How to transplant an adult gooseberry bush in the spring. Autumn gooseberry transplant: optimal timing and transplant technology

It often happens that a place for growing gooseberries was initially chosen unsuccessfully. You should not worry about this, since the shrub is not whimsical and rather steadily tolerates a change of scenery, namely, a transplant from one place to another. So, the question arises - how to transplant gooseberries correctly, and when is the best time to do it?

There are many opinions on the ways and methods of transplanting gooseberries. But if the question arises about when it is better to transplant gooseberries - in spring or autumn, then it should be said right away that the best time for transplanting a shrub is autumn. Closer to winter, all vital processes gradually subside, the plant prepares for wintering. In spring, the bush wakes up very early, the root system begins to function actively. Therefore, it is not recommended to transplant gooseberries in the spring. A plant in cold soil may simply not adapt and soon die.

When to transplant gooseberries in the fall? The best time to transplant gooseberries is late September or early October. It is at this time that the bush begins to prepare for hibernation (foliage falls, development dulls, the activity of growth of the root system is inhibited). You need to choose a not sunny day with high humidity and start preparing the bush for transplantation.

Some summer residents are interested in whether it is possible to transplant gooseberries in November? In conditions of an early onset of stable frosts, this is not recommended. But if acceptable, relatively warm weather is promised in the region for the next three weeks, with a minimum of + 5 + 8 0 С outside temperature, then you can transplant gooseberries in November as well. It is better, of course, not to take risks and do everything on time.

How to properly transplant gooseberries

Both young (2-4 years old) and more mature bushes are subject to transplantation. In a new place, they take root equally well. Despite the fact that gooseberries are not picky plants, a number of recommendations and rules must be followed when transplanting. How to transplant gooseberries correctly? First, you need to prepare the bush by holding. More than half of the old shoots should be removed. Having carried out such a cleaning, space is freed up for the growth of fresh branches, the bush immediately rejuvenates. It also contributes well to the adaptation of the root system in a new place. When pruning, be sure to use a garden pruning shears. If you break off branches, you can not only injure your hands, but also harm the plant. When transplanting a young gooseberry bush, it is necessary to cut off weak and non-fruiting branches. The strong ones that remain should be trimmed from above, stepping back about 10-15 cm from the top.

Secondly, after pruning the bush, the gooseberries should be dug at a distance of about 40 cm from the base in a circle. Old, dry roots can be safely removed with an ax. Cut off the root system should be sprinkled with wood ash.

Next, the bush must be carefully pulled out of the created nest and put on a sheet or a cart. So it will be more convenient and safer to transport it to a new place. Now you can transplant the gooseberries from place to place.

The third stage will be the digging of the planting hole. It should be at least 60 cm deep, with a diameter of about 60 cm.If there are several bushes, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 150 cm between them.

It should be remembered that the bush should be about 5-7 cm deepened into a new hole. At the bottom of the formed hole, 10 liters must be poured. water and sprinkle on top with a mixture of soil with humus in equal proportions, and also add 1/3 of wood ash, about 150-200 g of superphosphate, 60 g of potassium fertilizer (potassium salt or saltpeter).

When the bush is installed, it is necessary to straighten the twisted roots and fill up the free places with the rest of the soil. It is also recommended to make a 3-5 cm embankment. The final stage of transplanting gooseberries is watering and mulching the soil. Pour about 4 buckets of water under the bush and around it. You can mulch the soil with humus, straw, or sawdust. Most summer residents carry out mulching with straw before winter. A double layer of mulch is justified if the winters in the region are very harsh.

After completing all the activities, you can leave the bush until spring. During wintering, no measures for caring for the transplanted gooseberry are necessary.

How to transplant gooseberries correctly, video

Often on the site there is a need to transplant various crops to another place. But how risky is the transplanting of gooseberries in the spring and how it will affect the harvest of the current year.

