Invicta gooseberry is a popular variety with high yields. The great demand is due to the early ripening period. This variety is one of the classic ones, since there are thorns on the branches, but they are not located too close, therefore, they do not cause much trouble for gardeners.
Gooseberry variety “Invicta”
gooseberries “Invicta” juicy and fragrant, with a characteristic sweetness in taste
variety "Invicta" unpretentious in care with high yields
When and how was the variety developed?
Gooseberry varieties Invicta has become one of the most common and sought-after species in Europe. The variety was bred in the UK, where the cultivation of fruits on an industrial scale is still used today.
During the creation of the variety, such gooseberry species as Vinhamz, Resistant, Kipsake were crossed, from which he received the best characteristics.
Description of Invicta gooseberry
This gooseberry variety has a lot of characteristics, thanks to which it has become so popular among gardeners. The most important plus is that it gives a large harvest and does not require special care.
Bushes
In height, the bushes can reach 120-150 cm, grow rapidly and have a spreading crown. The stems are not too thick, straight, large spikes, but are located at a great distance from each other.
The foliage is medium in size, dark green in color, undescended, the surface is glossy. A distinctive feature of the bushes is their rapid growth, which must be remembered when planting Invicta.
Berries
Berries are one of the main advantages of this type of gooseberry. The fruits have a large size, the average weight is about 7 g, in shape resembles a small plum. Larger berries can also be found, weighing up to 12 g.
The shape of the fruit is slightly oblong, but symmetrical, no more than 2.7 cm long, of a beautiful yellow-green hue. During the period of full ripening of the berries, they have an amber hue.
The peel is thin and elastic, on the surface there is a light layer of bristle, the pulp has a pleasant sour-sweet taste and delicate aroma. The fruits are a unique storehouse of valuable minerals combined with vitamins. The composition contains about 13% of sugars, citric, as well as malic acids, pectins.
Features of the Invicta variety
The main features of the described variety are considered to be a high indicator of resistance to dry days and various external negative influences.
Disease and pest resistance
Invicta is highly resistant not only to powdery mildew, but also to other types of diseases characteristic of berry bushes. If the basic conditions of detention are violated (when the plant is planted in very moist soil), the risk of developing a dangerous disease increases several times.
Gardeners note that the described gooseberry variety is rarely attacked by various pests.
Drought and frost resistance
Although gooseberries are considered a moisture-loving shrub, stagnant water can kill the plant. That is why in long dry days abundant watering is required.
Invicta safely survives fairly low temperatures. Calmly tolerates temperatures down to -40 ˚С. Sudden changes in temperature are not dangerous for this species.
Ripening period and yield
In case of proper care, about 7 kg of fragrant and large berries can be obtained from one bush. At the end of June, the fruiting period begins and lasts until the beginning of September. After planting a young plant, the first crop can be harvested in 2-3 years. Berries appear not only on perennial, but also on annual stems. For 10-12 years, the high productivity of the bush is maintained, subject to proper care.
Taste qualities
The fruits of the described gooseberry variety have high taste, thanks to which they are very popular:
- the pulp is quite juicy, with a delicate aroma;
- the peel is thin and tender;
- berries have a universal purpose.
Transportability and storage
Despite the fact that the berries have a very thin and soft skin, they have excellent transportability. The fruits are very tasty and juicy, can be eaten fresh or frozen, which significantly extends the shelf life.
Using berries
The fruits of this gooseberry variety are considered universal, moreover, they can be eaten at almost all stages of ripeness. Fruits that are not fully ripe can be used during the preparation of compote, jam. Fully ripe and juicy fruits are consumed fresh, used as an interesting filling for baking or in the preparation of various sauces.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
This type of gooseberry has a lot of positive qualities, which include:
- high and stable productivity, which lasts for 10 years;
- the fruits are large, with a pleasant taste, thin skin and delicate aroma;
- the berries are large, have persistent transportability and good keeping quality;
- fruits of universal purpose;
- the bushes are not demanding to care for, they tolerate a short drought well;
- good resistance to diseases and pests.
