Gooseberry advice please

[Rich72]

Afternoon all.
I plan to grow some gooseberries this year but need advice on which variety to grow. I want something that's relatively undemanding as most of my time will be taken up with veg beds.

Thanks

[rustylady]

Gooseberries, in common with most fruit bushes, really are not demanding. As long as you prepare your site well you more or less leave them to get on with it, apart from picking the fruit and an annual prune if needed. Variety depends more on whether you want them for eating straight from the bush or whether you want them for cooking.

[Rich72]

I think would be better for cooking. At least that way I can freeze them if needed

[veggiechicken]

You can freeze the dessert gooseberries too. Also, when you thin out the gooseberries you can cook the small ones even though they're not sweet enough to eat raw.

[rustylady]

Have a looky here Gooseberry Collection - J Parker Dutch Bulbs Plenty of other information and suppliers on Google.

[Scarlet]

I've planted invicta and pax (the kids like the red ones!) Both do very well - invicta usually produces a bigger crop. And as RL says the are undemanding - although I do net mine from the blackbirds.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've planted invicta and pax (the kids like the red ones!) Both do very well - invicta usually produces a bigger crop. And as RL says the are undemanding - although I do net mine from the blackbirds.

Snap. Selected the invicta because it is resistant to mildew. As already stated, once planted gooseberries really need very little attention apart from pruning and the secret of that is to keep the centre of the bush open. It's often described as creating a wineglass shaped bush.

[stella]

Are anyones gooseberries showing signs of budding yet. Mine look very dead, they are usually so easy to look after?

[Loudbarker1]

I'm deperate to try "Hero of the Nile" a very old variety introduced (probably) in 1798. Just for the name- no idea what it tastes like, but its a white gooseberry.