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Gooseberry Bushes
Fishy65
Posts: 2,276
in Fruit & veg
I bought two young gooseberry bushes today from Wilkinsons....2 for a fiver which I thought was good value but I may be totally wrong because its an area of gardening entirely alien to me.I think part of the reason I bought them (it wasn't planned) was due to childhood memories.My friend's grandparents had them and I remember munching on the lovely fruits...that was way back in the 70s.
Anyway I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice.They are about a foot high and look as though they need potting on,or would it be best to just plant them?That's another thing,finding space for them...
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Definitely in the ground and put lots of compost in first. They're not too fussy about sunshine, but the more they have the sooner the fruit will ripen and the sweeter they'll be. Pick off any fruits that they have at the moment, water them and get them in the ground as soon as you can. Then you'll want to know about pruning!
If pot grown you can plant them out now. You won't get anything from them this year as gooseberries are at their prime now and heavy with developing fruit but next year you should get a crop.
If space is a problem, pot them up but aim to plant out either October or March for a crop next year, you can plant out between these dates but the reality is the ground is often frozen.
The label just says 'Red Gooseberry'...plant in full sun or half shade.Height up to 1 metre...plant to harvest 2 years.
Any ideas Pansyface?
Ah thanks guys
Prunings easy pezzie if only growing gooseberry bushes, it's if you decide to start growing white, red and blackcurrants all at the same time it becomes more tricky
...took me a couple of years to get my head around that one ...with no currants on a bush one year...
Sorry guys I'm listening...the wife keeps talking to me and putting me off
Yes I've got a lot to learn.They don't have any fruit on them,nice green foliage though cos I tried to pick the best.Actually there were a couple that looked about dead...
Sounds like a good start. I bought one from Lidl a few years back and it's now rampant in the only slightky sunny spot in my yard. The sawfly larvae love it.
Yes I've been reading about sawfly,public enemy number one for gooseberry bushes aren't they?
Thanks for all the advice guys,my one headache though is where to put them.I'm maxed out really with shrubs and thinking I may have to sacrifice a patch of lawn to accommodate them.It'll save on petrol for the lawnmower though
Gooseberries are far more use than grass. Can't eat grass. Only reason for having a lawn is to provide material for the compost heap.
Right they're in. One I've planted near an existing Lilac,though I gave the Lilac a good prune and dug through some roots.The gooseberry bush will get a good dose of sunshine and the other I've planted not far from my Red Robin.In the end I didn't have to dig up much lawn and they've both got room to spread
So next year then guys for my first fruit?