Gooseberries. Say No More....!

[wellie]

Are YOU up to your armpits in them?!

Actually, I wasn't sure this morning as I walked my mug of coffee around the garden, because I was kind of SURE that the Blackbirds had been sneaking one or two whilst I was asleep or something(!)

But it was very noticeable that the Gooseberry bushes in my new garden are very 'overcrowded' and suffering from a bad attack of Mildew (on the actual fruit?) - but hey - what can I do ? All I can do is try and improve their growing habit for next year by selectively pruning out the centre of the bushes, and following advice from anyone that knows better than me, or what I can find out from reading in a book - which is how I like to do that.
I DO love to learn? No matter what you THINK you know - there's always new stuff to learn...... And Gooseberries are in my new garden, and Gooseberries is what I shall now swot up on!!

If you're growing Gooseberries, I'd be really grateful for any advice you've got to give me?

[Westcoast]

Having lost them for the last 2 years to my little feathered friends ( don't mind shearing, but when they they take the lot that's naughty) I got in early and netted them. On the pruning bit, prune from the middle and try and get the bush into a nice bowl shape with lots of air circulating through the bush and you should have a bumper crop next year.

They are very greedy plants so a good helping of manure would be most welcome, especially if they have been neglected for few years.

Lots of happiness to your and Trousers in your new home.

MG

[wellie]

Thanks Westcoast! I've not actually caught anyone 'red-handed' yet, but our neighbour did warn me about The Blackbird (!) and I've got loads of fairly small-mesh netting that I 'know where it is' in this chaotic house-move thing to try and protect the majority of the gooseberry crop kind of right now, so that's brilliant.

And the advice about the pruning is excellent.
Not knowing what varieties the gooseberry plants are (apart from the thornless Pax over there) it's like the blind leading the blind (no offence intended by the saying, obviously)

I'm seriously going to have to sort these bushes out once they've fruited - one of them is taking up an enormous space, and you couldn't possibly pick all of the fruit without danger of severing an artery!!! But I'm hugely grateful for the harvest that we're about to receive, so that's Tidy.

Knowing what you know about Gooseberries - I don't suppose you've got any good Gooseberry Recipes for me no?! Be brilliant if you have.... X

[burnie]

What ever you do don't make ice cream with them,I'd always wondered why you never see it for sale,having made some I know know why.............yuk

[Hilary B]

What ever you do don't make ice cream with them,I'd always wondered why you never see it for sale,having made some I know know why.............yuk

Sorbet might work.......
There are plenty of types of fruit too acid to make ice-cream readily (tendency to curdle the milk/cream) but some of them do good sorbet. I would expect gooseberry to be included. I made some raspberry sorbet last year, delish!

[SarzWix]

Gooseberry and Elderflower wine is a really lovely white, but needs to mature for a while to get the best from it. If you need to, you can freeze the gooseberries until the elder is out, or freeze the elderflowers til your goosegogs are ready
I'll fish out the recipe and pop it on Juicy Gossip.

[Nicos]

Watch out for Jays- they'll get under the netting quite happily to pick the fruit- and then fly off with them!

[zazen999]

Hi Wellie.

Are you after advice on growing or cooking them?......we can move this if it is growing advice you are after.

[hmk]

Have to disagree with gooseberry icecream- I made (?Nigellas) gooseberry and elderflower iceream last year and it was delicious!!

One crust gooseberry pie is lovely- shortcrust pastry or scone dough, roll out into pie size/shape on baking tray, cover with goosegogs and sugar (and splash of elderflower cordial if you like- they go really well together), fold edges over (nice if you brush them with milk or vegg and sprinkle with a bit more sugar) and bake. Mmmm!

Gooseberry jam (+/- elderflower) is yummy, as is gooseberry and mint jelly (for lamb and cheese rather than toast).

HMK

[burnie]

I love goosegogs,just didn't like the icecream,they're nice stewed with strawberries,sweet and sour pudding.

[jackie j]

My lottie neighbour gave me two tiny sticks that were gooseberries I planted them ( stuck them in the ground ) they grew trouble was they were so small that when I was working around them I kept sitting on them lol now I only have one left. Its still small but its only the second year. I will try not to sit on it this year.

[wellie]

Very kind of you zazen, but I'm definitely wanting this thread in the Season To Taste Section, as I'm hoping someone will blow my sox off with a Gooseberry recipe I've not yet encountered in all of my Cook Books!

All the Cheffies seem to give you the same recipes, and combinations, and I'm trying to poach someone's alternative 'brilliance' here?!

I've bought some fresh Filo Pastry and a pack of white marzipan on my travels today, and I might have a stab at a kind of a Wellie Strudel in the next couple of days

Poor Trousers!

And thank you for all your contributions so far.
Unfortunately, my Elderflowers won't be ready for a Gooseberry, so I will have to freeze in the meantime.

And, as per my other thread, I'm trying to summon up the courage to make some Country Wine.

So, keep the advice coming!
X

[Hans Mum]

i made this chutney last year and will be making it again soon, we enjoyed it

Rhubarb Gooseberry Relish recipe - Gooseberry Recipes

and this looks interesting i'm going to make this over the weekend
Gooseberry & almond streusel squares recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

hope they help

[SlugLobber]

One of my gardening books said to wait until July to harvest the gooseberries, but I have quite a few on my little bushes. Should I harvest them now? How do I know it's the correct time? Is there a squish test or similar?!?

[FionaH]

My memories from childhood is that it is the right time when they dont take the skin off the roof of your mouth! Seriously sour if not ripe