Gooseberries do not bear fruit - reasons

Gooseberries are grown by many summer residents on their personal plot. This is a very healthy and tasty berry that, if properly cared for, gives a rich harvest. But sometimes, due to a violation of the rules of agricultural technology or when the gardener does not follow the rules for planting this bush, the gooseberry may not bear fruit. In this article, we will tell you the main reasons why gooseberries do not bear fruit, as well as how to fix them.

Gooseberries do not bear fruit: reasons

Gooseberry is a shrub plant. It can reach a height of up to 1.5 meters. It bears fruit in different ways from June to August, depending on the variety. The number of fruits on a bush can also be different.

There may be several reasons why gooseberries do not bear fruit or berries are formed in small quantities:

• The bush may be too young, or transplanted to a new location this year. The plant spends all its strength on adaptation.
• The bush, on the contrary, may be already old, therefore, it gives several times less berries.
• Since planting, no pruning has ever been carried out, so the bush is too thick.
• The soil lacks nutrients.
• The basic rules for planting a bush have been violated.
• The roots of the plant rot due to waterlogging, or due to insect pests, or due to diseases.

Gooseberry does not bear fruit: the wrong variety is chosen

If, when buying seedlings, you chose the wrong variety for your region, there will be no berries on the gooseberry.

Bushes are available with or without thorns. Their presence or absence affects the rules for the care and planting of the bush.

Also, all hybrid varieties are intended only for certain areas. Therefore, if you plant such a bush, and the environmental conditions do not suit it, then there will be no berries on the bush.

Before buying a seedling, consider the temperature requirements of the variety (frost-hardy, winter-hardy or heat-loving). Also to the requirement of the variety for air humidity and soil. Since varieties that do not tolerate high humidity, do not take root in such places. And varieties that love light earth will not take root on clay soil.

Poor planting material

If, when buying, you got bad, weak seedlings, then they will not be able to bear fruit either in the first or in the second year. Bad seedlings can be identified immediately by the underdeveloped root system. From the main root, there will be little adventitious roots. Such a bush will grow slowly, and may even stop growing, since the plant will lack nutrients coming through the root system.

Landing rules violated

One of the main reasons why gooseberries don't bear fruit. When planting this plant, several important rules must be observed:

• You need to choose a sunny place for planting, since the gooseberry does not like shade, even partial. Therefore, do not plant it under fences or large trees that block the light with their crown. Also, gooseberries do not like through wind and stagnant water. From this it follows that it is not necessary to plant a bush in open, heavily blown areas and in lowlands, where water can accumulate in spring and autumn.
• The soil for planting should be neutral or slightly acidic. On acidic soils, the root system does not develop well.
• When planting gooseberries, you need to dig a hole no deeper than 50 cm, since the trunk grows poorly in deep holes near the bush, and side shoots are not formed either.
• When planting, observe the distance between seedlings. It should be at least 1.3-1.5 m between each bush. A close planting will prevent the plant from developing. Bushes will compete for light, water and nutrients.

The gooseberry does not bear fruit: the rules of care are violated

An important factor for the gooseberry to bear fruit is care after planting. Many gardeners make a mistake, as a result there are no berries on the bush.

• Watering. Very important for normal growth. You need to water the plants every week, but at the same time make sure that the earth is dry. If, for example, it rained all week, then it is clear that additional watering is not necessary. But if there was a heat all week, then you need to monitor the condition of the earth and, if necessary, watering more often. Each bush needs about 5-6 liters of water. The water should be warm. If it was taken from the water supply, then it needs to be defended. Well, you need to water the plants, of course, in the evening.
• Fertilization. For good fruiting, gooseberries need nutrition. On poor soils, of course, there are few or no berries. Gooseberries are fed about three to four times throughout the season. The first feeding should contain nitrogen to build up vegetative green mass. Subsequent dressings should contain potassium and phosphorus for good flowering and fruiting.
• Mulching and loosening. As a result of loosening, the roots receive an influx of oxygen, as a result, they grow better and better absorb nutrients. Mulch-covered soil retains moisture longer after watering and also helps the plant fight weeds.