The disadvantages include the presence of large thorns. Long periods of drought can lead to the death of the plant.
Features of the choice of seedlings
If you are purchasing a seedling that has an open root system, you need to pay attention to the following:
- the length of the roots is not less than 14-18 cm;
- the number of main roots is not less than 2;
- the length of the aboveground part is about 35 cm;
- number of stems - 1-2 pcs .;
- no traces of mechanical damage should be visible on the plants;
- choose a plant without leaves;
- the kidneys should remain closed.
In the case of purchasing a plant in a container, the age of the bush does not matter. In this form, seedlings can be stored for a long time, the main thing is to periodically moisten the ground.
To obtain high-quality and completely healthy planting material, you need to purchase plants exclusively in stores specializing in garden plants or nurseries.
Growing conditions
A properly selected planting site and constant care will help you get a harvest of large and fragrant berries every year. The level of illumination does not matter much, since the described species grows well and bears fruit in different lighting conditions.
An excellent result will be obtained not only during cultivation in open sunny areas, but also in shading. An excellent choice would be to plant a seedling in a small shade.
You need to be more careful when choosing a soil - the soil should be fertile and well-drained. A good option would be sandy loam or loamy soils. The plant does not like stagnation of water and it is not recommended to plant it in the lowlands where rain water can accumulate.
The landing site must be reliably protected from drafts and strong winds.
Time and landing patterns
It is possible to plant gooseberries not only in the spring, but also in the autumn. The latter option is the most preferable, because with a slight above-zero temperature, ideal conditions are created for strengthening and taking root in a new place. During the winter, the soil around the sprouts strengthens, the roots become stronger, and adaptation takes place faster in the spring.
Good results will be obtained with spring planting. In this case, it is necessary to carry out the procedure between the time when the buds begin to swell on the sprouts and the soil melts. With late planting, the survival rate of the seedling in a new place significantly deteriorates.
If you adhere to the calendar dates, the ideal period will be the beginning of March or the first days of September, until the frost comes. In the case of planting in the fall, it is necessary to prepare the site for several months. When planting shrubs in spring, all preparatory work is done in autumn.
Read our article on how to properly plant and grow gooseberries.
Planting instructions
The planting of Invicta gooseberry seedling is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Pre-prepare for planting a depression of this size - 50x50x50 cm.
- Leave a gap of at least 1.5 m between the plants, 1 m between the rows.
- Apply fertilizer before planting - mullein (10 g), superphosphate (180 g), potassium salt (40 g), crushed limestone (250 g). Mix the top dressing thoroughly with the ground.
- When planting in heavy and oily soil, add peat (2-3 buckets).
- Check the root collar of the plant, while during planting, do not deepen it more than 5 cm.
- Plant the sprouts vertically without tilting.
- Compact the soil and water the bush liberally - about 5 liters of water per plant.
Invicta grows in a large and voluminous bush, so it is imperative to make supports up to a height of about 160 cm. Then pull a cord on them at a level of 90 and 140 cm. Tie the long gooseberry stems to the cord.
Features of seasonal care
After planting, shrubs need proper and regular maintenance. It must be remembered that taking into account the season and growing conditions, gooseberries require different care.
Watering
This garden culture easily tolerates short periods of drought. To collect a rich harvest of large and juicy berries, regular watering is required. It is necessary to ensure that when watering the ground is moistened to a depth of at least 40 cm.
It is advisable to carry out irrigation with standing warm water. Try to keep water out of the leaves, water as close to the ground as possible. Watering is required at the following stages:
- During the formation of stems and ovaries - the end of May or the beginning of June.
- During the beginning of fruit ripening.
- In September, as it is required to prepare the root system of the fruit for the coming winter.
Given the size and age of the gooseberry, about 2-3 buckets of water will often be required per bush.
Soil care
To ensure a high level of fruiting, it is required to constantly and competently take care of the soil. It is enough to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Loose and dig the soil to increase moisture and air permeability. For digging, take a shovel, and for loosening - garden forks, since you need to act more delicately.
