Planting Gooseberry Plants
Few things are as delicious as homegrown berries, and the success of your harvest begins right with the planting site and method. For maximum growth and yields later on, give your plants the best foundation possible.
NOTE: This is part 2 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Before PlantingBefore you plant, check your soil pH. Contact your local County Extension Office for information about soil testing in your area, or purchase one of our digital meters for quick and accurate results. Gooseberry plants prefer a soil pH of 6.0-6.8. Steer clear of soils that are extremely heavy or poorly drained.
Planting Site
Few things are as delicious as homegrown berries, and the success of your harvest begins right with the planting site and method. For maximum growth and yields later on, give your plants the best foundation possible.
NOTE: This is part 2 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Before PlantingBefore you plant, check your soil pH. Contact your local County Extension Office for information about soil testing in your area, or purchase one of our digital meters for quick and accurate results. Gooseberry plants prefer a soil pH of 6.0-6.8. Steer clear of soils that are extremely heavy or poorly drained.
Planting Site
- Pick a site with partial shade to full sun.
- Because plants bloom very early in spring, they are susceptible to late season freezes. Choose a site that warms up slowly in the spring, to minimize this possibility.
- Most soil will benefit from the addition of organic material such as shredded peat or compost.
- Space the plants 3-6 feet apart in rows that are 6-8 feet apart.
- After you receive your gooseberries, prune off any damaged roots and cut the top back to 10 inches.
- Dig the hole deeper and wider than the root system.
- Set the plants with the lower branches a little below the soil level to encourage a bush form to develop.
- Fill hole with remaining soil.
- Fertilize and water your new plants. (If planting in the fall, wait to fertilize until spring for best results.)
- The lifespan of gooseberry plants is 12-15 years with proper maintenance.
- Suggested number of plants for a family of 5: 4-6 plants (1 plant per person).
Fertilizing Gooseberry Plants
Fertilize in early spring, before growth begins, use ¼ to ½ pound of balanced fertilizer. Apply fertilizer in a band around each bush, working it lightly into the soil from near the canes to a foot or so beyond the branch tips. A composted material rich in nitrogen, such as manure, also makes an excellent fertilizer and may be substituted for a balanced synthetic fertilizer.Pest & Disease Control for Gooseberry PlantsEvery plant has the future potential for disease and insect damage. Factors such as location and weather will play a part in which issues your plants encounters. If available, disease-resistant varieties are the best option for easy care; and for all types of plants, proper maintenance (such as watering, pruning, spraying, weeding, and cleanup) can help keep most insects and diseases at bay.
NOTE: This is part 4 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
ScaleTan to gray 1/16” hard, scaly shell covers developing young. Usually on bark of young twigs and branches. Sap feeding weakens plant.
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Natural Control
Fertilize in early spring, before growth begins, use ¼ to ½ pound of balanced fertilizer. Apply fertilizer in a band around each bush, working it lightly into the soil from near the canes to a foot or so beyond the branch tips. A composted material rich in nitrogen, such as manure, also makes an excellent fertilizer and may be substituted for a balanced synthetic fertilizer.Pest & Disease Control for Gooseberry PlantsEvery plant has the future potential for disease and insect damage. Factors such as location and weather will play a part in which issues your plants encounters. If available, disease-resistant varieties are the best option for easy care; and for all types of plants, proper maintenance (such as watering, pruning, spraying, weeding, and cleanup) can help keep most insects and diseases at bay.
NOTE: This is part 4 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
ScaleTan to gray 1/16” hard, scaly shell covers developing young. Usually on bark of young twigs and branches. Sap feeding weakens plant.
Natural Control
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
- Rub off with burlap.
Natural Control
- Cut infected canes at ground level and burn.
- Consult County Extension Agent
Natural Control
- Serenade® Garden Disease Control
Natural Control
- Raking and burning old leaves every fall.
- Keep planting area free of weeds.
- Good air circulation helps by allowing foliage to dry quickly after rain.
- Serenade® Garden Disease Control
Control
- Consult County Extension Agent
- May be too many pines in customers area to try to grow. Minimum distance from berries to pines is 300-900 feet, according to state regulations.
Natural Control
- Serenade® Garden Disease Control
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
Natural Control
- Prune out infected canes and destroy.
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
- Consult County Extension Agent
Natural Control
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
Natural Control
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
Natural Control
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray
- Bonide® Captain Jack’s™ Deadbug Brew
Control
- Consult County Extension Agent
Natural Control
- Traps
- Consult County Extension Agent
Natural Control
- Bonide® Captain Jack’s™ Deadbug Brew
Natural Control
- Bonide® Thuricide® Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT)
Pruning Gooseberry Plants
Pruning is an important part of proper edible plant care, but many people find the task overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be! Keep these things in mind:
Pruning Tips
NOTE: This is part 6 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Before you begin, read and follow all instructions on labels.
When To SprayAt the First Sign of:
Harvesting Gooseberry PlantsAre you ready to enjoy delicious homegrown fruit? Harvest is the time to enjoy the results of your hard work. Keep a few things in consideration as you reap the fruits of your labor: the best time to pick the fruit, and how to store your harvest.
NOTE: This is part 8 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
When to HarvestYou can expect your first harvest in the third season. Gooseberries are ready to harvest in late June to mid July when the fruit is full size and soft. One-way to test if the berries are ripe is to squeeze gently between your fingers, they will be soft when they are ripe.
Depending on the variety, the color of the ripe fruit will vary:
Annual average yield:
Pruning is an important part of proper edible plant care, but many people find the task overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be! Keep these things in mind:
- You can have confidence in knowing that not everyone will prune the exact same way (even the experts).
- There are several reasons to prune: to encourage vigorous growth and fruit production, improve sun penetration into the bush, and maintain good air circulation to minimize diseases.
Pruning Tips
- Each spring, prune away weak and crowding branches, leaving only several shoots from each year’s growth.
- Prune off all 3-year-old branches to make room for more fruitful, younger branches.
- Gooseberries produce best on 1-year wood. Branches that produced the preceding year should be removed.
NOTE: This is part 6 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
Before you begin, read and follow all instructions on labels.
When To SprayAt the First Sign of:
- Serenade® Garden Disease Control for anthracnose, botrytis blight and powdery mildew.
- Bonide® Captain Jack’s™ Deadbug Brew for thrips and fruitworm.
- Bonide® Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray for scale, powdery mildew, mites, aphids, blight and thrips.
Harvesting Gooseberry PlantsAre you ready to enjoy delicious homegrown fruit? Harvest is the time to enjoy the results of your hard work. Keep a few things in consideration as you reap the fruits of your labor: the best time to pick the fruit, and how to store your harvest.
NOTE: This is part 8 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.
When to HarvestYou can expect your first harvest in the third season. Gooseberries are ready to harvest in late June to mid July when the fruit is full size and soft. One-way to test if the berries are ripe is to squeeze gently between your fingers, they will be soft when they are ripe.
Depending on the variety, the color of the ripe fruit will vary:
- Gooseberries are usually red or green.
Annual average yield:
- Per gooseberry plant, 4-5 quarts
- Storage
Refrigerate berries immediately in a covered container or closed bag and they will keep for several weeks. Freeze for longer storage.