Very he althy gooseberries thrive on trellises, as standard stems or bushes. As different as the culture forms are, planting them is so easy. Here you will find actionable answers to all important questions.
How do I successfully plant gooseberries?
Gooseberries can be planted in fall or spring. Choose a sunny to partially shaded location with nutrient-rich, moist and clayey soil. Dig the soil deeply, place the plant in the planting hole, fill in compost and horn shavings, and mulch the surrounding area. Maintain a suitable planting distance.
When is it time to plant gooseberries?
Gooseberries can be planted in the ground in containers all year round as long as it doesn't freeze. Basically, autumn is considered the optimal time for planting, during the months of October and November. Anyone who misses this date will grow the fruit in spring.
Which location is suitable?
Choosing the planting site carefully is already half the battle on the way to a bountiful harvest. The location should be like this:
- sunny to semi-shady location, without blazing midday sun
- like to be warm, protected and surrounded by air
- nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil
- moist, fresh and clayey
- calcareous and well ventilated
Gooseberries have a hard time in sandy, dry soil. Here, targeted improvement of the soil is required with plenty of compost and a portion of clay.
What should you consider when planting gooseberries?
The more finely crumbly the soil is structured, the quicker the roots take root. Therefore, before planting, dig the soil 2 spades deep and rake carefully. The planting pits have twice the volume of the root ball. Before inserting it, it is soaked in water until no more air bubbles appear. How to proceed:
- mix the excavated material with compost and horn shavings
- insert the potted plant, press the soil and water
- mulch with nettle leaves, comfrey or fern
- leave a radius of 10 centimeters free around the root neck
If you plant a standard tree, it needs a support post. This should reach up to the crown, with a length of 140 centimeters.
What planting distance should be maintained?
The selected variety essentially determines the planting distance. When planted in rows, it varies between 1, 50 and 2 meters. To save space, tall trunks can be planted at a distance of 1.30 meters. There are currently columnar gooseberries to discover that are content with a distance of 0.80 centimeters.
When is harvest time for gooseberries?
The harvest season usually extends from June to August. The advantage is that even half-ripe fruits taste good. If the plant is full of berries, some are harvested and boiled down. The plant then easily carries the remaining load until it is fully ripe for fresh consumption.
How does propagation work?
A gooseberry bush is very easy to propagate with cuttings. This is how breeding succeeds:
- In autumn, cut off annual branches with a length of 20-25 centimeters
- defoliate the lower half of the shoot so that a maximum of 4 buds remain in the upper area
- Fill pots with potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon) to plant a cutting in each
Then keep it constantly moist. By spring or autumn, a strong young plant will have developed.
Tips & Tricks
A clever mixed culture keeps diseases away and increases yields. If you plant lily of the valley, garlic, marigolds and yarrow in the immediate vicinity of gooseberries, this measure promotes vitality, taste and harvest.