- Regularly remove weeds, because too dense vegetation near the bush leads to an increase in air humidity. As a result, this can lead to the appearance of a dangerous fungal type of disease.
- Do not forget about the benefits of mulching, as this procedure helps to maintain optimal moisture in the ground and prevent the soil from drying out. Sawdust, dried straw, hay or peat are ideal mulches.
- Perform weeding and loosening at least once a month.
The roots of the bush are located very close to the surface, so loosening should be done as carefully and delicately as possible, but not deeper than 8 cm.
Top dressing
Feeding should be carried out at least twice a year, the frequency of which directly depends on the degree of fertility of the land. The first fertilizer application is carried out after the end of the flowering period to increase yield. The second top dressing is carried out during the preparation of the bush for the upcoming winter.
For the first feeding, take organic matter. Dung or mullein will do. Dilute with water in a ratio of 1:20 or 1:10. For 1 sq. m area is taken 10 l of mullein, 5 l - litter. To make it more comfortable to apply fertilizers, make not too deep grooves next to the bush, into which pour the prepared solution. As soon as the fertilizer is absorbed, cover the furrows with a layer of earth.
After harvesting, use mineral types of fertilizers - urea (10 g), potassium sulfate (10 g) and superphosphate (20 g) per 10 liters of water.
Use nitrogenous fertilizers in the spring, which will ensure the rapid growth of greenery. Prepare a mixture of ammonium nitrate (40 g) combined with 10 liters of water. Pour the solution with a watering can so that the composition falls both on the trunk and on the shoots. Then be sure to cover the soil with a layer of ash (1 glass per 1 bush), perform loosening.
Pruning
You need to carry out the pruning procedure throughout the life of the shrub. Held twice a year - in spring and autumn. In young bushes that have not reached the age of 3 years, shorten all skeletal branches by half, almost completely remove the root growth.
Bushes from the age of 4 years need to remove all defective branches - dried, weakened, improperly growing or injured. Do not allow strong thickening of the branches, otherwise this will lead to a decrease in yield. Remove branches that are more than 5 years old, as berries hardly appear on them.
After all the foliage has fallen in the fall, carry out a new pruning. Perform the procedure in the spring before the buds begin to open. To increase fruiting, it is recommended to perform summer pruning - cut the tops of the branches so that at least 5-6 leaves are left on them.
We recommend that you additionally read the article on how to care for gooseberries in the spring.
Winter cold protection
This variety easily tolerates cold and even severe frosts. But it is important to carry out simple preparatory work, which will help to successfully transfer the coming winter to the bush:
- Cut off any dry, intertwined, tainted branches and those lying on the ground, and collect the fallen leaves.
- Water the root well, plow the ground.
- Be sure to mulch before freezing to help prevent freezing of the root system. An excellent option for mulch is peat or humus, which should be laid in a layer of at least 10 cm.
- You can also insulate the roots with snow - the layer should be at least 10 cm.
- When the winter is snowy with severe frosts, additionally use covering material to protect the root system of the bush.
In the form of mulch, do not use cut branches or leaves of the plant, as pests or sources of infection can live on them. It is recommended to burn all fallen leaves and cut branches, which will help to destroy possible sources of disease.
Invicta grade reviews
Marina, 35 years old, amateur gardener, Moscow. I planted gooseberries of this variety on a personal plot and was completely satisfied with the result. I collect a rich harvest consistently every year, I really like the high resistance to such a disease as powdery mildew.
Stepan, 40 years old, entrepreneur, Khabarovsk. I am engaged in the cultivation of gooseberries for industrial purposes. The Invicta variety is the most beloved, since it does not require special care, stably gives a large harvest. The fruits are tasty and have high keeping quality and excellent transportability. The biggest drawback is the rather large thorns, which complicate the harvest a little, but they are rarely located, so there are no special problems.
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Invicta gooseberries are considered to be one of the highest quality and also comfortable to cultivate. The fruits have excellent tasting properties, the plant gives a plentiful harvest, not whimsical to care for. Even an inexperienced gardener can cope with the cultivation of this berry culture.