2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Yoshta (Latin Ribes nigrum * Ribes divaricatum * Ribes uva-crispa) - a hybrid of common gooseberries, spreading gooseberries and black currants. The plant was developed by German breeder Rudolf Bauer in the 1970s.
About the hybrid
Joshta is the result of many years of work by breeders of several generations who have worked on crossing gooseberries and black currants. The breeders were faced with the task of improving black currants, in particular, increasing the size of berries and yields in general, as well as instilling resistance to terry, kidney mites and other pests. At the same time, scientists tried to get rid of the thorns inherent in gooseberries. The first scientist to study the theory of crossing various forms of cultivated plants was I. V. Michurin.
Unfortunately, the first attempts at crossing currants and gooseberries were unsuccessful: the hybrids were either sterile or not viable. Only in the 1970s, the Max Planck Institute researchers were able to breed the first fruiting hybrid, and in 1989 yoshta was introduced into the culture. In Russia, yoshta appeared in the early 1980s, but has been widely cultivated since 1986. To date, several more similar hybrids have been bred, which have much in common with yoshta and differ in the shape of the bush, size and weight of berries, their taste characteristics, as well as yield and cold-resistant properties.
Hybrid characteristics
Yoshta is an artificially bred, perennial, spreading, powerful shrub up to 2.5 m high. The shoots are strong, have no thorns, and are distinguished by rapid growth. On average, one bush consists of 13-20 branches of different ages. The root system is powerful, the bulk of the roots lies at a depth of 30-40 cm. The leaves are green, large, with shine, without a rich currant aroma, outwardly similar to gooseberry leaves. The flowers are medium-sized, greenish-yellow.
Berries are black with a purple tint, rounded, collected in clusters of 3-5 pieces, stay on the branches for a long time. The mass of one berry is 2-5 g, the taste is sweet and sour with a nutmeg aftertaste. Yoshta berries ripen in early August. The plant is resistant to pests and diseases, as well as to severe frosts. The average life span of a bush is 20-30 years. Good harvests of berries can be obtained 3-4 years after planting. Yoshta is ideal as an ornamental plant, often used to create hedges and curbs.
Growing conditions
Yoshta is a light-loving plant, it develops poorly on shaded areas, the berries are formed too small, and their number is getting lower every year. Soils are desirable loose, moderately moist, with a rich mineral composition. It is not recommended to grow a crop in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater. Yoshta will not accept heavy clay, acidic, waterlogged soils, as well as places not protected from strong winds
Reproduction and planting
The culture is propagated by root suckers, lignified cuttings and grafting on golden currants. The optimal time for planting yoshta is mid-autumn, in the northern regions - late August - early September. Before the onset of stable frosts, young plants must have time to take root, otherwise in winter they will freeze and die, never having pleased with the long-awaited harvest of berries. The landing pit is prepared in a few weeks. The distance between the plants should be 1.5 m, with standard formation - 0.8-1 m.
If the planting of yoshta was postponed to the spring, seedlings and other planting material are planted early, but in this case the pit is prepared in the fall. Propagation of yoshta by lignified cuttings is the most common and effective way. Cuttings are cut in summer, their length should be about 13-15 cm. The upper cut is made above the kidney, and the lower one - under it. Before planting, the cuttings are treated with growth stimulants. Cuttings are planted in soft, loose, fertile soil. Important: when planting, the upper bud should be located 1.5 cm above the soil surface.
Care
Yoshta care is quite simple and subject to even an inexperienced gardener. The plant needs systematic watering, especially during a prolonged drought, as well as weeding, loosening of the near-stem zone and top dressing. Annual feeding rates: humus - 8 kg per bush, superphosphate - 50 g, potassium sulfate - 40 g. After three to four years, the amount of fertilizers is increased by 20-30%. In the first three years, yoshta requires sanitary pruning, in the future - also formative. It is important to remove old non-fruiting branches, which will subsequently be replaced by growing new ones.
