Common gooseberry «Hinnonmaki Green»

Synonyms: Ribes uva-crispa 'Hinnonmäki Grön', Ribes uva-crispa Hinnonmäki Grö, Gooseberry Hinnonmaki Grun

Common gooseberry «Hinnonmaki Green» (Ribes uva-crispa "Hinnonmaki Green") – a mid-season cultivar of the common gooseberry. The cultivar was obtained in Finland.

It is a deciduous, slightly spreading, vigorously growing shrub 0.9-1.3 m in height. Young shoots are grayish. Thorniness is medium. Bark is dark gray or dark brown, peeling.

Leaves are petiolate, 3-5-lobed, shortly pubescent, dull green, with bluntly toothed margins.

The cultivar is self-fertile. Flowers are greenish-yellow, located in leaf axils singly or in groups of 2-3. Blooms in early May.

Fruits are elongated-oval, olive-green, slightly pubescent, aromatic. Flesh is sweet-and-sour, watery, of high taste quality. Fruits annually, 4-5 kg per bush. Fruits ripen at the end of July.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-30°C).

Location: prefers sunny, open, well-ventilated sites sheltered from cold winds. Prefers fertile, light medium-loamy soil; does not like acidic soils (pH not below 6.1-6.5). Moisture-loving, but does not tolerate waterlogging and shallow groundwater (not closer than 1.5 m from the surface).

Planting: planting is recommended in autumn (mid-September – early October). The seedling should have 3-5 woody scaffold roots at least 10 cm long and well-developed fibrous roots. 2-year-old seedlings should have 2-3 shoots at least 30 cm long. Plant gooseberry in round holes 0.5 m deep and wide. The soil mixture consists of 2/3 of the fertile (top) soil, to which add a bucket of manure or compost, 200-250 g of complex mineral fertilizer (or 150-200 g of superphosphate), 40-60 g of potassium sulfate (or 300 g of wood ash), 50-60 g of limestone. Fill half the hole with the resulting mixture. On top, heap the remaining 1/3 part of fertile soil in a mound. After the mixture settles (in 1-2 weeks), proceed to planting. Place the seedling upright on the mound, spread the roots and fill with the remaining soil (the root collar should be buried 4-6 cm). Tamp the soil around the bush, water along furrows (0.5 bucket per bush) and mulch with humus. After planting, prune the shoots, leaving 5-7 cm above the ground to improve branching. Planting scheme 2.5x1.5 m.

Diseases: European powdery mildew, Sphaerotheca (American powdery mildew), anthracnose, white spot, cup rust, mosaic, gray rot, columnar rust, dieback of shoots and branches. Exhibits high resistance to mildew.

Pests: pale-legged and yellow sawflies, fruit moth, shoot aphid, geometer moth (inchworm), spider mite, clearwing, gall midge.

Care: requires moderate watering, especially during berry growth and ripening. A pre-winter water-charging irrigation is necessary. Likes potassium fertilizers. From the 3rd year after planting it is recommended annually in autumn to apply organic fertilizers (0.5 bucket of compost or humus), 40 g of superphosphate, 0.5 cup of wood ash per 1 sq. m. Annually nitrogen fertilizers are required (80 g ammonium nitrate per 1 bush). Liquid feeding with organic fertilizers in early spring, after flowering and during fruit set is also effective. Requires loosening of the soil under the bushes.

Pruning: performed in early spring before bud break or in autumn (October). Requires annual pruning. 5-6 year old branches with weak growth (less than 15 cm) are cut out entirely or to a strong lateral branch. It is also recommended to prune drooping branches.

Propagation: propagated vegetatively: by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. Seed propagation is used in breeding new cultivars. Hardwood cuttings should be harvested in early spring before the start of vegetation. Cuttings should be up to 20 cm long with 5 buds. Soak them in water for a day. Plant cuttings at an angle, 5-7 cm apart in a row and 10 cm between rows in sand to a depth of up to 25 cm. Leave 1 top bud above the surface. In the spring-summer period, water and feed the cuttings (40 g ammonium nitrate, 20 g potassium salt, 30 g superphosphate per 10 l of water). The following spring the cuttings can be planted in a permanent place. For propagation by layering, in March before bud break choose 5-6 one-year basal shoots (zero order) located along the row on both sides of the bush. On both sides of the bush along the row make furrows 15-20 cm deep. Lay the shoots in these furrows with their tips shortened by 3-4 cm, not brought to the surface. Layerings are pinned with wooden pegs at the base of the bush and at the tips. The first covering with soil is done only after buds sprout and young shoots up to 5 cm form. After layerings grow to 10-15 cm in length, earthing up of the shoots up to the tip is carried out, which is recommended after rain with moist soil. Division of the bush is done in October-November after leaf fall or in March before bud break. When digging up bushes, the rootstock is divided into parts; younger shoots with a good root system are used as planting material.

Usage: fruits are consumed fresh, used for canning, making jam, wine, kissels and marmalade. A good nectar source for bees. The cultivar is distinguished by high winter hardiness, yield, excellent fruit taste quality, and resistance to mildew.