Gooseberry
At-A-Glance InformationGooseberry, the common name for a handful of Ribes species, is a deciduous shrub that prefers full sun but needs partial shade in the hottest climates. This is a thirsty garden planting choice, and needs regular water. It is mainly grown for its showy, edible fruits that are delicious in pies and jams. Plants are generally upright and multi-stemmed, and some species have spines. Green, maple-like leaves turn bright colors in the fall and fruit can be green, orange, red, purple, yellow, white or black.
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Gooseberry Species and Varietals
Gooseberry grows best in zones A1-A3, 1-6 and 15-17. See descriptions for variances in growing zones. Gooseberry shrubs were federally banned in the United States in the early 1900s in an attempt to halt the spread of a fungus that was attacking and killing white pine trees. This federal ban was adopted by many states, and to this day some laws against growing and cultivating these shrubs still stand. Gooseberry can be grown in California (the ban was lifted in 1966), and does well in Northern California's climate. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Gooseberry 'Jostaberry' This species is largely disease-resistant, and includes hybrids between gooseberry and black currant. Black fruit on these plants tastes similar to currant but are not as astringent. Makes great jams and jellies. Less hardy plants than both currants and gooseberries, prefers zones A3, 1-6, and 15-17. |
Caring for and pruning Gooseberry shrubs
Gooseberry shrubs should be planted in organically-rich, well-draining soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0 that is kept consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting periods. They prefer getting about 6 hours of sun each day, though they do appreciate cooler temperatures overall. Ensure that the spot you're planting your shrub receives some airflow and stays below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Mulch around the base of the plant with about 3-4 inches of coverage to increase soil moisture retention and to keep roots cool. In its first year, do not allow the plant to set fruit by methodically picking off any flowers that emerge. This will allow the shrub to put more energy towards foliage growth and your harvest will be bountiful by the third year. Every three to four years in springtime, fertilize with a slow-release, balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer. As the plant establishes itself, you'll want to pick three or four main shoots and trim back any others. Prune all other branches back regularly; 2-3 year old wood produces the most fruit. At maturity, pruning should be done yearly in wintertime or early spring. Remove any canes that are over four years old, as well as any that are crossing or damaged. Keep a total of about 12 canes that are about 2-3 years old; this will keep the plant producing nicely and not allow it to become an unmanageable shrub.
Take care to protect yourself while working with these shrubs, as they do have very sharp thorns that will cut through both clothes and skin if given the chance.
Harvesting Gooseberry Shrubs
The fruit of Gooseberry shrubs can be eaten raw, cooked into desserts, used to flavor drinks, or preserved as dried fruit or jams and are rich in vitamin C. They taste a bit like grapes but are a little more acidic. These berries are ready to be harvested in summer (June or July) for the most part; earlier harvests will produce berries that are a bit more sour and great for baking and cooking, and later harvests will be good for eating raw or for preserving. You'll know the berries are in their 'sweet spot' if you squeeze a berry on the shrub and it is a bit softened.
Take care to protect yourself while working with these shrubs, as they do have very sharp thorns that will cut through both clothes and skin if given the chance.
Harvesting Gooseberry Shrubs
The fruit of Gooseberry shrubs can be eaten raw, cooked into desserts, used to flavor drinks, or preserved as dried fruit or jams and are rich in vitamin C. They taste a bit like grapes but are a little more acidic. These berries are ready to be harvested in summer (June or July) for the most part; earlier harvests will produce berries that are a bit more sour and great for baking and cooking, and later harvests will be good for eating raw or for preserving. You'll know the berries are in their 'sweet spot' if you squeeze a berry on the shrub and it is a bit softened.
Propagation
Gooseberry shrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Gooseberry by Cutting
Propagating Gooseberry by Seed
Propagating Gooseberry by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In late fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 12 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming, at least a year-old branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Gooseberry by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained within the Gooseberry fruit, and need to be removed from the fruit flesh before planting. After removal, soak the seeds in warm water for four hours, and set them out to dry on a paper towel. Then, place your seeds in a moistened bag of peat moss and place the bag in a refrigerator for three to four months, never allowing the bag to dry out completely.
- In springtime, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home
Problems and Pests
Gooseberries are relatively pest-and disease-free, but can suffer from the following issues:
- Powdery Mildew
- Currant Aphid
- Currant Borers
- Currant Fruit Flies
- Gooseberry Fruitworms
- Gooseberry Sawfly Stem Girdlers
- White Pine Blister Rust
- Gooseberry Leaf Spot
Gallery
Videos
Why should you grow Gooseberry shrubs in your garden?
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All about Gooseberries.
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Resources
Wikipedia: Gooseberry
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 341, Gooseberry
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