The fruity and spherical fruits of the gooseberry are not only deliciously refreshing, but also he althy. With the right combination of varieties, you can increase yields and expand the harvest window, because the bushes bear fruit from summer to autumn.
When is the gooseberry season in Germany?
The gooseberry season in Germany extends from June to July. However, some varieties, such as 'Hönings Früheste', can be harvested as early as the end of June, while 'Larell' bears fruit until late summer.
When the varieties bear
The varieties have a wide range of colors. This ranges from whitish green to golden yellow and light brown to red. The shell is smooth or bristly hairy and can be soft or firm. The main domestic season extends from June to July, with individual varieties bearing fruit until August or September.
Popular varieties:
- 'Höning's Earliest': Early variety whose yellow berries are harvested from the end of June
- ‘Spinefree’: almost thornless variety with large red fruits that are ready to harvest in mid-July
- 'Hinnomaeki red': less thorny variety with yields from mid to late June
- ‘Invicta’: heavily thorny shrub that bears yellow-green fruits in mid-July
- ‘Larell’: full red and thornless variety with a medium to late harvest period
This is how gooseberries thrive
Like all Ribes species, this tree grows in loose soil with constantly fresh conditions that does not tend to become waterlogged. The trees prefer a loamy substrate. Gooseberries cope well with chalky substrates. A sunny to partially shaded and well-ventilated location offers optimal growth conditions.
Planting
Before planting, loosen the soil thoroughly and dig a hole with twice the volume of the root ball. If you plant several bushes next to each other, make sure they are about 180 centimeters apart. For tall trunks, a distance of 1.5 meters from the next plant is sufficient.
Care
In addition to regular irrigation, fertilization is particularly important. You should avoid drought and waterlogging as well as over-fertilization. Stone or bone meal and wood ash as well as algae lime are suitable for soil preparation. Compost provides an ideal growth base. Give the plants occasional spray during the growing season.
Harvest season
There are two ways you can harvest gooseberries. Unripe berries are ideal for further processing. They are harvested green when they have reached a diameter of at least one centimeter. Since they are pressure-resistant, they prove to be easy to store. The further the ripening process progresses, the sweeter the fruits taste.
Harvest correctly
If the tree produces high yields, pick the branches several times in the immature stage from the end of May. This means the remaining berries ripen better and become larger. From June onwards, concentrate on the fully ripe fruits, as all the fruits are never ripe at the same time.
Freshness test
Fully ripe specimens are completely tinted in their top color and are ideal for fresh consumption. The degree of ripeness is easier to recognize in red varieties than in green specimens. The berries are plump at the optimal stage of ripeness and have a firm outer skin.