Gooseberry vegetation begins much earlier than other berry bushes. He "wakes up" when the thermometer shows 0 ... + 10 ° С. About when and how this process occurs in different regions, read on in the article.
What is gooseberry vegetation, vegetation timing
The period of active growth and development is called vegetation. The term comes from the Latin vegetati - "revival". For gooseberries, this is the period in which leaves have time to appear on it, ripen the berries, and it lasts until the leaves fall in the fall.
The duration of this period depends on weather conditions and may not start or end at the same time as the average dates. If spring frosts suddenly hit the street, the process will begin later. It is hot in August - which means that the leaves may fall from a lack of moisture - and the growing season will end earlier.
Important! Flowering of European varieties begins earlier than in American. And it can last not one, but 2 weeks.
Gooseberry development periods:
- the appearance of leaves - at a temperature of +5 ... + 10 ° C;
- bloom - 20-25 days after the opening of the kidneys;
- fruit education and development - 1.5–2 months after flowering;
- leaf fall - in the fall, in October – November, depending on the season.
When it begins to bloom, what it depends on
Gooseberries are cold-resistant crops and their development is almost stable. Leaves appear in April. Flowering bushes will begin in the last decade of April or the process may drag on until May due to cool weather. This will last only 1 week.
Gooseberries are self-pollinated plants, therefore, it is not important for gardeners when the flowering begins exactly. But for those who grow berries for sale, the exact period may matter. The earliest berries, in particular, reflect the best market prices. And if you can get a crop a week earlier than others - this will be a significant increase in profit.Important! It is convenient to pick berries in the morning, because chilled, they are stored longer. In addition, the thorns are softened in the morning and you will lessen your hands.
The longest fruiting period is also an important factor for farmers. Harvest ripens in 1.5–2 months after flowering. The harvest will ripen in July. Most varieties will ripen this month.
To accelerate flowering, film or tunnel temporary shelters are used for plants that usually grow in open ground. And planting several varieties of different fruiting dates will help extend the overall harvest period.
From the region
Flowering begins 20 days after the appearance of the leaves. If the spring is long, then the process can occur 5 days later. Before all, gooseberries on the Black Sea coast and the Caucasus begin to bloom.
Here the kidneys may open in March, when the average monthly temperature is + 8 ° C. In Moscow and Moscow region, the temperature + 10 ° C comes to April. To the North, the same heat only comes in May (+ 12 ° C).
From grade
According to the fruiting period, gooseberries are divided into early, middle and late. Early ripening in 40–45 days after flowering, medium - in 50 days, late - in 60–70 days.
So, on the Black Sea coast you can expect the first berries in early May, the ripening of early varieties by the end of May, and the late by June. For the Moscow Region, these periods are in early June, late July and July, respectively.
Did you know? Gooseberries and currants belong to the same family. Both plants grow on three continents — in Africa, Eurasia and North America.
From growing conditions: care
The opportunity to make the most of your berry season begins in winter. To accelerate fruiting, farmers make portable film shelters, grow gooseberries in a tunnel way or in greenhouses in order to get the crop early.
Other care measures - watering, top dressing or pruning - cannot affect the period of ovary formation on shoots or fruiting of perennials. But the lack of irrigation can end the growing season earlier. Watering affects the weight of the berries, as they consist mainly of water. The application of fertilizing affects the development of the root system and shoots, as well as the volume of the crop, but not its ripening.
Did you know? Gooseberries were very popular in the USA. But the fungal bacteria carried by the plant began to infect local pine trees, so many states have banned the cultivation of this shrub.
When grown in open ground, plants are affected by the planting site. So, in a sunny area on the south side, you win several days to accelerate flowering and fruiting. 
Grow gooseberries, taking into account various factors accelerating its development. But also do not forget that the best way to get an early harvest is to plant earlier varieties.
