Gooseberry bushes

[marthasnan]

Morning
We have 3 or 4 three year old gooseberry bushes on our allotment in Doncaster and want to know if it ok to transplant them at this time of year.

[nick the grief]

Welcome to the Vine Marthsnan,

You could try, but they are just about coming into Bud (well mine are).

If you must move them I would dig as big a rootball as possible & then put a temporary cane in just to stop them Rocking in the wind until they get re anchored.

Failing that leave them till the back end.

[andrewo]

You should ideally move and prune gooseberries between Nov-Feb, if you do move them now or at anytime, don't expect a good crop from them as they tend not to fruit as they are busy putting down roots and overcoming the shock.

[Shortie]

Did I completely make it up or did I read somewhere that gooseberry bushes can burn skin?

[andrewo]

Never heard that, I know that parsnips can but never had any probs with gooseberries bar a few scratches.

[nick the grief]

Only if they are on fire shortie

[Shortie]

Okay... another one I must have dreampt up

[marthasnan]

I've decided to let sleeping gooseberries lie until next year!!

[Earthbabe]

On a slight aside. I am looking to replace two tired and I suspect very old bushes with something newer and more vibrant. I can't really take cuttings as they have had mildew. What would people recommend? I am probably going to use them for crumbles, pies, jam etc. rather than eating fresh but am always game for something new.

Also where would be the best source. I have had a look through my copy of Hessayon but it is quite old and I have little experience of fruit growing.

And ....... can I grow them alongside currants? I seem to think they are the same or a similar family.

No more questions on this for now

[Snadger]

Never heard that, I know that parsnips can but never had any probs with gooseberries bar a few scratches.

So what about these flaming parsnips? Please enlighten!

[nick the grief]

Hi Snadger.

If you let your parsnips go to seed the sap (which contains furocoumarins)can cause severe blistering if it comes into contact with your skin. It reacte with light the same as Giant Hogweed which is also in the same family Umbelliferae.

[Snadger]

Hi Snadger.

If you let your parsnips go to seed the sap (which contains furocoumarins)can cause severe blistering if it comes into contact with your skin. It reacte with light the same as Giant Hogweed which is also in the same family Umbelliferae.

Well there you go...I know a council worker who was asked to strim down Giant Hogweed and finished up with third degree burns....in case you're wondering it wasn't me!!! We used to make pea-shooters out of hogweed. as well..yikes!!

[bramble]

As we are on the subject of gooseberries, can anyone tell me the name of the red gooseberry, i do believe its a desert variety.

[nick the grief]

There's a couple Bramble, Pax & Rokula and I think there's one with a japanese sounding name (Hinoki red or something like that).

Pax & Rokula are avalable from Chris Bowers

[Lesley Jay]

They are lovely. You can eat them just like grapes.