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Gooseberry Bush - looks lovely but no flowers/fruit

Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

Hi All,  a few years ago my mum gave me 4 gooseberry bushes she no longer wanted.  I planted 2 and gave my friend 2.  Since then (this is the third year they have been planted) none of them have ever produced flowers or fruit.  They have grown and the leaves are very bushy and in good condition, but I don't want a gooseberry leaf bush, I want gooseberries!!

I have heard sometimes they can be dormant for a year or two, but 3 years?  Should I dig them up and get a couple of new ones or leave them another year?

Thanks.

Posts

  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    Has it been pruned every year.. The older the wood the less you'll get.

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Ermmmmm, no image I've never pruned it (I am still a newbie in my defence LOL!) So if I wait until Autumn, give it a good prune and see what happens next year?

    You say 'the less I'll get' though, I'm getting nothing at  all, not a single flower?

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    I have a gooseberry leaf bush too but for some reason I thought it was the other way around and it needs the old wood...

    I got mine off the dead plants shelf at b&q, resurrected it and then my hens ripped all the leaves off setting it back at 0...

    I wasn't expecting flowers and fruit because it's fresh growthimage Perhaps I should be then...

    image

    Wearside, England.
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    The great AT says in his book (which I've borrowed but am going to buy) to cut down stems of young gooseberry bushes to half after planting - that may apply to yours VS - and do all pruning nov-Feb by removing dead or damaged stems (the usual I suppose).  It also says.....and this bit is interesting and may explain why I'm getting in fruit..... In early June shorten all the side shoots to about 5 leaves to encourage the buds that will carry next year's crop.

    So, decision made - I will keep the 2 bushes, do as AT says and threaten them with the compost heap if they don't perform next year, I'm confident they listen if I threaten them image

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Oh okay... I chopped mine down to the floor in order to save it so I suppose it is essentially starting from new. That's quite early to chop back in June, I would never have thought of that...

    Thanks OL and you know the threats might work- its the Sod's law factor that as soon as you mark something for the bin it picks upimageimage

    Wearside, England.
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Correction.......early July to cut the side stems, sorry image

    This book is so good, it's called The Kitchen Gardener and is just so easy to understand and follow with tips on using the fruit/veg too, it's on my Christmas list image

  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    This is a nice simple vid.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcKnhg40JFg

     

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    July, cool.image

    I quite like gooseberry jam but I wonder if it'd be a right faff to make it- assuming I ever have any fruit...

    I' ll have a look out for the bookimage

    Wearside, England.
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Victoria.....I hope July isn't cool image

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