The most striking and recognizable in the suburban areas of the form of gooseberries, without a doubt, is Kolobok. After all, it was this bush that was liked by gardeners not only because of the high yield and excellent taste, many loved it for the absence of thorns.
Description and characteristics of gooseberry gingerbread man
In 1988, the team of authors led by I.V. Popova completed many years of research and received permission to design a new gooseberry variety. The resulting variety, zoned for Siberian latitudes, was called Kolobok. So, for more than 40 years this variety has been successfully pleasing gardeners in the vast expanses from Eastern Siberia to the Volga-Vyatka and Central Chernozem regions.
Gooseberry Gingerbread Man
The parental pair of varieties that gave rise to the Kolobok became Smena and pink-2. The resulting hybrid, in addition to high agrotechnical qualities, acquired one more thing - it has almost no spikes.
Characteristic bushes
The bush belongs to the high-growing varieties, the length of the shoots can reach 1.8-2 m. The branches are thick, elastic. Photophilous and actively fighting for a place, literally covering competitors with their branches. The leaves are larger than average, even large with an unusual gray-green dark color.
The ripening period is average. Gooseberry root system developed with a large number of peripheral processes.
Note! The variety is characterized by a large number of young shoots, so it is important to systematically prune to prevent thickening of the bushes.
Characteristics of berries
Gooseberry Gingerbread Man has high performance, but the size of the berries can not always be a single standard. Most grow to an average size - from 3 to 4 g. Up to a quarter of the crop are usually berries weighing 6-7 g. With constant proper care, you can achieve that most of the crop will be berries of a standard size of 6-8 g.
Gooseberry Berries Gingerbread Man
The shape of the berries corresponds to the name - round, spherical. Sometimes an elongated species are found, this is not a critical sign for this variety. Seed saturation is normal. Color from bright green during the growing season to dark red and even saturated brown during the ripening period.
Important! After ripening, the berries do not fall, but hold firmly on the branches, until they completely dry.
Grade Features
The variety belongs to high-yielding varieties, with proper care from one bush you can remove up to 10-12 kg of berries. The ripening period is mid-July. Harvesting is carried out in the second half of July - early August. Berries are easily transported without losing their presentation. The berries do not lose their appearance even when stored under normal conditions for a short period of 5-7 days.
Taste qualities
The peel of the berries is dense, but soft, the pulp has a high juiciness. Taste with a predominance of acidity, but with a noticeably sweet finish. Ripe berries have a specific moderately crispy effect. The berry belongs to a dessert kind.
Drought and frost resistance
Despite the fact that for a variety the main growing area is considered to be an area with long winters and short hot summers, it is very difficult to tolerate wintering. The problem is that the variety quickly responds to the onset of heat, which is detrimental to winter thaws. It turns out that he tolerates long cold periods up to −25 ° С, but ordinary night frosts and thaws are fatal for him.
For your information! Gingerbread man is a moisture-loving variety. In dry periods, it is very demanding on watering. This is another minus variety.
Three year bush
Resistance to diseases and pests
Unlike many non-studded varieties, Kolobok is practically not affected by the spread of powdery mildew and many pests, such as ognevka and sawfly.
Berry use
Ripe berries due to the high content of vitamins and minerals can be consumed both fresh and after processing. Table berry is served as a dessert, and when prepared, it is processed into jam, jams, jellies, as an ingredient in multifruit nectars and compotes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Kolobok variety
The advantages of the variety are expressed in high productivity, long-term productivity period of up to 10 years, resistance to most diseases and pests, and, of course, the absence of thorns on shoots.
The disadvantages include poor frost resistance during thaws and night frosts, exacting watering and the need for regular pruning.
Planting young seedlings on the site
The variety has simply fantastic (up to 85-90%) survival rate of seedlings on the site. It is simply a phenomenal result of success.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Seedlings with a developed root system and 2-3 shoots older than a year are prepared for planting. The tops of the shoots are trimmed and treated with a disinfectant solution. The root system is straightened and, if possible, trimmed by 0.5-1 cm, this will give an incentive for the early development of the peripheral roots of the bush.
Two year old seedlings
Time and landing pattern
For the gooseberry variety Kolobok, autumn planting is preferable. It is produced before the onset of frost in September - October. With spring planting, the second half of March - the first half of April is considered the best period. These are the classic landing periods for the southern areas. For the northern regions, it is better to choose the springtime, when the soil warms up enough and the threat of the onset of cold weather passes.
