How To Sow    How To Grow    Tips    Common Pests    FAQ

How to Plant

• Plant in full sun in an area with well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0.
• Gooseberries prefer a medium to heavy soil with several inches of organic matter or compost mixed in.
• Before planting cut all stems to 6-10 inches above ground level.
• Space plants 4-5 feet apart.

Planting Bare Root Plants:

• Before planting soak roots 3-4 hours
• Dig the holes about one foot deeper than the plants will be set and fill with a mixture of compost and soil.
• Trim off very long or broken roots.
• Plant so the lowest branch will be below ground level. This will promote a bush form.
• Plant into the hole and back fill with loose soil. Gently press soil in around the root ball. Transplants need good root-to-soil contact. Do not press too hard because that can cause soil compaction and root damage.
• Gently water around the root ball to settle the soil and drive out air pockets.
• Prune plants back to 6 to 8 inches above the ground.
• After planting be sure to mark the plants with plant labels so you know where they are and what varieties they are.

Planting Potted Plants:

• Set the plant in the hole 2 to 3 inches deeper than it was growing in the pot.
• Backfill the hole and press firmly around the base of the planting.
• Leave a shallow depression around plants to hold water.
• Water deeply. The water will seal off any air pockets around the root ball.
• Prune plants back to 6 to 8 inches above the ground.
• After planting be sure to mark the plants with plant labels so you know where they are and what varieties they are.

How to Grow

• Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients. Control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
• Mulch around the plants to a depth of 2-3 inches of organic matter to preserve moisture and prevent weeds.
• Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
• In spring, before any leaves sprout, apply a granular fertilizer following the instructions on the label. Most new growth will come from the plant’s crown from under the soil. Plants use a lot of energy in spring when new growth begins, so do not let plants dry out.
• Prune in winter or early spring before the new growth begins.
• Prune out all but 6 strongest canes first year.
• The second winter prune out everything but the original 6 canes and the 3 strongest new canes.
• The third winter prune out all but the 3 strongest canes from last year’s growth plus the 3 strongest canes from this year’s growth.
• Every year after the third year remove all canes over 3 years of age down to the ground. Remove all but the strongest 3 of the current year’s growth. Do not remove any 2 year old canes. Gooseberries produce fruit on canes that are 1, 2 and 3 year old canes.
• Monitor for Pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.
• Protect fruit crops with bird netting as they approach ripeness or bag individual clusters with sturdy, brown paper bags tied securely to the cane when clusters are about half developed. Leave enough air space in the bags for clusters to develop.

Harvest and Preserving Tips

• Harvest time is usually mid to late summer.
• To harvest put on long gloves to protect hands and arms, and strip fruit from the canes. Be careful when harvesting as berries are quite soft and can burst.
• For jam and pies harvest under-ripe fruit in early summer.
• Harvest ripe fruit for fresh eating.
• Place berries in plastic bags and chill in the refrigerator immediately after harvest. Berries that were chilled quickly can last two weeks in the refrigerator. Gooseberries can also be frozen.

Common Disease Problems

Anthracnose: This is a fungus disease that attacks the fruit as it is ripening. The first visible sign is a circular spot on the skin that is slightly sunken. The spots enlarge and turn black; the fruit rots. Extended periods of heat and humidity facilitate anthracnose growth. The fungus overwinters in diseased plant debris. Burpee Recommends: Plant resistant varieties, provide sufficient space between plants for good air circulation, avoid overhead watering which can spread the fungus spores, keep a clean garden, remove and discard all diseased plant material and rotate crops. Use a mulch to prevent spores from splashing from the soil onto plants.

Botrytis: This fungus causes a grey mold on flowers, leaves, stems and buds. It thrives in cool wet weather conditions. Burpee Recommends: Remove affected plant parts, avoid watering at night and getting water on the plant when watering. Make sure plants have good air circulation. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.

Powdery Mildew occurs on the top of the leaves in humid weather conditions. The leaves appear to have a whitish or greyish surface and may curl. Burpee Recommends: Avoid powdery mildew by providing good air circulation for the plants by good spacing and pruning. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.

Septoria Leaf Spot: This disease causes severe losses in the Atlantic and Central states.  It is most severe during rainy seasons in closely planted gardens. It usually appears when the plants begin to set fruit. Circular spots with gray centers and dark margins appear on the lower older leaves.  Fungal spores are produced and darken the center of the spots. There is a progressive loss of foliage and fruits suffer from sunscald.  Burpee Recommends: Remove and destroy infected plant debris. Don't handle or brush against plants when they are wet. Rotate plantings. Remove weeds growing nearby.

White Pine Blister Rust: Small yellow spots appear on the underside of the leaves in spring. In late summer yellow to brown threadlike growths appear on or near the spots. The growths produce spores that will spread the disease to pine trees, the alternate host. Burpee Recommends: Plant resistant varieties. Do not plant near pine trees. Avoid wetting the leaves when watering. If it is a bad infection, remove and destroy plants. There are no effective pesticides to control white pine blister rust.

Common Pest and Cultural Problems

Aphids: Greenish, red, black or peach colored sucking insects can spread disease as they feed on the undersides of leaves. They leave a sticky residue on foliage that attracts ants. Burpee Recommends: Introduce or attract natural predators into your garden such as lady beetles and wasps which feed on aphids. You can also wash them off with a strong spray, or use an insecticidal soap.

Currant Borer: The larva is a pale yellow worm. The female lays eggs on the canes early June. The worm hatches and bores into the cane and feeds all season. Larva overwinters in the infested cane, emerging in the spring as an adult. The first symptom is yellow leaves on individual canes in late spring. The cane will die in summer. Burpee Recommends: Remove and destroy infested canes as early as possible.

Gooseberry Fruitworm or Currant Fruit Fly: Signs include hollow fruit or small maggots inside the fruit. Fruit may drop early and have dark spots surrounded by red areas. Burpee Recommends: Remove all dropped fruit and destroy. Plant early-maturing varieties. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for pesticide recommendations for your area.

Scale: Small bugs look like brown, black, gray to white bumps on the stems of plants. Scale may not have any apparent legs and may not move. Scales have a sucking mouth part. Scale may produce honeydew so leaves and stems may be sticky. Scale can weaken the plant causing it to grow very slowly and may wilt at the middle of the day. Burpee Recommends: Completely spray the stems with Insecticidal soap. For a severe infestation contact your local County Extension Service for recommendation for your area.

Spider Mites: These tiny spider-like pests are about the size of a grain of pepper. They may be red, black, brown or yellow. They suck on the plant juices removing chlorophyll and injecting toxins which cause white dots on the foliage. There is often webbing visible on the plant. They cause the foliage to turn yellow and become dry and stippled. They multiply quickly and thrive in dry conditions. Burpee Recommends: Spider mites may be controlled with a forceful spray every other day. Try hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap. Check with your Cooperative Extension Service for miticide recommendations.

FAQ

Do I need two different varieties to get fruit?  No, gooseberries are self-pollinating.

Will I get fruit the first year? No. Expect your first fruit in 2 years after planting and 3-5 years after planting for full fruit.

How long will gooseberries produce fruit? Gooseberries are long lived and if properly taken care of can last 20 to 30 years.

How do I protect my gooseberries from birds? Birds love gooseberries and will eat them before they are ripe. To ensure a good harvest cover plants with bird netting.

Why didn’t my gooseberries produce fruit?  It is important to follow the rules for proper pruning. Also, gooseberries flower early and their flowers cannot tolerate any frost. If a frost is expected when flowers are blooming, cover plants to protect from frost.