About
Ribes uva-crispa, the gooseberry, is a bushy, woody shrub with thorny stems and deeply lobed, green leaves. Small, yellow-green flowers in spring are followed by oval fruits ripening to green, yellow, pink or red in mid-summer. Widely grown for culinary use � many named cultivars range from ideal for cooking and preserves to sweet enough to eat fresh from the bush.
About the genus
Ribes, the currants and gooseberries, are deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes spiny, with simple, usually palmately lobed leaves and small, tubular or bell-shaped flowers borne in spring or summer, followed by juicy, sometimes edible berries. Ornamental and useful garden shrubs.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Shrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesMixed borders, hedging, foundation planting.
Native toEurope, N Africa, SW Asia
Care notes
CultivationGrow gooseberries in a moist but well-drained soil that has been improved with organic matter. Mildly alkaline (chalky) soils are tolerated. Fruiting is best in full sun, but they will tolerate partial shade. They can be grown as goblet-shaped bushes or trained forms such as cordons. Water well as fruits swell and keep the base of the plants weed and grass-free. For more advice see gooseberry cultivation
PruningPrune gooseberries in winter and summer
PropagationPropagate by hardwood cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to gooseberry sawfly, birds and squirrels
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to gooseberry mildew and gooseberry leaf spot