You don't have to do that much to get a good harvest of gooseberries. Here you can find out what to consider when planting, caring for and harvesting.
The gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) has been cultivated in Europe since the 15th century. It was already very popular back then, especially in England, where it is also called "gooseberry". Like the red currant (Ribes rubrum), it also belongs to the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). Incidentally, the old name Ribes grossularia comes from the popular name "Ogrosl" in Austria. As the name suggests, the shoots of the berry bush are very prickly. Strictly speaking, however, the gooseberry should be called "thorn berry", because its supposed spines cannot be broken off, as is the case with thorns.
Buy Gooseberries
The fruits of the gooseberry taste sweet and sour and have a firm, hairy skin. The berries are also very he althy and contain many minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. Supermarkets offer the aromatic berries in contrast to strawberries (Fragaria), raspberries (Rubus idaeus) and blueberries (Vaccinium ) but only very rarely. That's why we can only recommend that you plant gooseberries in your own garden.
When buying young plants, you should make sure you choose the right variety. Unfortunately, the American gooseberry powdery mildew has caused great damage to crops in recent decades, and as a result the gooseberry has lost its importance in home gardens. In the meantime, however, there are many excellent mildew-resistant varieties available for purchase. Gooseberries come in red, green, and yellow colors. The taste can also vary from variety to variety. In addition, if you plant early, medium and late-ripening varieties, you can extend the harvest period. In frost-prone locations, however, it is better to use late-flowering varieties to avoid crop failures.
By the way, if you are looking for a real eye-catcherare, a grafted gooseberry tree could be something for you. These are often used for the design of gardens. Also the cultivation of Jostaberries (Ribes × nidigrolaria) - a hybrid of Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) and gooseberries - is becoming increasingly popular in home gardens.
Gooseberry Varieties: A Selection
There is a large selection of different gooseberry varieties. These differ in fruit color, fruit hair and reinforcement (expression of the thorns). In addition, the beginning of flowering and the ripening period can also represent important criteria for the choice of variety. Here is a small selection of the best gooseberry varieties:
'Invicta': Green, medium-sized fruits with highly translucent veins; upright growth; very early maturity (from mid-June); high and safe yields; only short thorns on the shoots; low susceptibility to powdery mildew
'Green Hansa' (also 'White Triumphberry'): Mid-early harvest possible from the beginning of July; frost-resistant variety with high yields; medium susceptibility to powdery mildew; strong reinforcement; large, slightly hairy fruits with a fine aroma; however, the berries brown a lot during processing
'Green Ball'': High-yielding variety with medium ripening time; produces large fruits with a greenish-white colour; sweet and sour taste; the fruits tend to burst, but hardly brown after processing; very susceptible to powdery mildew and winter cold damage
'Red Triumph' (also 'Winham's Industry'): Old English variety; medium early flowering and maturity; regular and very high yields; very strong reinforcement; large fruits with dark red coloring; densely fluffy with thick skin and very good aroma; Robust variety, but infestation with powdery mildew possible
'Rokula'/'Rocula': Early harvest possible; the shoots are heavily reinforced; round, black-red, medium-sized fruits; very sensitive to cracking due to the delicate shell; resistant to mildew
'Yellow Triumphberry' (also 'Triumphant'): A high-yielding variety with medium early maturity; produces medium-sized, pale yellow fruits; sweet taste but little aromatic; strong pruning necessary, otherwise tendency to small fruits; good for processing
'Pax': Early variety with vigorous growth; good pickability due to low reinforcement; large, medium-red fruits with few hairs; prone to sunburn; resistant to powdery mildew and leaf fall
An extensive collectionof gooseberry varieties and more detailed information on the individual varieties can be found here.
Plant Gooseberries
The gooseberry grows on medium-heavy, nutrient-rich and well-aerated soil. Our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil is ideal for planting berries. The location requirements are similar to those of currants, but gooseberries have a higher moisture requirement. Due to the frost sensitivity of the flowers, sheltered locations are preferable. Partially shaded locations are ideal for gooseberries, because sunburn is more common on the fruit in sunny locations.
It is best to plant new gooseberry bushes in autumn (October/November) to use the winter moisture in the soil for growth. The introduction of compost or rotted manure into the planting hole offers the plant an ideal starting aid. Despite self-pollination, you can encourage cross-pollination by planting different varieties next to each other. However, you should ensure that the plants are sufficiently spaced apart.
See our special article for more information and instructions on how to plant gooseberries.
Propagate Gooseberry
If you don't have enough gooseberries in your own garden, you can easily propagate them yourself using cuttings or tears.
- Sticks: In the spring, cut off one-year-old shoots that are about 30 cm long and stick them into the ground so far that only two to three buds are sticking out. The new seedlings develop roots very quickly and you can then transplant them to a desired location.
- Sinker: A long shoot is bent down, fixed to the ground with a stone and covered with earth. The tip of the shoot should still stick out of the ground and can also be tied to a small post. Once the new shoot has developed enough roots, you can separate it from the mother plant.
Caring for gooseberries
In order for the gooseberries to produce a bountiful harvest, they must be well tended. We have summarized the most important information about the care of this plant for you below.
Water the gooseberry
Gooseberries are particularly happy during the ripening periodmuch water. Regular watering is therefore recommended to bridge dry periods. Drought stress can quickly lead to small fruits, premature fruit drop or fruit bursting.
