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Gooseberry recommendations please

JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
in Fruit & veg
Can anyone recommend gooseberry varieties that will suit a cool wet location - North Wales, Snowdonia, inland not coastal, can be quite exposed depending on wind direction, soil is good (neither sand nor clay). It gets pretty wet in winter but I think they would be going in a low-ish raised bed. 
They're to be a gift for someone, so recommendations from anyone in that part of the world or with similar conditions would be much appreciated.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Jenny J I was going to ask a similar question so may I join your thread please as my conditions are similar to the ones you mention?
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Sorry can't really comment about suitability for your particular conditions but I have a Hinnonmaki yellow growing in clay sometimes wet/dry, given a sunny June to ripen the fruit the taste is spectacular almost Pineapple makes beautiful jam.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Uff said:
    Jenny J I was going to ask a similar question so may I join your thread please as my conditions are similar to the ones you mention?

    Of course!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I grow the Hinnonmaki red,very sweet,my hubby, life long hater of gooseberries,and grandson will eat them off the bush. Afraid I don't know if you would be able to grow them outside,or whether they might need a polytunnel or similar
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    pansyface said:
    I’ve got four different varieties, all much of a muchness as taste etc go. But as a gift, I’d give Pax. No thorns. You don’t want the recipient to be forever cursing you as they gather the fruit.😊

    Good suggestion, thanks. They're not against thorns though, because there is "wildlife" that likes to dig around in the beds and thorns at least keeps critters away from the newly planted roots.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    barry island said:
    Sorry can't really comment about suitability for your particular conditions but I have a Hinnonmaki yellow growing in clay sometimes wet/dry, given a sunny June to ripen the fruit the taste is spectacular almost Pineapple makes beautiful jam.

    Thanks, I'm looking at the Hinnonmaki varieties - apparently bred in Finland for hardiness and disease resistance. I think they'll be eaten before getting to jam though :p.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Another recommendation for Hinnonmaki yellow .... it did really well here in a relatively shady spot and was perfectly happy coping with the worst that the Beast from the East could throw at it including being totally covered with snow for weeks.  My MIL also has one which is the most productive gooseberry I've ever come across ... it is happy with benign neglect, a total lack of pruning, and grass growing all around it.  MIL gives buckets full of delicious fruit away every year as well as filling her freezer.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I recall Adam Frost planting a couple of standard gooseberries (one red one green) in his garden a few years ago - he planted them in a herbaceous border and they were underplanted - they looked good.
    I'm still wondering where I can squeeze one (or 2) in.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Looks like the Hinnonmaki will be a good choice - maybe one of each, red, yellow and green -  I'm feeling generous today :)
    @Pansyface, maybe you should propagate your bird gift and sell them!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I'm looking to buy a very sweet red gooseberry and it seems so far that the Hinnonmaki would suit my needs unless anyone comes up with a better variety.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
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