Xela's Garden
Worcesterberry 'Hinnonmaki Rod'[V]
Genus: Ribes.
Species: Ribes uva-crispa.
Planted '06 Vistabile fruit patch [divaricatum]
04.11 Vistabile fruit patch replacement
Bought '06 Wilkinsons? £2.99
03.11 at Wilkinsons @ ?
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist
Height: 150cm
Spread: 150cm
Gooseberries are the first soft fruits in many gardens, especially if the immature green berries are thinned in May for cooking. Like redcurrants, plants develop a permanent system of fruiting sideshoots, and may be trained as fans, espaliers, cordons and standards, as well as bushes grow all kinds on a single clear stem, known as a leg, for easy maintenance.
Photos of this plant
Reminders for this plant
Due almost 16 years ago:
Thin crop
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Thin
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The SECOND HARVEST be done a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Net fruit
If you aren't growing your gooseberries in a fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. Ensure it is weighted down at the base to prevent blackbirds getting underneath.
Second harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The SECOND HARVEST be done a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Prune
Summer pruning is not essential, but if possible prune sideshoots back to five leaves in June. This will allow the sun to reach into the centre of the bush and help ripen the fruit.
Single-stemmed cordons can be trained on canes or against a wall where they can reach 1.8m (6ft) tall. In summer, prune sideshoots back to five leaves to encourage fruiting spurs to develop.
Due over 15 years ago:
Net fruit bushes
Hungry bullfinches feed on the gooseberry buds in winter, so use netting to keep them at bay.
Prune
Winter pruning helps to form a balanced branch structure and keeps the centre of the bush open to make picking easier. Mildew disease is also reduced if air circulation is encouraged. Fruits form on old wood and around the base of last year’s growth. Therefore prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third.
Prune
Winter pruning helps to form a balanced branch structure and keeps the centre of the bush open to make picking easier. Mildew disease is also reduced if air circulation is encouraged. Fruits form on old wood and around the base of last year’s growth. Therefore prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third.
Single-stemmed cordons can be trained on canes or against a wall where they can reach 1.8m (6ft) tall.
Tie the leading shoot tip into the support as it grows. In winter, shorten the previous year's growth on the main tip back by a quarter to encourage new sideshoots. Shorten sideshoots pruned in summer to two or three buds.
Due about 15 years ago:
Thin fruits
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Due almost 15 years ago:
Thin fruits
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The SECOND HARVEST be done a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Prune
Summer pruning is not essential, but if possible prune sideshoots back to five leaves in June. This will allow the sun to reach into the centre of the bush and help ripen the fruit.
Single-stemmed cordons can be trained on canes or against a wall where they can reach 1.8m (6ft) tall. In summer, prune sideshoots back to five leaves to encourage fruiting spurs to develop.
Net
If you aren't growing your gooseberries in a fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. Ensure it is weighted down at the base to prevent blackbirds getting underneath.
Due about 14 years ago:
Thin fruits of
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Due almost 14 years ago:
Thin fruits
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Due over 13 years ago:
Prune
Winter pruning helps to form a balanced branch structure and keeps the centre of the bush open to make picking easier. Mildew disease is also reduced if air circulation is encouraged. Fruits form on old wood and around the base of last year’s growth. Therefore prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third.
Single-stemmed cordons can be trained on canes or against a wall where they can reach 1.8m (6ft) tall.
Tie the leading shoot tip into the support as it grows. In winter, shorten the previous year's growth on the main tip back by a quarter to encourage new sideshoots. Shorten sideshoots pruned in summer to two or three buds.
Net
Hungry bullfinches feed on the gooseberry buds in winter, so use netting to keep them at bay.
Due almost 13 years ago:
Thin fruit
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Prune
Summer pruning is not essential, but if possible prune sideshoots back to five leaves in June. This will allow the sun to reach into the centre of the bush and help ripen the fruit.
Single-stemmed cordons can be trained on canes or against a wall where they can reach 1.8m (6ft) tall. In summer, prune sideshoots back to five leaves to encourage fruiting spurs to develop.
Net
If you aren't growing your gooseberries in a fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. Ensure it is weighted down at the base to prevent blackbirds getting underneath.
Harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The SECOND HARVEST be done a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Due over 12 years ago:
Prune
prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third.
Net
Hungry bullfinches feed on the gooseberry buds in winter, so use netting to keep them at bay.
Due almost 12 years ago:
Thin
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size.
Prune
Summer pruning is not essential, but if possible prune sideshoots back to five leaves in June. This will allow the sun to reach into the centre of the bush and help ripen the fruit.
Net
If you aren't growing your gooseberries in a fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. Ensure it is weighted down at the base to prevent blackbirds getting underneath.
Harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The SECOND HARVEST be done a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Due about 11 years ago:
Mulch
Mar – May put a layer of organic material to act as a mulch around (but not touching) the main stem
Due almost 11 years ago:
Harvest
Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. See previous notes
Net
If not grown in fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. See previous notes.
Prune
Summer pruning is not essential, but pruning sideshoots back to five leaves in June allows the sun to reach into bush centre and help ripen the fruit.
Harvest
This SECOND HARVEST will be packed full of natural sugar and taste delicious.
Due over 10 years ago:
Feed
Sept: Feed ... a couple of handfuls of bonemeal should be all that is needed.
Prune
prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third.
Net
Hungry bullfinches feed on the gooseberry buds in winter, so use netting to keep them at bay.
