Growing Chinese Gooseberries

Choose a planting site that offers full sun, though a little afternoon shade on the base of the plants is fine, especially in hot regions of the country. The site needs moist, well-drained soil with a pH level between 5 and 6.5.

Turn the soil at the planting site. Use the shovel to break up large dirt clods. Work in some compost or organic matter if the soil is poor. Chinese gooseberries prefer rich, loamy soil. Use the rake to smooth the surface of the planting bed. Water the planting site thoroughly a day or two before planting.

Dig the planting hole as deep as the vine's original nursery container and twice as wide. Use the shovel to roughen the sides of the planting hole. Place the nursery-grown vine in the center of the planting hole and backfill the hole with excavated soil. Water thoroughly. If you're growing Chinese gooseberries from seed, sow 2 feet apart and cover with a light coating of loose soil. Water with a light spray to avoid dislodging the seeds.

Spread 1 to 3 inches of organic material, such as bark mulch, around the plant's root zone, but keep it away from the main stem. Mulch helps keep the roots cool and moist during the hot summer months and also helps keep the plants warm in winter.

Install the trellis or other support 6 to 8 inches away from the planting hole. Chinese gooseberries are fast-growing, vigorous plants that can become heavy as they mature. A T-shaped support system is easy to maintain and provides easy access to the plants.

Cut the plant back to one or two buds at planting time to encourage cane growth. Guide the canes to the trellis or other support, and loosely attach the cane to the support using the string or twist ties. Check the ties periodically to make sure the vine is not suffering constriction.

Water the Chinese gooseberry plants regularly. Less frequent, thorough watering is better than frequent, shallow watering. Do not allow the planting bed to dry out, as this will stress the plant and interfere with its ability to set fruit properly.

Chinese gooseberries love nitrogen, so use a fertilizer high in nitrogen in spring after last frost. Fertilizers made for citrus or avocado trees work well for Chinese gooseberries. Cut back on fertilizer near the end of the growing season to avoid forcing the plant to produce lower-quality fruit. Follow package directions for proper application methods and amounts.

Prune Chinese gooseberries to improve air circulation, eliminate dead wood and encourage growth and fruiting. Prune entangling branches away from canes you are training to the trellis. Except when removing diseased areas of the plant, prune Chinese gooseberries in winter, while the plant is dormant.