Reasons and timing of transplant

Usually, when purchasing a seedling of a new berry bush, gardeners and summer residents tend to plant it closer to the house or along the garden path in order to be able to enjoy the fruits at any moment. This accommodation is especially convenient if the family has children and they prefer to harvest their own crops. But some time passes, and the growing bush begins to interfere - the question arises of transplanting it to another place. Is it possible to accomplish this? And when do you still need a transplant?

Such a need may be associated with:

  • with redevelopment of the site or with the rules of crop rotation;
  • due to excessive overgrowth of plants, when young bushes were planted too close to each other and, over time, thickening of the plantings occurred, which makes it difficult to care and reduces yields;
  • when transplanting a grown seedling to a permanent place;
  • with the resulting shade of the site due to the growth of trees planted nearby;
  • due to the resulting boggy or depletion of the soil.

Regardless of the reasons for the transplant, the main thing is to complete all the work correctly and in a timely manner, so as not only not to lose the plant, but also to receive constant and abundant harvests from it in the future.

Therefore, we determine the timing and choose a new landing site.

Gooseberries are a rather unpretentious culture, but you should still remember the optimal timing when you can transplant gooseberries in the spring. If you have been growing shrubs on your site for more than a year, then you have probably already noticed that after the winter period, gooseberries and currants "wake up" before everyone else. With the first warm days, their buds swell, then the first foliage, flowering, and by the end of May you can see the formed green berries. Given such a fast growing process, bushes are transplanted as early as possible so that the plant has time to recover and adapt.

And on the account of the question of where to plant the gooseberries on the site, then if you really had to disturb the plant, give it a new place with favorable conditions:

  1. Plenty of sunshine.
  2. Lack of cold winds.
  3. Balanced soil fertility.
  4. Lack of stagnant water and waterlogging of the soil.

Also, the soil where the gooseberry grows must be checked for acidity.

If you do not have the notorious litmus test at hand, then the "people's laboratory" will help determine the acidity of the soil: a handful of cherry or currant leaves are poured into glassware and poured with boiling water.

When the infusion cools down, throw a lump of earth into it and, depending on what color the water turns into, you can judge the acidity level. So, if the shade is red, the acidity is high, bluish is low, and greenish is the norm!

The introduction of lime, chalk or wood ash will help reduce the acidity of the soil. The last element is also a natural complex fertilizer containing potassium, calcium, phosphorus and other useful micro and macro elements.

If you have already decided when and where to plant gooseberries, it's time to move on to implementing your plans.

Spring transplant - stages of work

The process itself will not take much time if you prepare everything you need in advance. Therefore, first of all, we prepare the landing site. We dig a hole about 50 cm deep, and add 200 g of superphosphate, a couple of buckets of rotted mullein or humus and 300 g of wood ash to the removed soil, and mix everything thoroughly.

If the soil seems too viscous to you, then sand is added to it to improve water and air permeability. And when you are afraid of a possible stagnation of water at the planting site, it is better to drain the planting pit - it will not bring harm, but it will probably be able to save the bush during spring floods or heavy rains. Most often, crushed stone, broken brick, gravel and other suitable material are used for this, which is poured onto the bottom of the pit mixed with coarse sand. Next, pour a mound of the prepared soil mixture onto the drainage, bring two buckets of water to the planting site and go to dig out the bush.

If it is heavily overgrown and thickened, then before replanting the gooseberry in the spring, you need to cut off all unnecessary, old, broken branches that have been lowered down and shorten too long ones. This procedure will noticeably rejuvenate the shrub and facilitate the work of replanting it. In addition, such "shock" pruning allows the plant to direct all its efforts to restore damaged roots, adapt to a new place and stimulates the growth of young, promising shoots. Such pruning is also recommended when currants and gooseberries are planted, since the vegetation of these plants is similar.

They begin to dig the bush, departing from its base by 40-50 centimeters, remembering that the crown of the plant occupies the same area as its root system.

