How to Grow Gooseberries

Gooseberries grow as small trees and shrubs being 1.5m in height and width, and they fruit green, red, purple, yellow, or even white gooseberries.

Wild gooseberries have smaller berries than cultivated ones, but their taste is often excellent.

Jostaberry is the hybrid of the black currant (Ribes Nigrum), the North American coastal black gooseberry (Ribes Divaricatum), and the European gooseberry (Ribes Uva-Crispa).

Gooseberries were also used to produce the Jochelbeere, a hybrid of the black currant (Ribes Nigrum) and the European gooseberry (Ribes Uva-Crispa).

Gooseberries are native to colder areas of Europe and parts of Asia. It can be grown even in a warmer area but in the partial or full shade of other trees.

Gooseberries are easy to grow in small gardens - if you happen to find great-tasting gooseberry in nature, be sure to cut a small branch.

At home, put the cutting in a suitable pot with good wet soil, and soon it will grow new roots, and new fruits can be expected in a year or two. Gooseberries can be grown from seeds, too.

Gooseberries are self-fertilized plants, so growing a single tree can yield plenty of fruits. However, gooseberries are great for hedges due to their height (1.5m), many thorns, and generally being a resilient plant.

When grown as a hedge, plant them around 1m apart (3 feet) and regularly prune to remove weak or dead canes, especially from the center of the bush, and open up the canopy and let the sun in, increasing the air circulation and decreasing disease problems.

Also, pruning makes fruits easier to harvest - did we mention the thorns?

Also, canes older than four years should be removed, too - they are still producing the fruit, but not nearly as much as younger canes.

Without regular pruning, gooseberry bush will soon become a dense, thorny thicket. Often, gooseberries are grown on the trellis, similar to those used for grapes, as a single species or mixed with other similar plants.

Soil Preparation

Gooseberries tolerate different types of soil. However, they will grow best in rich, moist, well-drained positions with a pH of around 6.5.

If you have sandy or heavy soil, add aged manure, compost, humus, and other organic material to improve the soil.

Also, add balanced NPK fertilizers with a gradual release of nutrients in late winter, just be sure to avoid adding plenty of nitrogen.

Nitrogen will make plants grow big but weak and prone to various diseases.

Having soil rich in organic matter that drains well is often enough for a good gooseberry harvest - organic fertilizers that improve soil and feed the plants for a longer period are the best.

Plants start to grow early in the spring, so be sure to plant gooseberries in early fall or very early spring.

Mulching prevents weeds but also protects the soil from heat and direct sunlight.

Good mulches include organic materials like straw, composted manure, compost, wood chips, etc. Mulch such as wood chips or sawdust is considered to be low-nitrogen and high-carbon mulch, so one may need to apply extra nitrogen fertilizer.

Nitrogen deficiency is easy to spot - plants grow slowly, and older leaves start to change color - turn yellow. If younger leaves start to change color into yellow, it is a sign of serious nitrogen deficiency, or there might be some other serious problem.

Are Gooseberries Illegal To Grow?

Because of a fungal disease called "white pine blister rust," which is a deadly disease for practically all species of white pines, in the early 1900s, the growing of gooseberry and currants was banned in the US.

The "white pine blister rust" requires two hosts to complete its life cycle, white pine and, most commonly, plants from the genus Ribes.

While the damage from the fungal disease is very low to gooseberries and currants, the disease very often kills white pine trees.

In 1966, the ban was lifted, but it still exists in some states, either completely or only for the plants in genus Ribes (most important plants: gooseberries and currants) that are susceptible to white pine blister rust.

So, if You want to grow gooseberries and currants locally, check local laws regarding these plants.

Pest and Diseases

The biggest problem for gooseberries is powdery mildew - if one grows cultivated varieties, choose those varieties that are resistant to powdery mildew. Also, good air circulation and plenty of sunlight prevent powdery mildew.

Birds, especially pigeons in some locations, can cause plenty of damage - they must be prevented from eating fruits and breaking young canes. Protective nets are the only option for protecting gooseberries and other berries from birds.

What Do Gooseberries Taste Like?

Well, they taste good, especially sweeter cultivars - generally, gooseberries have a slight tart flavor, and many people prefer using them for jams, syrups, pies, and similar.

But, when cooked, they lose some of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also, such meals all require adding plenty of sugar.

Personally, if You are growing just a few gooseberry bushes, go for sweet cultivars, or even better, if You have the opportunity, go for wild ones - they often taste better than the cultivated ones.

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Gooseberries are easy plants to grow in a small garden or on the balcony. They require some work to grow properly and bear great-tasting fruits, but that work is negligible compared to great-tasting fruits and their fragrance and aroma.

For more information about gooseberries, feel free to check the following:

• Can Dogs Eat Gooseberries?

 Or check the following gooseberry articles: