How to prepare gooseberries for cold weather

Autumn is the time to prepare the gooseberry bush for winter. This procedure should not be ignored, otherwise, next year's harvest will be lost. Botanists consider the plant unpretentious, but it does require care. Under snow, greenery is less susceptible to temperature fluctuations, pathogens, and pests. Gardeners adhere to all deadlines and provide gooseberries with comfortable conditions as required by the characteristics of the planted variety.

Autumn maintenance work

During December and February, seedlings are not treated. The final spraying with nutrient mixtures and pest and disease control agents is done one week before the onset of frost. Active treatments begin four days before the onset of full-blown winter:

• Fallen leaves are removed from around the trunk circle;
• remove lying fruits and plant debris;
• a summer resident weeds the soil near the vegetation located around the plantings;
• The collected waste is burned rather than stored, otherwise the pile will become a source of bacteria and pests;
• Near the trunk circle, shallow loosening is carried out so as not to damage the roots.

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During preparatory work, the soil between the rows of plants is dug up. Nutrient mixtures containing potassium and phosphorus are added.

The seedlings are pruned and covered

Botanists are adamant. All seedling manipulations should be completed 5-6 days before the onset of frost. Gooseberries do not tolerate pruning during frosts well. The second recommendation concerns watering. Ten days before frost, spray the soil with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate to prevent disease. The third piece of advice is to water each plant generously four days before frost. Use 2-3 liters of filtered and settled water per bush. Water with a liquid at a temperature of 18-22°C.

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Pruning is a multi-stage procedure. It's not left until spring because plants emerge from dormancy early. Everything is done before the cold weather sets in. Pruning simplifies care This allows the gooseberry to direct nutrients toward its own development. Weak and dry branches are removed. Two to four of the strongest sections, no more than five years old, are left. Botanists say that after five years of fruiting, a branch stops growing.

Covering – In regions with dense snow cover, seedlings are covered only with a white blanket. If the weather is less generous with precipitation, improvised materials are used. A simple option is to cover the plants with purchased fertile soil. First, tie the branches, press the gooseberries to the ground, then cover with garden covering material and cover. Remove the covering only after the temperature stabilizes at 19°C or above.

Gooseberries are an easy-to-grow perennial plant. The harvest is harvested annually by those who prepare the seedlings for winter. This includes pruning, watering, and fertilizing. This work is completed seven days before the onset of cold weather. The seedlings are not disturbed under the snow until the cold weather sets in.