Gooseberries contain a huge amount of vitamins, have a pleasant taste and texture. This plant itself is resistant to frost and various diseases, and caring for it is not at all complicated. But these bushes have a significant drawback - sharp, dangerous for the hands spikes. Breeders worked hard to get a gooseberry-free variety without thorns, and today there is a significant selection of such varieties. About one of them, Prune, you will learn from the article.

Variety description Prunes

Prune gooseberries can rightfully be called one of the best. This domestic variety has become very popular because it tolerates winter, is not affected by fungal diseases, and its fruits have a pleasant taste that attracted many gardeners.

Grade history

Gooseberry prune variety is relatively new: it was bred in 1979 by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin, and already in 1992 they were registered in the State Register of Selection Achievements of the Russian Federation.

Did you know? The Italians, who arrived in Russia during the time of Peter I, called gooseberries "northern grapes." It is really possible to get good wine from it, which was popular in the countries of Northern Europe in the Middle Ages, where it is difficult to grow grapes.

Varieties Slivovy and Slivovy 259–23, which were bred much earlier, were used as the parent material for growing. This variety is adapted for growth in the Central, Middle Volga and Ural regions of the Russian Federation.

Appearance, characteristics of berries, ripening time, yield

Bushes of Prune gooseberries are highly decorative, differing in compactness and beauty. They look as follows:

• the bushes are medium in size (up to 1.5 m);
• characterized by the presence of thick, strong branches and shoots, which help the formation of a spreading thin crown;
• young shoots are light green in color, and perennial shoots are light brown;
• the leaves of the plant are medium-sized, glossy and openwork;
• flowers are white in color, which form panicle inflorescences;
• flowers of both sexes, thanks to this they do not need pollinators, but self-pollinate;
• extended fruiting and flowering, the first color begins in the first half of May;
• after planting, the bushes begin to bear fruit after 2 years;
• there are short and rare spikes on the branches.

The berries of this variety have a slight difference from the fruits of other varieties of this culture in taste and appearance:

• the size of the berries is large and medium, the weight of one fruit can be up to 5 g; oval shape;
• when ripe, the berry becomes black;
• the flesh is tender, juicy, but at the same time dense;
• the skin of the fetus has a waxy coating;
• there are a couple of seeds in the fetus, but they are not felt when consumed;
• taste - rich, refreshing, sweet, with a pleasant acidity.

Did you know? The first gooseberry was grown back in the XI century in Kievan Rus, and then the fruits were called "bersen" or "agryz". Then, at the beginning of the XVI century, gooseberries were brought to Western Europe, and at the beginning of the XVIII century it appeared in North America. The fruits of the Prune variety have a well-balanced chemical composition and contain in 100 g of pulp:

• sugar: less than 11%;
• acid: 2.2%;
• Vitamin C: 50 mg.

Gooseberries of this variety have an average ripening period. It bears fruit for a month or a half. The ripening of the first berries begins in late June and continues until the end of August. As they mature, they harvest. A variety of this gooseberry is characterized by high productivity, the increase of which occurs every year.

One bush gives an average of 3-4 kg of fruit.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

• This variety receives many positive reviews due to such advantages:
• compact bush;
• a bountiful harvest;
• excellent fruit quality;
• unpretentiousness of cultivation and care;
• high frost resistance;
• adaptation to adverse climate;
• self-pollination;
• almost complete absence of thorns.

• Of the shortcomings, only the following is noted:
• the variety of berries and their unstable mass;
• average yield.

Growing Features

It is necessary to grow gooseberries at the beginning of the autumn period, so that the frost-resistant seedling has time to take root before winter comes. You can also plant in the soil in early spring, but planting cuttings would be a more effective option.

Seat selection

For a good location, seedlings should be located in the southern part of the site, away from tall trees and buildings, since the shadow of them will interfere with their growth. It is best to choose a place prone to swamping, or where groundwater is close to the surface.

It is best to plant them in place with sufficient lighting, one line near the fences, which then serve to tie up the bushes.

Do not plant shrubs where raspberries or currants used to grow - the roots of such plants are on the same level, which means that the soil in these places is depleted. In addition, these crops have a large number of common diseases and pests, this can adversely affect the plant.

