What Is Gooseberry Plant?

Habitat

• Gooseberry plants flourish in full sunlight, but will tolerate a certain amount of partial shade. They also require a sheltered area, preferably near a windbreak. This protects against drying winds which affect growth and fruit size. For better fruit production, gooseberry plants need well-drained, loamy soil. Fertilization is beneficial where the intent is to harvest the fruit for consumption. As an ornamental tree to attract wildlife, the gooseberry will adapt to a less rich, drier soil.

Characteristics

• Of the two types of gooseberry plants, the American cultivars tend to prosper better in the United States. The different American cultivars produce fruit ranging in color from yellow-green to red and purple when mature. A predominant American cultivar is the Poorman, which is a good producer with high quality, medium-sized fruit. A cultivar that is hardy to cooler regions is the Pixwell that was developed in 1932 in North Dakota. This produces medium-sized fruit that is initially green in color and ripens to purple.

Pruning

• Both gooseberry and currant plants require a certain amount of pruning to encourage healthy growth and a good fruit yield. Pruning should be performed in the late winter or early spring. After the first year of growth, prune the gooseberry plant back to about seven or so of the healthiest shoots. Plants bear fruit in the first year at the wood base, but spurs on wood older than one year are more productive. Develop a cycle to remove fourth-year canes to allow for new growth on first, second and third year shoots and canes.

Harvesting

• In the first year of growth, pinch off blossoms to allow the plant to develop more foliage growth and establish a good root system. The second year of growth will produce a light fruit crop, but by the third year production yield will increase. Gooseberry fruit ripens over a two-week period in June and can usually be harvested in two pickings. Gooseberries are picked as individual fruit, as opposed to currants that grow in clusters.