Gooseberry Leningrad giant

The gooseberry with the telling name Leningrad giant was bred by breeders from the Leningrad region. The variety is recommended for cultivation in its homeland, in the region of development, but is also suitable for northern latitudes.

The shrub, contrary to its name, is low, semi-sprawling, compact, with a maximum height of one meter. But there is also a plus: there are few thorns on it, and those that grow are concentrated on the lower branches.

But the fruits of the gooseberry of the described variety are large: on average, one berry weighs 5-6 grams. The berries are ovoid in shape. The main thing that distinguishes the fruits of the Leningrad giant is a beautiful dark pink tone of dense peel, endowed with a light fluff.

The flesh of the described berries is also quite dense, but at the same time tender, moderately sweet. There is a slight sourness.

The Leningrad giant can be attributed to crops with an average fruiting period, which begins in mid-July.

The northern crop is distinguished by a fairly high yield: up to 8 kilograms from one bush.

To plant the shrub of the Leningrad giant, it is necessary to prepare a planting hole 35-40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.For spring planting, it is prepared in the fall, and for autumn planting, at least 3 weeks before planting. During preparation, half a bucket of organic matter, 30-50 g of phosphorus, 15-30 g of potassium fertilizers must be added to each well.

The shrub of the variety in question prefers areas illuminated by the sun, but it also grows well in partial shade, while shade is possible only in the southern regions. Bushes must be protected from wind currents. The plant does not have such high requirements for soil. The Leningrad giant can grow on clay and sandy soil, and will also withstand loam and sandy loam. However, acidity must be taken into account: the pH should be at 6.

Saplings must be planted at a distance of 1 to 1.5 meters from each other. When planting, the plant is placed slightly at an angle. The root collar should be 5 cm deep. After planting, the bush is watered with 10 liters of water, after which it is advisable to mulch the ground around the trunk with peat.

The high yield of the Leningradsky Giant variety can be achieved with simple care. Among agrotechnical measures, the main ones will be watering and feeding, pruning and installing supports, as well as preventing diseases and pest attacks.

Fertilizers in a planned mode begin to be applied 3 years after the planting procedure, since the nutrients that were laid in the planting pit should be enough for a couple of years.

Measures for pruning the Leningrad giant bush are carried out in early spring, even before the buds swell. In the process of pruning, weak, unproductive, dry, diseased or frozen shoots are removed. Root shoots must be removed.

Plants need to be watered regularly.In this case, the frequency of the procedure will depend on both the type of soil and climatic factors. The soil should dry out a little between wetting. Too moist soil for the variety is destructive, however, it cannot be allowed to dry out either. At the end of the next watering, the trunk circle is loosened. When the growing season is over, the soil should be dug to a depth of 7 cm.

The Leningrad giant is a winter-hardy variety. The bushes can survive a drop in winter temperatures down to -29-34 ° C. The culture is moderately drought-resistant.