Dessert gooseberries

[Marcher]

Does anyone know of some nice varieties which can be eaten raw? Are there any interesting ones that taste like grapes for example?
I've heard of Hinnonmaki varieties quite often, what are they like?

[Thelma Sanders]

I don't know what varieties I have , but they are all nice raw if left to ripen properly.

Some people pick theirs green I don't

[binley100]

The red ones are the sweetest..........if you can keep the birdies away .

[veggiechicken]

If I have a good crop, I pick alternate ones green for cooking and leave the rest to fatten up and ripen. I like the ones that go yellow!!

[Marcher]

My introduction to gooseberries was not a good one. I bought a Hinnonmaki Red plant from a pound shop and it died before fruiting. I then tried some gooseberries from an old bush from next door that were green (I think they eventually go a dark red / black) and they were very bitter, shrivelled up my mouth. The neighbour had pretended to eat one first and had a good laugh out of their victim.

I've heard some varieties are good raw though. I don't want a cooking variety, just something pleasant straight off the bush. Any that taste like grapes or some other kind of fruit would be nice too.

[veggiechicken]

Gooseberries are easy to grow from cuttings. If you can find one that you like, take a cutting. IMO anything that is bought from a £ shop is a gamble - some grow, some don't: some are labelled correctly, some aren't. Any small green gooseberry is likely to be tart as it is unripe or intended for cooking.
Ripe gooseberries taste like gooseberries - they don't taste like grapes.

[Marcher]

Gooseberries are easy to grow from cuttings. If you can find one that you like, take a cutting. IMO anything that is bought from a £ shop is a gamble - some grow, some don't: some are labelled correctly, some aren't. Any small green gooseberry is likely to be tart as it is unripe or intended for cooking.
Ripe gooseberries taste like gooseberries - they don't taste like grapes.

But what do gooseberries taste like? Is there anything they can be compared to?
And I ask about grapes because grapes are good and a grape-tasting gooseberry would be much easier to grow. There are strawberry tasting grapes and apples, it can't be impossible - just not happened yet I guess.

[binley100]

They taste just like goosgogs .........

[veggiechicken]

Why would a grape-tasting gooseberry be easier to grow?
A ripe gooseberry tastes of summer, of the sun; it's the size of a small plum and explodes in your mouth. Its delicious, just tasting of gooseberry. Pluck them straight from the bush, open mouth, insert gooseberry, bite it and .........enjoy!!
Don't let your bad experiences put you off. At the very worst, buy some frozen gooseberries and try those. They'll be pale imitations of fresh ones but they'll give you an idea of what to expect.

[redser]

The one you want is whinhams industry. Red fruit and just like you said they are like sweet grapes have two, one gave a tiny crop last year so big hopes for this year!

[WendyC]

If you're not sure if you like gooseberries that taste like gooseberries, may I suggest you wait until they are in season, July, in my area, and try some. If you are on an allotment there must be someone who grows them and would you let try some ripe ones. I think mine is Invicta and they are quite yellow when really ripe. Green ones will be quite sharp. I only grow things we like, hence no Brussels on my plot.

[Marcher]

Why would a grape-tasting gooseberry be easier to grow?

Easier to grow than actual grapes. Hardy and much easier in our climate.

The one you want is whinhams industry. Red fruit and just like you said they are like sweet grapes have two, one gave a tiny crop last year so big hopes for this year!

Great, I'll look them up.

If you're not sure if you like gooseberries that taste like gooseberries, may I suggest you wait until they are in season, July, in my area, and try some. If you are on an allotment there must be someone who grows them and would you let try some ripe ones. I think mine is Invicta and they are quite yellow when really ripe. Green ones will be quite sharp. I only grow things we like, hence no Brussels on my plot.

I think I'll buy a plant and leave it to the birds if I don't like them, they might as well get a good feed and I'll consider it an ornamental shrub.

[veggiechicken]

Easier to grow than actual grapes. Hardy and much easier in our climate.

BUT if you want to eat grapes you grow grapes - not a gooseberry that has been likened to a grape in some way
Gooseberry bushes are also very prickly and not particularly ornamental. Why don't you want to taste before you buy?

[SarzWix]

Gooseberries used to be called 'the English grape', and if combined with elderflowers make a wine something like a Muscat

I don't think there's anything to be puzzled at in wanting to grow something grape-like that isn't a grape - they're a pain in the butt to grow imho Especially somewhere flippin' cold and wet like the North West of England

[Marcher]

BUT if you want to eat grapes you grow grapes - not a gooseberry that has been likened to a grape in some way

I do grow grapes, I have a Muller Thurgau vine that does rather well and I'm thinking of getting a Triomphe d' Alsace or Rondo to join it.

Gooseberry bushes are also very prickly and not particularly ornamental. Why don't you want to taste before you buy?

I don't know, I guess I'm willing to gamble if I read something good about a particular variety.

Gooseberries used to be called 'the English grape', and if combined with elderflowers make a wine something like a Muscat

I don't think there's anything to be puzzled at in wanting to grow something grape-like that isn't a grape - they're a pain in the butt to grow imho Especially somewhere flippin' cold and wet like the North West of England

Exactly - finally, someone that understands! I'm in Cheshire and want something to fill for the grape vines that fail in bad years (such as last year). I don't want something with an overpowering taste, just something pleasant that can be eaten raw.