First, the plant is dug in diameter, cutting through the root cuttings that come across. Then, having brought a pitchfork, a crowbar or the same shovel under the bush, it is lifted from below, and at the same time pulled from above, grasping the branches at the base. It is easier and more convenient to do this with an assistant - there is more strength, and the likelihood of being scratched by thorns is less.

The place where the gooseberries are planted must be pre-moistened. Depending on the condition of the soil, up to four buckets of water may be needed. Before planting, 10 to 15 liters are poured into the formed groove around the poured mound. Then a seedling is lowered into the hole, carefully spreading the roots. Then the earth is gradually poured, carefully compacting and trampling. After that, it is recommended to make a groove with sides around the bush so that the water does not spread during irrigation, but everything is absorbed at the roots. At the end of planting, two buckets of water are poured under each plant, and the soil around is mulched.

Further care

A feature of any spring transplant is regular subsequent watering. Their frequency and volume depends on weather conditions - air temperature and the presence of precipitation. But about once every two weeks throughout the season, you should pour at least 12-15 liters of water under each bush. Timely and generous watering helps to preserve the set fruits and promote their full ripening, even on transplanted bushes.

Additional fertilizing during the first two years of the plant is not required, since for this period there will be enough of those that you introduced into the soil when you transplanted the gooseberries. And if you want to maintain the nutritional value of the soil, you can add a little fermented infusion of mullein or bird droppings to the water during watering.

Also, do not forget about pest control, disease prevention and weed removal, and then your renewed, transplanted bush will delight you with new crops.

Gooseberries are transplanted, like other shrubs, in autumn or spring. Moreover, autumn is the preferred season. After fruiting, the bush prepares for winter, it begins a dormant period.

In this state, the gooseberry will better tolerate a change in habitat. The best month for transplanting is October, before the onset of frost. Sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that it was not possible to transplant the plant in the fall. For example, due to early autumn frosts or due to the lack of free time at the gardener.

In this case, you can transplant the bush in the spring. But there are nuances here. Gooseberry refers to the type of shrub that wakes up very early, literally with the onset of the first warm days. Therefore, it is important not to miss the moment.

If the buds have already begun to grow, then the roots of the bush also began to grow. In such conditions, the bush may not take root at all in a new place or it will hurt and stunted. The best spring month for transplanting is March. In the northern regions, it may be early April.

In order for the gooseberry bush to take root well and bear fruit regularly, you need to choose the right place for it.

It must meet the following requirements:

  1. Good sunshine.
  2. There is no constant wind blowing. Plants feel good near any buildings that protect them from drafts.
  3. The gooseberry loves moist soil, but does not tolerate the close occurrence of groundwater and stagnant water. A place on an area where rainwater is poorly absorbed by the soil does not suit the bush.
  4. Gooseberry bushes grow well on fertile and light soils, reacts negatively to an acidic environment. If the soil is too acidic, it can be deacidified with ash or lime. Clay soil is fertilized with sand, humus or peat.
  5. Gooseberry precursors should not include raspberries or currants. These plants are susceptible to the same diseases, so the bush will be sore and stunted.

You should first clear the planting site of debris, weeds and other vegetation.

The easiest and fastest way to determine the acidity level is with litmus paper. If you don't have it, the folk method will help. It is necessary to pour a handful of cherry leaves in a jar with boiling water and wait for the infusion to cool. After that, a lump of earth is thrown into the jar from the place where the acidity needs to be determined.

Look at the color of the water:

  1. Greenish tint - normal acidity.
  2. Reddish - increased.
  3. Bluish - lowered.

First of all, let's decide when to transplant gooseberries in the fall. Most gardeners agree that early spring and fall after harvest is the best time to transplant.

In the spring, the tree wakes up literally with the first warm days, so transplanting the gooseberry in the spring at the stage of its active growth is not recommended. That is why a gardener who decides to do this work in the spring will have at most a few weeks to carry out this work.

If we talk specifically about the best time when you can plant gooseberries in the fall, then this is the end of September - the beginning of October. At this time, the gooseberry bush is preparing for hibernation, so it can be easily transplanted without fear of subsequent growth.

