befuddled gooseberry query

Cant help you with the gooseberry question Cathy (just ordered three plants so I'm a real beginner!), but welcome to the Vine!

thanks Jennie! happy to be here. I've had an allotment for a couple of years and there's still so much I don't know!!

Hiya Cathybird, welcome to the vine.

According to t'internet, "The requirements of gooseberries are similar to those of red and white currants and these two crops should be grouped together in any garden plan. Varieties of gooseberries differ widely in their performance depending on local soil conditions, e.g. Whinham's Industry does well on heavy soils which are generally unsatisfactory for gooseberries. Chalky, sandy and gravelly soils in particular require plentiful dressings of farmyard manure or garden compost before and after planting. Gooseberries are however usually more tolerant of alkaline conditions than most fruits. They can be grown as a bush, stool-bush, half-standard or upright cordon. It is always preferable to start off with a two year old plant. Half-standard forms (where the main stem length is approximately 60cm [2ft] in length) are now becoming very popular. They have several advantages over conventional low bush forms; they are more attractive looking and since they bear their fruit well above ground level they are easier to manage and pick. They also take up less ground space, since the area beneath the bush can be utilised by low growing annuals or herbs. This is clearly an important consideration in a small garden. Bushes and half-standards should be planted 1.2-1.5m (4-5ft) apart."

Hope that's of some help, have never had any problems with mine and just shoved them in and hoped (a bit close together though based on the problems I have when harvesting!)

hiya Alison - thanks for your long and detailed answer!! Just out of interest, how far apart are your plants?

Have got bush plants about 2.5 to 3' apart, far too close

Just put some in lottie, left about 4'0" between them. So that the ground is not wasted I have put containers with spring bulbs in them around the softfruit !

Later in the season tubs filled with various veg will take there place around the soft fruit!

I have just planted some goosberries which were given to me. I dug plenty of compost into the ground as they are hungry feeders. Also mulched the top with extra compost too.

Ideal time to move them, make sure you get as much of the root system as you can and replant where you want them to be as soon as possible. If your soil is either sandy or clay, dig in as much organic matter as you can. Remember they're going to be there for a lot of years. Also, I would go for spacing them about 4 feet apart as they're going to get quite large. Are you going to grow them as bushes or go for specialist training such as fans against a wire support?

I have some 40 soft fruit bushes and plant at either 4' or 5' spacings. If you go much closer especially with gooseberries you are inviting in mildew which will destroy any crop you may have had, and if this doesnt show its face you will also have less yield per bush if planted too close.

Most importantly, give the soil lots of well rotted compost or manure. This work will be repaid tenfold in subsequent years with high yields.