Landing and care

After choosing a place, proceed as follows:

1. Dig a hole with a depth of about 50 cm and a width of up to 40 cm. In case the soil is heavy, with clay, the excavated soil must be mixed with peat or sand.
2. Be sure to add compost, ash or manure. Pour some of this soil into a pit, set up a bush, and gently fill in the roots.
3. When planting, it is necessary to deepen the root neck about 6 cm below the surface of the soil.
4. Water and compact the soil around the roots abundantly.

And do not forget about proper care:

1. Planted bushes need to be cut, leaving at the same time no more than 5 buds on healthy shoots, and remove all damaged ones.
2. Water all bushes regularly if there is no rain.
3. In time, remove weeds and loosen the soil under the plant after each watering, to ensure air access to the roots.
4. Young bushes begin to form a crown during spring pruning; later on, old and damaged branches are required to be cut annually.
5. After a couple of years, it is necessary to make fertilizers, which include nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
6. Seasonal top dressing in the spring during pollination, flowering and the appearance of ovaries is carried out using slurry, which is pre-diluted well.

Important! Before planting, fill in the root system with an antibacterial drug for a day.

Pest and Disease Control

Prune gooseberries are considered to be resistant to powdery mildew, but are often exposed to diseases such as goblet rust and anthracnose. These are fungal diseases, and insects or wind can easily carry spores of pathogens. Usually the plant is most vulnerable in early spring.

To reduce the likelihood of the disease, it is necessary to decontaminate the place under the bush and around it by spraying with a fungicide (Agrolekar, Topsin-M, Topaz). It is also useful to treat the bushes with Bordeaux fluid in the spring, before the buds open. It is imperative to remove plant debris, dig the soil or replace its top layer every autumn.

The most dangerous parasite insects are shoot aphids, fire flakes, gooseberry sawflies. To prevent their appearance, such measures will help:

1. Against aphids, spraying with solutions of tobacco, dandelion or a soap-ash mixture is effective. The procedure must be performed every two weeks.
   

2. To protect against a firegun, an oilcloth should be used as mulch, removing it no earlier than mid-June, when the butterflies expire. They will not be able to get out of the ground and die.
   

3. In early spring, before the sap flow begins, it is necessary to disinfect the bushes, carefully pouring boiling water over them. This will get rid of the yellow gooseberry sawfly : the high temperature helps to fight it, since it, and often all pests, survives the winter in the ground.
   

If the sawfly or aphid nevertheless appeared on the gooseberry, all foliage and branches must be cut and destroyed, and the plant treated with a solution of laundry soap with ash.

In addition, there are chemicals that help in the fight against such pests (Karbofos, Nitrofen, Actellik), but before using them, you must carefully read the instructions.

Trimming and shaping a bush

Trim and form bushes as needed. It is necessary to remove old shoots and dry branches. In addition, the plant itself needs to be thinned periodically to provide the berries with sufficient sunlight.

Do not cut the branches at a time when the bush is actively flowering or fruit is ripening, this causes unnecessary stress to the plant. The best time to trim the bush is the beginning or end of the season.

Wintering

Before wintering, this unique mid-early variety does not require much care, as its important characteristic is winter hardiness. It is very resistant to frost and does not need special shelter, but it is still worth it to play it safe. It is necessary to cover the stem at its base with hay or sawdust. Pull the oilcloth over and fix it on the edges with bricks.

Harvesting and transportation

The fruits begin to ripen in late July. They develop and grow together, therefore they often mature at the same time. But, despite this, the harvest continues for a month.

Due to the fact that the berries have a very dense peel, they do not crumple and are very easy to transport over long distances. The duration of storage of fresh gooseberries can reach 5 days, it perfectly retains all its properties. We offer you to familiarize yourself with how to make a bush holder for gooseberries.

So, Prune is a good gooseberry variety in order to grow it in your garden. It is preferred due to its frost resistance and disease resistance. Bushes give not only tasty, but also healthy berries. There are practically no thorns on the branches, which greatly facilitates harvesting. The only drawback is the average yield, and the rest all the qualities of the variety are high.