Gooseberry Cuttings

[Frana]

Hi all,

Someone has recently offered me a cutting of their gooseberry bush. As I have never grown gooseberries, let alone taken a cutting of a bush, can anyone give me any advice on how or if a cutting can be taken and succesfully grown.

If so, how is it done, where do I take the cutting from and when etc... and how should I treat it.

Cheers all!

[sarraceniac]

Hi Frana. You don't want your cutting until the bush has finished fruiting in September. As they are difficult to 'strike' (make them root) when we discussed sending a Spanish member some, another member suggested 'layering' where you leave the potential cutting attached to the bush until it has rooted. As I couldn't send our Spanish member a complete bush I discounted this but if you can then simply scrape some of the bark off a near the ground 'branch' (more like a twig) leaving a few inches past the scrape to act as a new plant then bury the scraped bit and peg it down to secure it until it puts out new roots. Then cut the whole lot off and pot it on. If this is not possible for you then refer to this:

Garden Centre - Gooseberries - Propagation

[Snadger]

The beauty about gooseberries and whitecurrants is that they can be grown on a single leg as a standard or half standard or even a cordon. I intend layering some of mine and giving each a try!

[sarraceniac]

Keep us informed Snadger. My currants are taking up far too much room and if I could replace a few of the larger bushes with cordons against my (plenty of) fencing then it may be an answer.

[bobleponge]

Frana
I am moving my goosegogs as they are in the wrong place. Late last autumn I took cuttings from the bushes, about 5 inches long, and simply stuck them in compost, mixed with a little fire ash. They didnt do a lot over the winter (they were left outside) but in spring they started to grow again.
At the end of this year, the 2 big bushes that I have will be dug up, and the 2 small ones that have grown on in their (now bigger) pots thus summer will be put in where I want them to be.
I found no problems at all, I took 6 cuttings and they all grew. I am now trying to find homes for 4 goosegog plants as I dont want them all.

[Frana]

Thanks for the advice all,

I think given the ease, I will opt for the stick it in compost method, as I don't see my friend that often to do all the technical stuff!

[ginger ninger]

The beauty about gooseberries and whitecurrants is that they can be grown on a single leg as a standard or half standard or even a cordon. I intend layering some of mine and giving each a try!

Last year when i cut my red current bush back, i popped the bits i cut of in some moist compost tucked round the edge of a large pot, put it in the green house, nice new plants, 7 out of the 10 grew, now most of my friends have a baby red current bush Will try my gooseberry bush this year.

[Snadger]

The easiest way I've found with currant bush cuttings is to cut a slit with a spade in some shady spot in the garden, push the cuttings in and put a handful of sand around each cutting before healing it in!

[starloc]

3 weeks ago i snapped a branch on a goosbery bush,it was hard wood, stuffed it in a compost bag of jersey royal potatoes, between the potato stems,
i noticed today it was still green and had a 2 inch bit of new growth, i popped my hand in and scooped it out with some soil, knocked the soil off gently, it had rooted well and is growing new growth, i did noting other than stuff it in the bag of potatoes, no rooting powder or anythiing , its now potted up in its own pot