By tradition, planting of fruit and berry crops is carried out in the spring before the start of sap flow. But it turns out, in the case of gooseberries, it is better to break the tradition and plant it in the fall. It is much more convenient for gardeners and berry bushes. It is only necessary to find out what is the difference between spring and autumn planting, what time is the most favorable for this, how to prepare the soil and which seedlings to choose.
Autumn planting advantage
The advantage of planting gooseberries in autumn is that the berries can be harvested in the coming summer season (as opposed to planting gooseberries in spring). After all, the culture will have time to take root well before spring and adapt in a new place. Its root system will be completely ready for development, which means that flowering and fruiting will come as soon as the weather is warm.
The most favorable time for autumn planting is the period from September 15 to October 15. Fruit shrubs need about 2-3 weeks to adapt. Before the start of severe frosts, the gooseberry will have time to get stronger. Planting later is not recommended because the plants will not have enough time to recuperate in the new conditions, and they simply will not be able to survive the harsh winter weather conditions.
How to choose gooseberry seedlings
Saplings or well-developed gooseberry cuttings should be at least two years old. Each young bush should have three or more shoots at least 30 cm long and about 20-25 cm root.
When purchasing gooseberry seedlings, you need to know that they are of three types:
- Seedlings with a bare root system;
- Saplings with an earthen clod on the root;
- Seedlings grown in a special container.
The bare root system of a young shrub negatively affects the survival rate of the plant, this period lasts longer than usual. Therefore, it is recommended to plant this type of seedlings early - from about the beginning of September to mid-October. It is very important that seedlings or cuttings of this type of shrub are replanted only after the end of the growing season. The end of the growth and development of plants can be determined by the ligneous young shoots of the gooseberry bush. Their bark changes its green color to dark brown, and the leaves become hard (you can feel it) and gradually fall off.
If the roots of the acquired seedling are covered with an earthen clod, which retains its shape, moisture and does not crumble during transportation, then such planting material will perfectly take root in a new place and quickly adapt to new living conditions. This type of seedlings is not afraid of weather changes or different climatic conditions.
If the earthen lump is wrapped in burlap, then it must be removed so that its integrity is not violated. If a synthetic or wire mesh served as the packaging, then the seedling can be planted with it. Such material will not prevent the plant from fully growing and developing.
Gardeners recommend not using seedlings grown in regions with a warm climate for autumn planting. It is very difficult for such plants to adapt to the new harsh living conditions. Spring planting will be more reliable for them. Therefore, specimens purchased in "warm countries" and brought after mid-October must be digged in before the beginning of spring.
The third type of seedlings is suitable for both spring and autumn planting. Container plants may not take root well in a new area only because their roots are bent inside the growing container. A cramped container promotes the growth of roots inside the earthen coma, when the plant is in it for a long time and the root processes simply have nowhere to go as it grows. When planting a container seedling on the site, the root part very slowly gets used to the new conditions, despite the nutritious soil and the large growing area. Due to the "previous life" of the young gooseberry bush, roots develop very slowly and new ones do not grow.
Choosing a landing site
The quality and quantity of the crop, as well as its stability over many years, depends on the place where the gooseberry is planted. For the full development of the berry bush, the place should be well lit, its surface should be flat and protected from drafts, and the groundwater should be at a great depth.
This light-loving fruit and berry plant will never give a plentiful and high-quality harvest, being in a penumbra. A sunny land plot located on a hill and exposed to strong gusts of wind and drafts will also not bring a positive result. The most favorable place for growing gooseberry bushes will be a site near a hedge, fence, or between small fruit trees. They will serve as reliable protection for berry crops from sudden gusts of wind and cold drafts.
If the land plot for planting gooseberries is located in a lowland, where water constantly stagnates and the soil becomes swampy, then the root part of the plants will very soon begin to rot. Lack of air and an excess of moisture in the soil will lead to the onset of a fungal or infectious disease. The proximity of groundwater is also contraindicated for gooseberry bushes. They must pass at a depth of at least one hundred centimeters from the ground level.
When planting gooseberry seedlings in autumn, it is necessary to take into account the predecessors that grew on this site in summer. If these were raspberry or currant bushes, then after them the soil remains devastated, without the necessary nutrients, and, possibly, with pests remaining in it. All of these berry bushes suffer from the same diseases and pests.
Soil preparation rules and planting process
Any soil, except acidic and waterlogged, is suitable for gooseberries. The area with heavy clay soil will have to be loosened regularly, and the sandy soil needs to be fed with organic fertilizers every year.
At the end of summer, the site chosen for planting must be freed from weeds, dug up and leveled with a rake. The planting hole should be slightly deeper than the root length of the seedling. About 2 weeks before planting, the hole needs to be filled halfway with a special soil mixture. Its composition: 2 buckets of fertile soil, 1 bucket of compost, 40 grams of potassium and 50 grams of double superphosphate. The earth from the hole is poured with a mound on the soil mixture and left until the day of planting for subsidence and compaction.
The seedling is placed on an earthen mound evenly, the roots are straightened and carefully sprinkled with the remaining earth from the planting hole. The root collar should remain about 5 cm below the soil surface. The remaining empty space in the hole is covered with earth and compacted.
Immediately after planting, abundant watering is carried out and a mulching layer is applied, consisting of humus or any loose organic matter.Mulch will serve as food for the soil, as well as reliable protection from pests. It will provide constant moisture and breathability.