But at the end of October and November, it is not recommended to carry out this work. At this time, the first frosts are no longer uncommon, and in the cold the plant can quickly die. Let's talk about how to properly transplant gooseberries.

The correct choice of a place for planting gooseberries is the main factor that determines the normal development of the bush, its fruiting and protection from diseases.

Gooseberries grow in almost every suburban area. This shrub is not picky to care for and annually pleases gardeners with sweet berries, from which you can make jam, jam and compotes. However, sooner or later the gooseberries are transplanted. This has a positive effect on the yield. Let's consider this procedure in more detail.

When to transplant gooseberries in the fall

The best time for this event is September or October, depending on the onset of cold weather. The fact is that at this time the shrub has already passed the fruiting stage and is at rest. Some gardeners, in their reviews, talking about when to transplant gooseberries, argue that it is better to do it in the spring. This is not entirely true.

It should be borne in mind that during this period the plants, on the contrary, are "tuned in" to start bearing fruit as quickly as possible. It is very difficult to calculate the time when the bush has not yet passed into the preparatory stage. Therefore, in order to correctly determine when you can transplant gooseberries in the spring, you need to be a real expert in that area. If the plant has already begun to release buds, then it is undesirable to disturb it. Usually, when the shrub is moved during this period of time, it does not take root. Therefore, speaking about when it is better to transplant gooseberries, experienced gardeners recommend doing this procedure in the autumn. In this case, there is no risk of disturbing the rhizome of the bush. If you transplant when the buds have already begun to form, the plant will weaken and begin to hurt.

Having decided when you can transplant the gooseberries to another place, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. Much will depend on this.

Seat selection

It often happens that the gardener regrets that he planted certain plants without first planning the location of the beds and trees. It should be borne in mind that gooseberries grow well in fertile soil, so it is important to keep this nuance in mind.

This shrub loves open, sunny places. In this case, the plant must be reliably protected from strong gusts of wind. Also, figuring out when to transplant gooseberries, you need to consider that it should grow in fairly dry areas. If the groundwater is too close to the surface, then the shrub will often suffer from fungal diseases. At the same time, it will bear fruit with very small berries.

Which land is better according to reviews

In order not to step on someone else's rake, you should familiarize yourself with the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Sandy loam is most suitable for this plant. If only clay prevails on the site, then it must be diluted with sandy material, and vice versa.

The plant should not be transferred to the place where the currants grew before. After these crops, the land is too depleted.

How to make the right transplant

Since the thorny shrub blooms very early, when deciding when to transplant gooseberries, it is better to give preference to the autumn period. If the procedure is carried out in September or October, then you can prune the bush by removing all the old branches. It is best to leave only the youngest shoots. Those who give advice on when to transplant currants and gooseberries often say that this procedure can also be carried out in the spring. However, you shouldn't risk it anyway.

An autumn transplant should be done as follows:

  • Dig in the cut bush on all sides at a distance of at least 30 cm from the gooseberry trunk.
  • Cut through all thick roots with a sharp ax.
  • Using a crowbar and a shovel, remove the shrub from the soil, lay it on a film and relocate it to the place of a new planting.
  • Dig a hole slightly larger than the gooseberry rhizome. In this case, the depth of the excavation should be approximately 50 cm.
  • Pour four buckets of water into the pit.
  • Pour in a mixture prepared from the removed soil and compost.
  • Place the shrubbery in the groove and fill any voids with fertile soil.
  • Tamp the ground.
  • Spill the base of the bush with 3 buckets of water.

Having decided how and when to transplant gooseberries, you should not relax. The plant needs follow-up care.

Mulching

In order for the plant to recover as quickly as possible after transplanting, immediately after its final watering, it is necessary to cover the ground with special material. For mulching, you can use:

  • Dry peat crumb (it is better to take the grass-roots).
  • Rotted manure several times, which must be thoroughly crushed.
  • Deciduous tree sawdust. If you use pine needles, then it will oxidize the earth.
  • Bark or wood chips.

