Old Gooseberry Bushes. Do They Fruit ??

[Minty]

Hi Guys, when i took my lottie over April last year one of the bonuses of the overgrown jungle was a gooseberry plant.
At the time of takeover it had no leaves and certainly no fruit. I moved it from its overgrown area two months ago and to my delight it is now full of leaves.
Does this mean it will fruit or is there a chance that the bush is too old and has done it`s time and will fruit no more ????.
Minty X

[zazen999]

I was given [thrust more like] a very very old gooseberry bush last summer by my sis in law who was desperate to get it out of her large and unruly garden.

I chopped it bak a bit last summer [no fruit last year], and again at the weekend to a goblet shape [as such] and there were a few flowers under the leaves.

Have a look under yours and see - If I even get a few it will be nice but I think it may have had its day.

[Hans Mum]

flowers mean fruit, unless the frost get them, throw a fleece (or old net or smiliar) over it if you get a frost forecast, the sit back and wait yuo'll have lovely goosegogs later on

[Minty]

Suppose i am going to have to wait and see.
But because i see no flowers below the sprouting leaves i must assume no fruit :-{

[Sue]

Does that mean I've lost my goosegogs after the last frosts. Didn't cover it, damn and blast
Sue

[Hans Mum]

Suppose i am going to have to wait and see.
But because i see no flowers below the sprouting leaves i must assume no fruit :-{

it might be a later fruiting variety so dont lose hope yet, just keep an eye on it

sue, dont worry too much it depends on how hard the frost was, nature has survived 1000s of years without help from us

[Madasafish]

Take cuttings and you'll get nice young bushes in 12 months.

[SimonCole]

We've got 60 year old bushes on our allotment site (or so they said) that fruit quite prolifically.

[Madasafish]

I planted a bare root gooseberyy 3 weeks ago. It started to leaf then forst killed them all. Still alive tho

[Flummery]

Old gooseberries never die - they only form an impenetrable thicket! They don't suffer from frost either - or I would never have had any fruit - I never cover them. Panic not!

[Minty]

Thanks guys.
On closer inspection this morning i have noticed little red buds appearing below the leaves, i assume these will be the flowers that bear the fruit. Does the flower colour have any relevance to the variety or colour of the fruit ??.
Minty

[Flummery]

Don't think so. My buds are red on a green berried variety.