Yoshta - care and pruning

Proper care and pruning of yoshta are the key to a healthy plant, and therefore high yields.

Yoshta is a hybrid shrub bred by crossing two crops: currants and gooseberries. Crossing work was carried out for a long time by scientists from different countries, but the first results were achieved by a German scientist in 1970. He managed to obtain a fruit-bearing hybrid without the thorns characteristic of gooseberries and with large fruits. Yoshta turned out to be an unpretentious spreading bush with juicy, aromatic fruits. The name of the bush arose from two German words for gooseberry and currant. Yoshta is valued by many gardeners for its unpretentiousness and resistance to many diseases and cold weather.

Yoshta is an excellent option for those who cannot stand the persistent aroma of currants, since the bush is odorless. The height of the bush is about one and a half meters, and its width reaches 3 m, due to which it is often used as a hedge.

Caring for yoshta is quite simple and consists of watering, mulching the soil, weeding, fertilizing and pruning. When watering, about 30 liters of water are consumed per plant. It is important to keep the soil moist throughout the season, otherwise the plant will develop poorly and bear little fruit. To keep moisture in the soil longer, mulch the soil. For this, peat or humus is used.

The bushes are weeded and fertilized regularly. Yoshta loves mineral fertilizers in the form of superphosphate and potassium. A plant older than 3 years needs more potassium, and the rate of superphosphate can be reduced. In autumn, wood ash is added.

Pruning is an important part of a plant's life. It is carried out in spring and autumn. In spring, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing damaged, old and diseased branches. Using pruning shears, carefully cut off the unusable part, leaving a healthy area. The best time for this is early spring before the sap begins to flow.

Before preparing the plant for winter, repeated pruning is carried out, during which damaged branches are also removed and healthy ones are shortened. This pruning will thin out the bush and prevent the occurrence of possible diseases.

The need for pruning yoshta is small - it does not even require the formation of a crown, but unlike currants, yoshta shoots begin to grow faster. Therefore, overgrown branches must be regularly shortened. Otherwise, the branches will fall to the ground under their weight, and the yield will be reduced.

In addition, the overgrown yoshta takes up a lot of space on the site. Regular pruning will help to properly adjust the growth of the bush and increase productivity. First of all, it is necessary to get rid of the lower and old branches.

To prevent spread throughout the area, it is necessary to remove young shoots in a timely manner.

Yoshta bush - fruiting in a greenhouse

Fruiting in a greenhouse of the yoshta shrub increases compared to growth in open ground. Greenhouse conditions make it possible to plant harvested material earlier than usual and obtain a higher yield.

In general, yoshta has good frost resistance, so standard greenhouses are justified only in the conditions of the Siberian region. If berry cultivation is planned on a large scale for profit, then greenhouses should be selected with the ability to control climatic conditions. It is almost impossible to achieve the same effect in open ground. Thus, the yield of yoshta in the greenhouse doubles.

Care for yoshta growing in a greenhouse does not differ from standard care for shrubs and consists of regular watering, fertilizing, pruning and weeding.
When planting yoshta in a greenhouse, the recommended distance between bushes should be about one and a half meters, and between rows up to two meters.

In the confined space of a greenhouse, plants will require additional fertilizers. Young plants, which are fertilized with humus, compost and complex fertilizers, especially need feeding.

Advantages of growing yoshta in a greenhouse:

• Harvesting can take place almost all year round.
• Yield and berry size increases.
• The berries have high taste and good transportability.
• Greenhouse conditions reduce the risk of plant damage by diseases and pests.

To achieve high performance, it is best to purchase yoshta seedlings from a nursery. This will allow you to get a high-quality healthy plant with a high survival rate. Such seedlings are more resistant to cold and disease.

Yoshta - growing a house in a pot

Growing yoshta at home in a pot provides the young plant with comfortable conditions and protection from environmental influences.

Green or lignified cuttings obtained from the lower and middle parts of the branches are suitable for growing at home. Cuttings are harvested in the fall, measuring about 20 cm.

Important: When harvesting, the cutting is cut so that the lower cut is under the bud, and the upper cut is above it.

The number of buds on one cutting should be about 3-4. The lower part of the cutting is cut at an angle, and the upper cut is made horizontally. The cuttings can then be placed in a nutrient mixture to stimulate the root system.

At the end of autumn, the cuttings are planted in a prepared container. To do this, you can take a regular flower pot. It is necessary to pour fresh soil into it, and cover the top layer with coarse sand. To maintain the optimal temperature, the cuttings are covered with film, and after rooting, the film can be removed. The plant can be kept indoors without temperature changes or drafts. The humidity of the room should be high. The main care consists of watering and feeding the young plant. In spring, strengthened yoshta seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. Plants are planted in loose, nutritious soil.

Good harvests can be expected from the 3rd year of yoshta’s life.

Yoshta - leaves turn yellow

Many gardeners have encountered this problem - yoshta leaves turn yellow prematurely. This unpleasant phenomenon can be fraught with dangerous consequences. There are several reasons for yellowing leaves:

• Viral and fungal diseases, as well as pests. Diseases that cause yellowing and deformation of leaves include: anthracnose, rust, terry, mosaic and others. When the first signs of the disease are detected, it is necessary to immediately carry out treatment using special means. Among the pests that often infect yoshta leaves are aphids, caterpillars, butterflies and mites. For prevention, the shrub is treated in the autumn with special means, and during seasonal work, the soil must be loosened.
• Dense planting of plants. If the bushes are close together and are poorly pruned, the leaves do not have enough light and air, so their color may turn yellow.
• Lack of microelements. If there is a lack of nutrients, the plant looks tired, and the color of the leaves will indicate which element the plant lacks.
• Unfavorable growing conditions. Wet or dry summers can cause leaves to turn yellow. Improper soil is also a cause of premature yellowing.
• Incorrect feeding. An excess of certain substances causes irreparable harm to the plant. Thus, a large amount of peat can affect the color change of plant leaves, and potassium and phosphorus can cause burns.

Yoshta - shrub for the border

Yoshta shrub is often used for borders and low hedges. Yoshta grows well in width and has no thorns. The dark green leaves of the bush do not fall off for a long time, and flowering is accompanied by the blooming of beautiful yellow flowers. The flowers are large, attractive with a light delicate aroma. In the last month of summer, large dark berries appear with a pronounced bright aroma with notes of nutmeg.

Yoshta bushes are well suited for forming a hedge along a path. They can also be a separate element on the site or be part of a decorative composition of many plants. The basic rules for border shrubs are dense planting and formative pruning.

Yoshta is drought-resistant and tolerates cold well, so the plant has long proven itself not only as a berry crop, but also as a hedge.