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gooseberries

LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
in Fruit & veg
I grow a lot of gooseberries does anybody else grow them.
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  • Doogie72Doogie72 Posts: 62

    I've inherited a goosberry bush in my new house that I moved into last summer.  I found it hidden amoungst a load of stinging nettles.  Have you any advice how to look after it - or what to do with the goosberries?  I only remember sour hard bullet like goosberries my gran used to grow!

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    If you leave the gooseberries until they are really ripe, you can eat them raw.



    Fools, pies, crumbles, and other delicious things. And they freeze well.
  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    I have two bushes, one with green gooseberries, one with red berries. The red berries are very sweet. It is also very easy to get new plants from. My red one has produced 3 babies. I prune mine before anything sprouts, so that there are no crossing branches and try to make it a goblet shape, but the plant has other ideas image

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Pick half the gooseberries when they're large but still firm and use them for cooking, jam is ideal - that thins out the crop and the ones you leave grow large and luscious enough to be eaten raw or just gently cooked (with some thick creamy yoghurt or creme fraiche image).


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





  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    They say that they should be pruned summer & winter but I found that all the buds that flower have been cut off. So I just cut out the old wood a bit each year
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,846

    They recommend pruning in June to 5 new leaves and also thinning the fruit to help the remaining fruit swell.

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    I have pax, Xenia,invicta and 2 others I can't remember. The Xenia is very sweet but I found that if I freeze them as they are they go sour, so this year I will cook some first.
  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Ihave 5bushes in pots The first two gave me about 6fruits last year one is invicta chosen because we originate from Kent the other I'm not sure of but the grower assured a good croperimage if the flowers are anything's to go by this year should be a bumper crop  The other 3are in their first year so not expecting to much from them.

    My favourite gooseberry recipe is a juicy pie it brings back memories of being a junior at JS and their individual gooseberry pies were marvellous. Funny I can remember back then but have forgotten what I had for lunchimage

  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,538

    I'm attempting gooseberries for the first time this year, I've invested in three so will popping on this thread to see what I should do! Good luck all! image

  • nightgardennightgarden Posts: 112

    I was given 3 bushes at the end of last year, they were about 6" high and completely bare so I wasn't very optimistic. Now they are covered in new growth and I'm wondering - will I get fruit this year or do I have top wait till next year?

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