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Gardeners World blog

Allotments

Gooseberry bushes

Posted by: Jane Moore, 11 January 2008, 11.30AM

Gooseberry bush Last summer was not a great one for many of my crops but it was simply fantastic for all of our fruit bushes. Our little shrubs of black, red and white currants fruited their socks off and it was all we could do to keep up with them.

We planted the bushes when we first took on the allotment three years ago so they're only really getting productive now. But the amount of fruit they produced last season took us well and truly by surprise - I still have a freezer drawer full of mixed fruit summer puddings!

I guess it will come as no surprise to hear that we're planning a few additions to our fruit collection. Lizzy and Paul have both requested gooseberry bushes, but until now, I have resisted. Gooseberries are undoubtedly the most painful, hateful berries to harvest. They are so darned prickly that I'm convinced it wasn't brambles surrounding the castle where Sleeping Beauty slept, but gooseberry bushes.

But after the successes of my currants last summer I have relented, and three gooseberry bushes will be planted on the plot this year. I've chosen a variety called 'Captivator', which has big, juicy red berries rather than the usual green. But the real reason I've chosen this one is because it's thornless!

Comments

  • Christine Williams

    11 January 2008, 02.49PM

    I too would like to grow gooseberry bushes and like the sound of Captivator as it is thornless. I make quite a lot of jam throughout the year and I was unable to find any gooseberries in the shops, when I asked why they were not available I was told that they could not find anyone to pick them, such a shame as they make wonderful tarts and jam.

  • david

    15 January 2008, 08.29AM

    I have been given a pot grown Gooseberry of about 4ft I do not know the variety, It looks as if it needs attention so pruning is a decision, Would you wait and see or prune, if the latter which is the right way. thank you for any help...

  • 15 January 2008, 10.29AM

    I grow gooseberries as standards with an open framework to increase air flow but it also enables me to pick from underneath and reduce damaging my hands. I use prunings to protect bare soil from cats. I usually puree the fruit as my family are fussy about pips and the puree is great mixed with most other fruits.

  • Jacqui

    16 January 2008, 08.21AM

    We grow Invicta which has thorns but my husband loves the flavour of the fruit as he usually eats them raw. We have a system to pick the fruit. I usually get my husband to pull back the branches of the plant while I pick the fruit, at least then I have a chance to get the fruit to the freezer/pot before he eats them all.

  • elizabeth bly

    17 January 2008, 07.15PM

    I love green gooseberry jam, the berries picked when the fruit is fully grown but not fully ripe. We have moved house and I want to plant two or three bushes here but I never knew the name of the variety in my last garden. Can anyone please tell me best variety to use? We live in the north east, near the sea and have heavy clay soil

  • ruralrelic

    04 February 2008, 07.19PM

    Can you please tell me how far apart to plant the small blackberry variety Loch Tay?

  • John

    11 February 2008, 06.49PM

    Pax is another thornless variety.

  • Roger Bogue Luffman

    23 February 2008, 03.29PM

    Gooseberries...Last year (2007) was an exceptional year for most soft fruits producing an abundance of crop. I have eight Gooseberry bushes on my allotment of assorted varieties, but one variety called Invicta won me First prize at local garden shows, along with Firsts for Strawberry and Raspberry jams. Gooseberries do not require much work once planted, though they need to be mulched and kept weed free, and a light pruning in the centre to allow light to filter in. But even as an experienced gardener I was really surprised at the abundance of Blackberries. I had bought two plants (domestic thornless variety) and planted them in February, 2007, that same year we had an early summer and was picking extremely huge delicious blackberries by end of July.

  • Debbie

    31 May 2008, 08.47AM

    I'm new to having an allotment but have planted three gooseberry bushes which until recently seemed to be doing very well. All have started to bare fruit but on on of the bushes the fruit is covered with some sort of white mildew. Can anyone offer any advice on what I should do?

  • norris

    10 June 2008, 09.23PM

    I planted a gooseberry bushes in March this year and now got some berries on but how do I know when they are ready to pick? Can anybody help?

  • alex

    16 June 2008, 09.00PM

    Question! I have had my allotment for just 18 months. I'm over the moon and growing successfully, but have a couple of questions. I planted my fruit bushes last year and it looks like I'm going to get a decent crop this year.Can I take cuttings to propagate new plants?If so, when is the best time? Other tips most welcome.Alex

  • Davina.

    01 January 2007, 12.00AM

    I love gooseberries!!I bought two gooseberry bushes earlier this year and put them in pots. One is supposed to have red fruits the other green. They have grown and they look lovely and healthy but there are no signs of fruit....HELP!What should I do ditch them and start again or hope they fruit next year??

  • Mike & Dottie

    30 July 2008, 11.15AM

    A week ago our early gooseberries needed a few more days to finish ripening. Today not one berry remains, not one fallen beneath the bush, in fact no sign that there were ever any berries at all. What on earth has happened to them? Are they liked by any creatures apart from humans?

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