Note! For planting, it is recommended to choose the ordinary method with an interval of 1.5-2 m. With it, it is convenient to make a fence or install a trellis for garter shoots.
Choosing a landing place
For the bush, an important factor is the abundance of sunlight, so it is better to plant the bush on the south side. However, if part of the day the bush is in the shade, it does not matter, it will take root there.
Despite the demands on the abundance of moisture, especially in the dry period, the variety does not tolerate wetlands and waterlogged areas with a groundwater table closer than 1.5-2 m.
For planting, the best type of soil is loose, fertile, with a neutral acidity. Landing on slightly acidic and soddy soils is also allowed.
Site preparation
For landing, a flat area is selected. If the groundwater level tends to increase or there is a threat of flooding, it is recommended to artificially raise the landing site by 0.5-0.7 m. For landing, a hole 0.5-0.6 m deep with a size of 50 × 50 cm is dug.
Landing process
Before planting in open ground, it is recommended for 5-6 hours to soak the roots of the seedling in aqueous sodium humate (60 g per 5 l of water). 5-7 days before planting, a layer of compost (10-12 cm) is laid on the bottom of the hole during autumn planting. 2-3 cm of fertile land are poured on top. The seedling is mounted vertically so that the spreading roots are located throughout the entire area of the hole.
Important! During spring planting, superphosphate with potassium sulfate is introduced instead of humus. Ground dusting is done with a small ramming over the entire area of the hole.
When planting, the root of the neck should be deepened by 5-7 cm. Pruning is also important so that 5-7 kidney nodes remain on the shoots.
After planting, watering is done, you need to pour 10-12 liters of water under the bush.
Features of seasonal care
Schemes of watering and top dressing the bush fit into the parameters traditional for this culture. During the period of kidney swelling, urea is fed and irrigated under the root with a volume of 10-12 liters of water. During the growing season and harvest ripening, it is required to ensure that the soil does not dry out. At this time, watering is considered the norm once every 7-10 days in a volume of 10 liters of water.
Top dressing is done once every 2-3 weeks, depending on the condition of the bush and the number of ripening berries. In the dry period, the frequency of watering should be increased to 1 watering in 5-7 days. At this time, it is recommended to alternate fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with an organic solution.
After harvesting, it is recommended to do two additional dressings so that the gooseberry root system can absorb nutrients before the onset of cold weather.
Gooseberry Kolobok, the description of the variety of which focuses on the proper maintenance of the water balance on the site, favorably applies to such techniques as loosening and mulching. Mulching is recommended for both dry grass and pine needles or bark. The procedure is recommended to be carried out in combination with loosening. 2-3 days after watering, the root section should be loosened to a depth of 10 cm and covered with mulch.
Important! For this tall, spreading variety, it is recommended to install multi-tier support supports or stretch trellises with subsequent garter.
Despite the high resistance to diseases and pests, it is recommended to do preventive treatment with complex preparations 2-3 times a season, and treat it against spores before wintering.
Bush pruning in the fall
The pruning calendar includes spring, autumn and preventative in the summer. In autumn, shoots older than 4 years are removed, in the spring dry branches, and in summer young aggressive shoots that thicken the bush.
A set of measures for preparing for winter includes feeding, mulching, treatment with anti-spore preparations and protective whitewashing.
Breeding
To propagate gooseberries Gingerbread Man, you can choose one of three ways.
Cuttings
When propagated by cuttings, 2-3-year-old shoots are taken. For planting in a greenhouse, the stalk should be at least 20 cm. 15-17 cm of branch are buried in the ground, the rest is higher. It is preferable that the top was 3-4 kidney nodes.
So that the root reaches its maximum size, it is recommended to combine watering under a jar with fertilizer. Such care will ensure by 21-25 days after planting the transformation of the cuttings into a viable independent plant.
For your information! Landing in open ground is carried out when the air temperature reaches 18-21 ° C.
Division
The division of the bush is carried out during autumn planting. Young shoots are usually separated from the root group. Before planting, treatment with a stimulator is needed, after - watering with top dressing.
Layering
It is recommended to make layering immediately after spring pruning. For this, the lower branches are tilted to the ground and dug up. The height of the knoll of the earth is required at least 15 cm, and the length is up to 25 cm. Watering must be done every 5-7 days. After some time, the branches take root. Their transplantation is recommended during the autumn preparation for wintering in September-October.
Even for those who are only trying their hand at gardening, cultivating gooseberries Kolobok is not a big deal. In 3-4 years, without unnecessary worries, you can get a real plantation of a valuable variety.