Mulch helps protect bushes from excessive moisture evaporation. In addition, weeds will not break through this natural material. In this case, the layer of mulch should be at least 10 cm. Do not be afraid that water will not flow through the material.

Mineral fertilizers

Gooseberries take about 1 month to take root. The main sign that the plant has normally accepted the move is the appearance of new buds, from which fresh leaves will begin to hatch. If the foliage continues to turn green, then this means that the gooseberry has completely taken root and will give a long-awaited harvest. After a few weeks, you can start feeding the shrub. For this, it is best to use nitrogen fertilizers. They promote faster and healthier growth of new stems and foliage.

If, when deciding when to transplant gooseberries, the choice fell in favor of spring planting, then the feeding procedures will be the same.

Organic fertilizers

In this case, we will also talk about additives containing nitrogen. Most of all it is in bird droppings. However, it is strictly forbidden to use it in its pure form, otherwise the gooseberry can get serious burns or even die. In order not to risk it, you need to thoroughly dissolve the droppings in water and insist it for at least 7 days. The resulting infusion must be poured under the base of the shrub in the amount of one bucket per plant. Remove the mulch before fertilizing.

Also, according to the reviews of experienced gardeners, it is better to choose liquid fertilizing. At the same time, it makes no difference which fertilizers are used (mineral or organic). Before performing the procedure, the gooseberries must be thoroughly watered.

Soil microflora is activated only at positive temperatures. Therefore, it is recommended to make top dressing in April, when the air warms up to +12 degrees. In addition, it should be borne in mind that microflora should not be used in conjunction with mineral fertilizers.

Summer plant care

In the hot season, you need to pay special attention to watering the gooseberries. If it does not rain in summer, then the shrub must be supplied with water at least twice a week. This watering continues until July. In the middle of the summer season, it is worth adding water a little less often (once every 7 days is enough). If the summer is too dry, then it is necessary to shed not only the soil, but also moisten the crown of the bush. This procedure is called sprinkling.

You need to understand that the gooseberry "breathes" with the help of the entire surface of the foliage and stems. During dry periods, plant tissues begin to shrink, which makes oxygen less likely to penetrate the cells. If the crown is cooled with water, it will relax the cell membranes.

You can water the plant only in the early morning, when the sun's rays have not yet begun to burn the bushes, or in the late evening, when it is no longer so hot outside. If the water turns into "boiling water", then it can cause irreparable harm to the gooseberry.

Preparing for autumn and winter

In order for the plant to feel good in the cold season, it is necessary to carry out certain preparatory work. To do this, water the gooseberries abundantly when the ambient temperature drops to +8 degrees. Under each bush, you must add at least 50 liters of water. The plant needs to get enough moisture to supply enough nutrients before the snow begins to melt.

After that you need to protect For this, it will do:

  • Dry lawn grass.
  • Mown hay. Better to sort it out and remove all the seeds.
  • Sawdust.
  • Healthy plant foliage.

It is not necessary to cover the crown, since it tolerates frost well without additional protection.

Possible mistakes

Gardeners know if a gooseberry can be transplanted, when it is best to do it, and what measures are required to protect the plant. However, novice gardeners often make some mistakes:

  • The shrub is transplanted as a normal seedling. It is important to understand that you cannot completely bare the roots of an adult plant. There must be an earthen lump on them. Otherwise, the plant may not take root.
  • Water the newly transplanted plant with too cold water. The temperature of the liquid should not be lower than +18 degrees and not more than +25. If the water is cold, the plant will start to feel unwell, wilted, and ultimately may die. At the same time, the situation cannot be corrected even with the help of powerful fertilizers. Artesian wells have been installed in some areas. The water in them is extremely cold, so in no case should it be used to water gooseberries without preheating. In addition, the soil could be very hot during the day. If ice water is poured onto a hot earth, then a sharp drop in temperature will occur from this.