Fertilize gooseberry
In order for the gooseberry to thrive, it must absorb sufficient nutrients from the soil. To fertilize your gooseberries, you can use organic universal fertilizers - such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer -, special berry fertilizers or natural fertilizers from the garden such as compost or lawn clippings. The use of organic fertilizers has the advantage that the nutrients are only gradually released and are available to the plant. This means that there is only a small risk of over-fertilization and the leaching of nutrients into deeper soil layers or the groundwater.
Organic fertilizers - such as garden compost or rotted stable manure - should be applied in late autumn so that the nutrients they contain can take effect in time for the growing season in spring. For a rich fruit stock, the gooseberry needs above all enough potassium, which is why suitable berry fertilizers should always contain a corresponding proportion of this nutrient. The strongest growth takes place between mid-April and the end of May, so the main fertilization should be done in early spring. You can also cover the ground around the gooseberry plant with a layer of grass clippings mulch.
Tip: Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is mainly made from organic raw materials and, thanks to its composition, is ideal for the long-term supply of nutrients to berry bushes.
Transplant gooseberry
Transplanting the gooseberry is still possible after a few years. The best time for this is in autumn (October/November) when the plant is dormant. However, you can also transplant the berry bush in spring. However, the ground should already be thawed and on the day of the implementation it is advisable that there are no deep sub-zero temperatures. Since a lot of root volume is lost when transplanting, it is also advisable to cut back the plant by about a third above ground. Then dig up the plant and remove the root ball from the soil. So that the plant is well cared for in its new location and away from itSome organic material (such as compost) should be incorporated into the planting hole to relieve the stress of moving. Also, don't forget to water the new plant well in the early days and apply a layer of mulch if necessary.
Cut gooseberry
When you cut the gooseberries, you should make sure that they are easy to pick and have a good overview. It is best to cut in the fall after harvest or during the winter dormant period from December to mid-February. Additional thinning of the shoots in May will make the remaining fruits larger.
In our special article we will show you exactly what is important when cutting gooseberries.
Harvest gooseberries: When is harvest time?
The fruits of the gooseberry - like the currant and the blueberry - are actually a berry in the botanical sense. Depending on the variety, they can be harvested from the beginning of June to August. By training them loosely, you avoid bloody hands from scratches during the harvest. Since the gooseberry is very sensitive to late frost, the crop yields can vary greatly from year to year. Depending on the variety, age and site conditions, the yield is around 3.5 to 4.5 kg per bush.
For fresh enjoyment you should only harvest the fully ripe fruits. However, keep in mind that the fruit will continue to ripen and can only be stored in the refrigerator for about ten days. Most strains can be harvested twice, 10 to 14 days apart. For preservation, fruits of varieties that are prone to bursting should be harvested when they are unripe and green (i.e. end of May / beginning of June).
Storing gooseberries
In addition to being extremely he althy to eat raw, gooseberries are also ideal for cakes, compotes and other desserts, as well as for preserving and making jams. However, since the gooseberries ripen in a very short period of time and the fruit has a limited shelf life in the refrigerator, you should definitely remember to preserve the berries.
Freeze Gooseberries
Freezing is a simple way of preserving. Whole or pureed, with or without sugar - the method of deep-freezing ultimately depends primarily on the intended use. Would you like whole fruit for a cakedeep-freezing, there is a risk of bursting due to the high water content. It is therefore advisable to harvest the berries shortly before they are ripe. It is best to blanch the gooseberries briefly in hot water and fill them as close together as possible in freezer bags or suitable plastic containers.
Preserving gooseberries
You can easily make jams or jellies from gooseberries. For this purpose, the berries are first washed and boiled in a little water until they burst, strained and boiled down with sugar. Depending on the gooseberry variety, a green, yellow or red jelly is produced. This is filled into jars while still hot and sealed airtight. Unopened, the jelly can be kept for at least a year if stored in a cool and dark place.
You can find more information and helpful tips for preserving gooseberries here.
Gooseberry Diseases
Many diseases and pests of the gooseberry are similar to those of the currant. Fortunately, gooseberries are very hardy and you rarely need to intervene. The following pathogens could become a problem for your gooseberry:
American gooseberry powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca mors uvae)
White coated shoot tips and curved, small leaves are the hallmarks of the infestation with this fungus. Unripe fruits can also be affected. When choosing a variety, you should therefore pay attention to its resistance to powdery mildew. The 'Invicta' and 'Pax' varieties, for example, are characterized by a low susceptibility to powdery mildew. However, should you notice infested shoots, we recommend that you remove them as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading. Do not dispose of the infested plant material in the compost, but in the dustbin.
Leaf Fall Disease (Drepanopeziza ribis)
If the plants lose a large part of their foliage during or after harvest, take action It is very likely the so-called leaf fall disease. Small, brownish-grey spots appear on the upper side of the leaves, which grow together over time. The leaves turn yellow, curl up and fall off. The early leaf fall occurs mainly in wet years and weakens the plant. Moist, slowly drying places are therefore not suitable as a location for the gooseberry.
Gooseberry Sawfly (Pteronidea ribesii)
This pest only occurs on gooseberries and jostaberries. If the leaves are missing from individual bushes from one day to the next, this can be an indication of a massive infestation with sawfly caterpillars. These are about 18 mm long, greenish in color and covered with dark warts. Several generations develop within a very short time (three to four per year). Regular checks for caterpillars in the spring are therefore useful. If there is actually an infestation, selective control with insecticides is sufficient.