Pale green, caterpillar-like larvae cause rapid and severe defoliation of plants, often reducing bushes to bare stems by harvest time. Damage starts in mid to late spring, but there can be three generations of the pest a year, so problems can continue through the summer.
Inspect plants carefully from mid-spring onwards, examining the undersides of leaves and especially the centre of the bush. Remove larvae by hand. Birds, especially pigeons, can cause an array of problems including eating seedlings, buds, leaves, fruit and vegetables.
Protect the plants from birds by covering them with netting or fleece. Scarecrows and bird-scaring mechanisms work for a while, but the most reliable method of protection is to cover plants with horticultural fleece or mesh. In June, when the fruits are still green and under-ripe, pick every other fruit and use for making jam, pies, tarts and sauces. Leave the remainder to swell into ripe, sweet berries to harvest in July and August. Excess fruit can be put into polythene bags and frozen.
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The berries themselves are typically pale green, but look out for eye-catching red or yellow varieties too. Most plants are very thorny, but some varieties are easier on the hands with considerably fewer thorns.
Gooseberries will thrive in most gardens, but to get the most from them grow them in a bright position in rich, well-drained soil.
Gooseberries naturally grow into bushes but may also be trained — as standards on a long single trunk, or against a fence as fans or single-stemmed cordons. Please note that in a few areas of the United States growing gooseberries is prohibited because they can serve as a host to white pine blister rust, a disease devastating to the lumber industry.
Check for local restrictions before sourcing plants. Dig a generous planting hole then add some well-rotted compost or manure to the excavated soil. Place the gooseberry into the hole so that the previous soil level is flush with the new soil level.
Feed back the enriched soil around the roots or rootball, taking plenty of time to firm in the soil as you fill to anchor the roots. Water copiously to settle the soil further then finish off with a mulch of organic material to help suppress weeds and feed your new plant. Pruning also helps leave the centre of the plant open making picking fruit easier and improves air circulation which helps prevent mildew.
This mildew is easily identifiable by the powdery grey fungus which affects the leaves, stems and even fruit. Treating should be be done by removing any leaves and stems affected as soon as it is noticeable and burn to dispose of.
There are over cultivars of gooseberry plants but below are our 5 recommended varieties that will perform well and produce large crops and grow well in most gardens. Image credit: wikimedia. Welcome to my site, my name is John and I have been lucky enough to work in horticultural nurseries for over 15 years in the UK. I now work full time on this website where I review the very best gardening products and tools and write reliable gardening guides.
Behind this site is an actual real person who has worked and has experience with the types of products we review as well as years of knowledge on the topics we cover from actual experience. You can reach out to me at john pyracantha.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fruit growing When to pick gooseberries By John Moore.
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