Types of Gooseberry

[Mortimer]

Hi,

My great great great granddad grew the following gooseberry varieties and I was hoping you could tell me which still survive and where in Ireland you can buy them as all I can find are modern varieties!

Reds: Wonderful, Slaughterman, Lion's Provider, London, Iron Duke, Companion
Greens: Overall, Gretna Green, General, Thumper, Queen Victoria
Yellows: Marygold/ Marigold, Two to One, Drill, Scarborough, Oldham
Whites: Queen of Trumps, Ardsley Beauty, Snow Ball, Snow Drop, Lady Stanley

THE GOOSEBERRIES IN BOLD ARE THE ONES I WOULD MOST LIKE AS THESE WERE HIS BEST

Thanks for any help,

Ryan

[swaine]

Hi Ryan,
cant help on were you can buy them in ireland,
the LONDON, MARIGOLD, QUEEN OF TRUMPS, i have in my collection of gooseberries, most of the others i have heard of but have either yet to find a supplier, or sadly extinct,

there is a couple of excellent gooseberry suppliers in the uk, rougham hall, and r v rogers both have a great selection of gooseberries
also a grower in europe that has many many gooseberries listed some that you mention, i have tried emailing and placing an order but to no avail,
best wishes stew

[podfather]

can anyone help me when is best to prune gooseberries and can i move the plants at this time of year.

[WendyC]

You can prune gooseberries now. I'm not the best person to ask for the actual technique as mine is a bit hit and miss. Other than the usual advice to remove dead branches, crossing ones and any close to the ground as the fruit will lay on the ground. The aim is for an open centred goblet shape.
As for moving you can do that too now. In fact I did exactly that this time last year as I moved plot. I used mychrohysal (sp?) fungi (Rootgrow) to help it re-establish and had a good crop. Only proviso is that your soil isn't frozen. You've probably got another month depending on the weather of course.