Gooseberries

[Annpan]

I've never grown them, picked them or eaten them before....

But I have some on a bush that look ready to pick but are a little hard.

I read somewhere, that you should pick them when they change colour

So When should I pick them? (I'm picking to freeze, so when I have a cooker I can make them into something)

[wulf]

I like to wait until they have a little bit of give when I squeeze them. Some varieties will end up sweeter than others; I don't know what the ones in my garden are but they have turned more yellowish of late and I got a first harvest last week with more to come.

If they start to drop off the bush, split or get subject to animal / bird attacks, then pull them off but otherwise they can probably live on the bush a little longer.

Wulf

[Odsox]

The best way to tell if they are ready is when they just "give" a little when you squeeze them.
However, gooseberries don't have to be ripe if you are going to cook them and especially if you are going to make jam. They just have to be big enough and it doesn't matter if they are rock hard.
I will have to pick mine this weekend although I should have picked them a couple of weeks ago, but life got in the way. Miraculously the birds have left them alone, together with my morello cherries and blackcurrants which also desperately need picking.

Wulf beat me to it.

[Annpan]

Thanks, it is a new bush so it only has a handful on it anyway .... about enough for a tablespoon of jam

[wulf]

Wulf beat me to it.

You've probably got more experience of growing gooseberries than me so it is good to have my theories confirmed.

Cheers,

Wulf

[Millymollymandy]

Are they picked all at the same time (or a couple of pickings) like currants? Mine are just rooted (I hope) cuttings at the moment so it will be a while before I get fruit.

[wulf]

I've got too many to pick all at once so several pickings for me.

Wulf

[vancheese]

Thanks, it is a new bush so it only has a handful on it anyway .... about enough for a tablespoon of jam

I'm glad my new gooseberry bush isn't rubbish too as it has about the same amount :)

[butternut]

Hi! I have two bushes, don!t know the name, sorry, every year I collect around 14kg from one bush and 8kg from the other. (first one green 2nd one red) we use them mostly for jam. The reason we use them for jam is because I got fed up trying to beat the blackbirds to the ripe ones! Has anyone noticed any difference this year? I had to leave my picking a bit later this year, (both these bushes ripen mid to late june) And! lo and behold, I"ve no competition! The bushes are full of fruit, and, no Blackbirds? I don"t want my blackbirds to disapear, they have reard young in my garden for years, (country) and before anyone says I cleaned the bushes of fruit, I did"nt. Its impossible anyway. My garden is a veg garden with no chemicals allowed. I know its a contrediction wanting my enemy back but If something is harming their enviroment I would like to help reverse it, Should I be worried?

[boboff]

Have you had some Worzels move in near by?


(Black bird I'll ave eee)

[butternut]

He! He! okay I"ll stop wondering.

[Millymollymandy]

eeeeks that a lot of kg, 2 bushes max it is here then, I will try to give away the other cuttings!

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks, if they are going to be anything like currants then 2 bushes will be more than enough and I will need another freezer!

[Peggy Sue]

I made a bit of an error buying my bushes and got 6---- definitely not all in one picking, can't handle the bloodloss!

[garye]

Rather than start a whole new thread can I pose another question. We bought two bushes earlier in the year (one green one red ) and the green one now looks very, very unhealthy. All the leaves are gone, as is it's fruit. Hope i haven't killed the bloody thing! It's in a fairly big pot and seemed fine for ages. The leaves actually look eaten as opposed to having just fallen off. Is there something tha eats gooseberry leavse?