Incorrect pruning of the bush

In order that the gooseberry bush does not become too thick, it must be cut off. Bush pruning is carried out several times per season. Basically, unnecessary, diseased and old branches are cut off completely at the root. And also the seedlings themselves are pruned up to 4 buds. If this is not done, then over time the bush will grow old and will not bear fruit. Pruning rejuvenates shrubs and promotes good

harvest of berries. Crown-forming pruning is just as important. Which also saves the bush from thickening.

But over-pruning will also damage the shrub. You do not need to get carried away much, otherwise the plant will need time and all the strength to recover.

Plant age

Depending on the variety, the gooseberry bush can begin to bear fruit in the 2nd or third year, and in some varieties even in the fourth. This is fine. Basically, a bountiful harvest is obtained from bushes that have not yet reached 8 years of age. If the bush is more than eight years old, the number of berries on the bushes decreases. Then you can carry out a strong anti-aging pruning, after which the bush will begin to bear fruit well again.

Bad weather conditions during the flowering bush

If during the flowering of the gooseberry there was a sharp temperature drop, for example, night frosts, then for the bush it will be stress, as a result of which it will drop its buds and will recover. The bush can also shed flowers if it rains all the time.

Gooseberry does not bear fruit: no pollination

Before purchasing gooseberry bushes, familiarize yourself with its self-pollination properties. For some varieties, this indicator is very high, for example, Plum, Russian, Chernomor, and some have very low, for example, Record.

Also, some hybrid varieties in very hot weather can form dry wind, as a result, pollen falls on dry pistils and fertilization does not occur, and therefore, there will be no fruits.

The presence of diseases and pests

One of the reasons gooseberries do not bear fruit is root system diseases. Fungal diseases that develop slowly and do not allow the bush to form a good harvest or the berries to ripen to the end are especially dangerous.

If you notice in time signs of infection of the bush with a fungus, then you can start fighting it in time.

Signs of damage to the bush by a fungus, due to which the gooseberry does not bear fruit:

• The leaves change color, become paler.
• Dry spots appear on the leaves.
• The buds and leaves fall off.

In addition to disease, insects can also harm the bush. They can be seen on close inspection. As a rule, they leave the products of their vital activity on the leaves. And also on the back of the sheet you can see their eggs.As soon as you see insects, you urgently need to start fighting them, otherwise they can eat the whole bush.

For the prevention of diseases and insects, gooseberries in early spring, before the buds open, are treated with various fungicidal and insecticidal preparations, and folk remedies are also used.

What if the gooseberry does not bear fruit?

Some factors that prevent the bush from bearing good fruit can be corrected. This can take from several weeks to an entire season.

• If the bush is planted in a shaded place, then this leads to fungal diseases. Therefore, it urgently needs to be transplanted. After transplanting, the plant needs to adapt. Therefore, there is no need to wait for the next year or two for berries.
• If the planting is neglected, it is necessary to carry out a formative pruning. And subsequently in the summer, cut out the branches that block the light and grow inside the bush. In the fall, remove all old, damaged and infected branches. In spring, shorten the main shoots.
• If your bush is poorly pollinated, then nothing can be done about it. You need to dig up an old bush and plant a new one, better pollinated in its place.
• If your leaves turn yellow on your bush, flowers begin to dry and fall off, then the plant may not have enough nutrition. Feed him. During flowering and fruiting, gooseberries need potassium and phosphorus.
• If the bushes are planted close to each other, then they can be thinned out. Place the dug bushes in a new place.
• If the first signs of a fungal disease appear on the bush, urgently treat the bush with any folk remedy (solution of tobacco, wood ash, potassium permanganate, etc.). It is better not to use chemicals during flowering and fruiting.

Some time after spraying, new leaves should appear on the gooseberry bush - this is a sign of recovery.

As you can see, there are many reasons why gooseberries do not bear fruit, but they are all fixable. Unless your bush is too old. In all other cases, the harvest can be returned the next year.