good demand among summer residents and gardeners due to the good harvest, resistance to frost and ease of care. Proper cultivation technology and competent care will make it possible to enjoy the fruits of this gooseberry for many years.