Although the gooseberry is a rather unpretentious plant, it requires periodic watering and feeding. In this case, he will always delight with a large harvest of large and sweet berries.

Autumn is the most optimal time of the year when it is best to transplant gooseberries. The season has already ended, the berries have been collected from the bushes, which means that after transplanting to a new place, the bush will direct all its forces to rooting and take root better.

Choosing a suitable place for a gooseberry transplant

Not everyone succeeds in initially planning the arrangement of beds, shrubs, trees and flower beds on the site so that later they do not have to regret their decision. The reasons why there is a need to redevelop the site may be different: someone has an idea in front of the house, others are uncomfortable with overgrown trees and shrubs, and still others are trying to save weakened plants that were planted in an inappropriate place for them. And if adult fruit trees in most cases have to be cut down at the root, then with shrubs the situation is much simpler - so, transplanting gooseberries in autumn does not require much trouble from the gardener and does not take much time.

As you know, gooseberries, which are planted in places open to the sun, protected from strong winds, grow and bear fruit best of all. In damp areas, where groundwater is too close, and in areas with heavy clay soil, the shrub will often be exposed, and the berries, if they appear, are very small.

Gooseberry transplant video

To get a good harvest from gooseberries:

  • choose areas with light loamy soils, sandy loam soil can be diluted with clay, and sand can be added to clayey;
  • since the gooseberry does not favor acidified soil, if necessary, add lime to it immediately before planting the bushes;
  • after raspberries and currants, it is better not to plant gooseberries, since after them the soil is depleted, and the pests of these crops are common - they will gladly pounce on weakened gooseberry bushes;
  • stick to the most appropriate dates when you can transplant gooseberries;
  • be sure to weed the soil thoroughly before replanting the bushes.

Gooseberries, which are planted in places open to the sun, grow and bear fruit best of all.

If you needed a gooseberry transplant in order to free up space on the site, then you can place the bushes along the fence, at a distance of one and a half meters from it, or near young trees, leaving a free distance of at least two meters.

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly transplant gooseberries

Although each gardener has his own opinion about when it is more convenient and more effective to transplant gooseberries, transplanting is undesirable in the spring because this thorny shrub blooms very early. You can easily skip the appropriate dates for transplanting gooseberries, and after the buds appear on the branches, it is highly undesirable to damage the root system of the bush.

In autumn, in September-October, you will be in time by removing all the old thorny branches and leaving only the youngest, strongest shoots (they will need to be shortened by a third), making it much easier to work with the bush.

In the fall, in September-October, you will have time to cut the gooseberries by removing all the old thorny branches.

Gooseberry bushes are transplanted like this:

  • the cut gooseberry is dug in from all sides at a distance of at least 30 cm from the base of the bush, all thick roots are chopped off with an ax;
  • then the bush is taken out of the ground with a shovel or crowbar, put on a film and transported to the place of transplantation;
  • a hole is dug in the selected area of ​​a slightly larger diameter than an earthen lump with a root system (about 50 cm deep);
  • 4 buckets of water are poured into the pit;
  • a mixture is poured from the top layer of the removed fertile soil with compost (it is better not to add fertilizers so as not to burn the roots);
  • the gooseberry bush is installed in the pit and the gaps on the sides are filled with the remaining fertile mixture;
  • the soil around the bush is compacted and watered with three buckets of water;
  • dry earth and peat chips are poured on top as mulch.

Video about caring for gooseberries

The transplanted gooseberry should be buried five centimeters deeper into the ground than it used to grow. Before the onset of cold weather, the bush will need to be watered regularly, pushing the mulch back and returning it to its place. For the winter, it will be enough to cover the near-trunk circle with sawdust, there is no need to cover the bush.

A gooseberry transplant in the fall can be used not only to free up an area for a lawn or to transfer a bush to a more comfortable place. This information will also be useful to those who are interested in how to plant gooseberries in order to reproduce them. Autumn transplanting provides excellent survival rate of shrubs, so you can safely propagate gooseberries not only by layering, but also by dividing the bush.