Gooseberry White Nights

Early-maturing variety, obtained at the Leningrad Fruit and Vegetable Experimental Station by crossing the varieties 'Ganza' and 'Mysovsky 17'. Developed by N.M. Alexeeva. Since 2000, it has been included in the State Register of Selection Achievements approved for use in the Northwest region.

Medium-height, compact bush; becomes spreading under heavy fruit load. Growing shoots are medium-thick, straight, with drooping tips, light green (sometimes with anthocyanic tinge on tips), without hairs. Thorns on shoots are strong. Thorns are distributed along the entire length of the shoot, single-, double-, and triple-split, 0.5–1.2 cm long, thin, sharp, light green, oriented perpendicularly to the shoot or slightly upward. Buds are small, pointed, brown, pressed against the shoot.

Leaves are medium-sized, green, glossy, broadly rounded. Leaf blade is smooth, slightly concave along the central vein, soft in texture. Teeth are medium-sized, rounded and pointed, curled. Leaves are three-lobed. Central lobe is rhombic, lateral lobes are round-oval. Lateral sides of the central lobe are rounded. Notch between lobes is of medium depth, very narrow. Leaf base has a shallow triangular notch. Leaf petiole is medium in length and thickness, green, with sparse, bristly hairs at base.

Flowers are medium-sized, pale-colored. Ovate green ovary, without hairs. Inflorescence is single- or double-flowered.

Berries are small to medium (1.5–4.3 g), average weight 2.9 g, round or round-oval, greenish-yellow with a dotted blush on sun-exposed side, lightly hairy on surface. Skin is medium-thick. Veining is lighter than main color, weakly branched. Calyx is narrow, closed. Flesh is juicy, sweet dessert flavor, rating 4.6 points. Seed count from 6 to 28, average 20. Berry stem is short, green, thin, cylindrical. Chemical composition: total sugar content — 10.8–11.3%, titratable acidity — 1.7–2.0%, ascorbic acid — 21.2–30.9 mg/100 g. Berries are of universal use.

Cold-hardy variety, resistant to powdery mildew, anthracnose, and septoria; affected only slightly. Yield: 4.4–6.2 kg of berries per bush. Self-fertility up to 55%.

Advantages of the variety: early ripening, stable fruiting, dessert flavor of berries.

Disadvantages of the variety: strong thorniness on shoots, small berry size.