How To Grow, Harvest And Store Gooseberries Long Term!

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July is Gooseberry season! How I love them! Fabulous when baked in Pies, Jams, preserves and Cake! These soft fruits are unfortunately a rarity in British Supermarkets, which has always surprised me! But no matter, if you’re a lover of Gooseberries, like I am, growing them is super easy! You can grow them in the ground, in pots, or even train them up a fence or wall if you want to save space! Here’s how I grow mine…

A Little Gooseberry History!

It is believed that Gooseberries originated in ancient Greece. They first appear in English horticultural bills of plants, imported from the continent in the thirteenth-century. By the fifteenth century, Gooseberries were widely cultivated in Britain, they were well suited to our climate, and crops were abundant. Our love, for the sometimes sour, sometimes sweet berry began!

Back then, the Gooseberry was an Important harvest, as it was the first soft fruit of the summer season and hungry English families were glad of it! It’s popularity grew amongst the poor and wealthy classes, and by 1831 there were more than 700 named Gooseberry cultivars!

What’s in a name?

I would love to tell you some Charming story about a Goose, and regale you with a quintessentially british tale of how the Gooseberry got its name. But alas, the origins of the Gooseberry name is much more staid!

Gooseberry is actually derived from the Old Norman English word- groses or grosier, which is the old word for grosielle, the French word for redcurrant.

Gooseberry Characteristics

Gooseberry bushes are roughly 3-5 ft tall with a spread of upto 4ft wide. They have lobed leaves with toothed edges. Flowers show up in spring and are small, yellow-green or pink in colour. Berries are Oval with a hairy or prickly surface and can be white, red, yellow, or green.

When Can You Harvest Gooseberries ?

Technically Gooseberry season starts in June, but you’ll want to wait until July before you start picking! This will give the Berries time to ripen. The great thing about the Gooseberry plant, is its generosity! It just keeps on giving! The Harvest will be plentiful! Especially with established plants.

Gooseberries give you a nice long Harvest! Each Gooseberry will not ripen at the same time , so starting in July, you can expect to be picking over a 4-6 week period.

Should Gooseberries be eaten Raw or Cooked?

Early in the season, the bright green berries, with a veined effect on the flesh, are quite tart and best suited for baking or cooking with. Later in the season, the softer, sweeter varieties, usually the red or yellow berries are fabulous eaten raw.

How To Pick Gooseberries

A little warning, picking Gooseberries can be treacherous! Gooseberry bushes are prickly so when harvesting Fruit be sure to wear some sturdy gloves and long sleeves to avoid scratches- believe me, you’ll thank me later!

Two ways to Harvest Gooseberries:

1.Pluck ! -With a gloved hand pluck each Gooseberry individually. This is the most time consuming method, but ideal if not all gooseberries on the limb are ripe or you just want a handful at a time.

2. Shake ! – With a gloved hand, grab a branch and give it a good old shake to dislodge the ripe Gooseberries. Collect in a large bucket or basket

** Good to know…Berries that have fallen naturally, on their own from the Gooseberry bush, is an indication that they are overripe. Let the birds have them ones :o)

How to Grow Gooseberries

When To Plant Gooseberry plants:

You can plant bare-root Gooseberries from late autumn to early spring, but its best to avoid planting when the ground is waterlogged or frozen. I prefer to plant mine in Late Autumn as it gives the plant plenty of time to settle before it bursts into life in spring.

Buy your Gooseberry Plant:

You can buy already established ones or Bare Root ones

Planting Your Gooseberry plant:

Choose a sunny or partially shaded spot with free draining soil
Dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball of your Gooseberry Plant, add to the hole some good quality compost or some well-rotted manure.
Spread out the roots of the plant and place in the hole. Backfill to the base of the stem and press the soil down to keep the plant in place, then water well.
As the plant begins to grow, you can train the stems to grow against a wall or fence. Or simply allow it to grow in a traditional bush shape

How Long Until Gooseberry Plants Fruit?

You can expect to have your first Gooseberry harvest in the third season of growth, around late June to mid July when the fruit is full size and soft.

How To Store Gooseberries over a longer period

I Like to make the most of my Gooseberry Harvest. No Gooseberries left behind! ;o) I pick every one! We’re talking Hundreds! Its free food, nature’s’ bounty, and I would hate to waste it!

My preferred method of Storing Gooseberries is by freezing them:

Once picked, wash them and place the Gooseberries on a tray. Spread them out, so their not touching each other
Pop the tray in the freezer for 1-2 hours until the Gooseberries are frozen.
Place portions of Frozen Gooseberries in Freezer bags and pop them back in the freezer for upto 10 months

Storing gooseberries in salt preserves:

Processed properly, Gooseberries will remain fresh for up to eight months using this method…

Add salt to boiling water. Once the water cools put the gooseberries into the saltwater and transfer them to an airtight glass jar. Store out of direct sunlight, at room temperature, and low humidity

How Long Will Gooseberries last in the Fridge?

Fresh gooseberries will keep for up to 2 weeks in fridge.

Should you Prune Gooseberry Plants ?

Yes! The best time to prune your Gooseberry plants is during mid winter or early Spring.

Remove any crossing branches and any dead or damaged branches, by cutting them back to the next set of spurs.( *Spurs are short, slow growing stems with greatly shortened internodes that can bear leaves, flowers and fruit.) Finally, remove roughly a third of the year’s growth from the remaining stems.

Can You Forage For gooseberries?

Your in Luck! Yes You can! Wild Gooseberries are often found growing in patches of scrub, in woodland and hedgerows, as well as the banks of rivers and streams. Just like homegrown Gooseberries, you will need a gloved hand to protect you from the spikes!

Looking for Gooseberry recipes? Try my Gooseberry Jam, Gooseberry Jap Drop Biscuits and my Gooseberry Crumble cake