Gooseberry

Plant family

Gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Plant distance

120 cm

Row spacing

120 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm

Instructions

Description

Gooseberries belong to the botanical family of gooseberry (Grossulariaceae). The bush reaches heights and widths of up to 150 cm. The life of a bush is about 10 years. Its varieties are divided according to the color of the fruit. There are yellow, red and green-white varieties. Green and yellow varieties are usually sweeter and more aromatic. Red varieties are mostly thornless.

Growing tips

The location should be bright but sheltered. Between trees or shrubs is ideal. Gooseberries can get sunburnt in direct sunlight. The soil should be loose and humus-rich. Depending on use and variety, gooseberries are picked from the end of May to July or August. The fruits are formed on the annual side shoots of older shoots. Regular pruning is important to promote fruit formation. The first pruning is carried out after planting in the fall (October to November) or spring. Shorten the strongest ground shoots by about a third. Remove all but 6 of the remaining ground shoots. After the harvest, older side shoots are shortened. One-year-old side shoots must be left! They will bear fruit the following year. You will get the best harvest if several gooseberry varieties grow next to each other.