The gooseberry needs enough nutrients to ensure a good summer harvest. We show what you should consider when fertilizing gooseberries.
The gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) belongs to the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae) and is closely related to the redcurrant ( Ribes rubrum) related. With berry bushes, one often has the impression that they produce a lot of fruit all by themselves every year. However, in order for your gooseberry to be able to perform as well as this, it has to constantly produce new shoots and needs sufficient nutrients from the soil both for growth and for the development of the fruit. On a nutrient-rich soil, your gooseberries may go for a few years without fertilization, but at some point the natural supplies will be used up and the growth of the shoots, the yield and the quality of the fruit will continue to decrease. So that it doesn't get that far in the first place, we'll tell you how you can optimally support your gooseberries in their development with needs-based fertilization.
Depending on the growth stage, your gooseberry has different demands on the nutrient supply over the course of the year. In this article, we will explain when, how and with what to best fertilize your gooseberries.
The right time to fertilize gooseberries
So that your gooseberries can thrive, you should make sure that they are supplied with sufficient nutrients from the start. Before planting, you should therefore already choose a suitable location for your shrub. Basically, gooseberries are relatively undemanding. However, they thrive best on medium-heavy, well-drained soil with a high humus content. Poor soils may be improved by incorporating organic materials such as garden compost or decomposed farmyard manure. In general, a first, primarily organic fertilization is recommended when planting in autumn. An organic fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is perfectly suited to give your gooseberries the best possible start. So not only the floor structureimproved, but also enriched the root area of the gooseberry with enough nutrients to ensure good starting conditions.
In the following years you should apply an annual basic fertilization in early spring, because gooseberries need enough nitrogen for shoot growth. If you only fertilize with compost, we recommend an annual dose in late autumn, so that the organic material can already decompose a little over the winter and the gooseberries can feed directly on new nutrient stores with the early sprouting. In early spring, one or two more compost doses will follow. This is not absolutely necessary for fertilizers with a higher nutrient density such as manure or primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, they are applied once in spring (March). They are particularly gentle on the plants, the soil and the animals in your garden. You can apply a second, smaller dose of fertilizer in April to support flowering and fruit formation.
When are gooseberries fertilized?
- Incorporate some compost or long-acting organic fertilizer when planting
- Annual composting in late autumn or early spring
- Basic fertilization with mainly organic long-term fertilizer in spring (March)
- Second application of fertilizer for flowering and fruit formation (April)
The perfect fertilizer for gooseberries
A variety of fertilizers are available to supply your gooseberries with nutrients. In addition to organic and mineral fertilizers from specialist retailers, you can also use natural fertilizers that are found in most gardens and households anyway.
Fertilize gooseberries primarily organically: application recommendation
Your own garden compost or rotted stable manure is a wonderful way to supply your gooseberries with nutrients. However, as already mentioned, these natural fertilizers should best be applied in late autumn so that the nutrients they contain can take effect in good time for the start of the growing season in spring. In addition, it is advisable to cover the ground around the gooseberry plant with a layer of mulch made from lawn clippings. The ongoing decomposition of the organic matter provides your gooseberry with additional nutrients. The mulch layer also keeps the moisture in the soiland suppresses the growth of weeds that would rob gooseberries of nutrients.
If you don't have any natural fertilizer available, an organic fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is the best choice. To ensure that your gooseberries have sufficient nutrients over a longer period of time, there are many reasons to use a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect.
What are the advantages of an organic long-term fertilizer?
- Nutrients are gradually released to the plant through decomposition by microorganisms in the soil
- Promotion of a he althy, active soil life and sustainable improvement of the soil structure
- Particularly environmentally friendly because no chemicals are used
Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is mainly made from organic, animal-free raw materials that are leftovers in the food, feed and luxury food industries. Due to its composition, it is ideal for the long-term supply of nutrients to berry bushes. A high proportion of nitrogen promotes plant growth and leaf formation. Sufficient phosphorus and potassium also ensure rich flowering and lots of fruit over the course of the year. So that you can provide your gooseberries with the optimal amount of nutrients, we have prepared precise fertilizer instructions for you below.
Organic Long-Term Fertilization: Instructions & Dosage Amounts for Gooseberries
- When planting: work 80 - 160 g/m² (6 to 13 heaped tablespoons) of our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the upper soil layers
- Water the gooseberry bush used well so that the granules can loosen
- Feed every spring (beginning of March) 90 - 140 g per plant (7 to 11 heaped tablespoons)
- A small amount of fertilizer in April for flowering and fruit formation provides your plant with an optimal supply
Fertilize gooseberries with minerals
Blue grain, liquid fertilizer and Co. are still popular as universal fertilizers in the garden. The nutrients contained are in their pure form and can be directly absorbed by the plant from the soil solution. Although this ensures a rapid nutrient boost, at the same time the easy solubility of the nutrient s alts also increases the risk of leaching into deeper soil layers, which in the worst case can lead tocontamination in groundwater. In contrast to mineral fertilisers, organic fertilizers in particular have a slower effect, but the ongoing decomposition promotes soil life and improves the soil structure over the long term.
Fertilize gooseberries with home remedies
If you want to do something good for your gooseberries in addition to the annual basic fertilization, we recommend the administration of diluted nettle manure. This promotes nitrogen conversion in the soil and attracts beneficial soil organisms (e.g. earthworms) that help convert the organic material and at the same time loosen the soil.
You may have heard of mulching gooseberries with comfrey leaves. The fact is that the leaves of the native weed contain a lot of potash and the essential nutrient is gradually released to the plant through the slow decomposition of the mulch layer. Potassium not only promotes fruit set, but is also important for root formation and the resistance of the plant. If you want, you can also make manure from the comfrey leaves and water the plant with it during the annual fertilization with compost. Please note, however, that you should dilute the liquid manure with water in a ratio of 1:10 before watering to avoid burning the plant.
You can also achieve a similar effect as with the comfrey leaves if you sprinkle wood ash under the gooseberries. Ash is also extremely rich in potassium and also contains valuable trace elements and lime. The actual waste product that accumulates in wood-burning stoves not only acts as a fertilizer, but is also anti-fungal and anti-rot, so that an infestation with plant diseases - such as the American gooseberry powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca mors uvae ) - can be counteracted preventively. Everything else you need to know about planting, propagating, and utilizing gooseberries can be found in our comprehensive review article.