Gooseberry Bush.

[Salina]

I have a gooseberry bush that is about 4 years old. It is quite pot-bound so I am planning on putting it into a bigger pot later today. it has grown a few tiny gooseberries this year but most of them have just dropped off. (or been blown off by the wind maybe?)
has anyone got any tips on how best to get a good amount of fruit from it?
i.e. what sort of soil, whats the best area of the garden for it to be in etc. (at the moment it is in quite a windy corner lol)
I've also included a picture of it if that's any help!

[tinyvine]

Definately repotting it should help. If the plant has a good root system, it will in short be a healthier, stronger plant.
I might suggest a less windy position - might stop the fruit blowing off

I must admit mine is younger than yours but I have it in a southerly position and its doing well.

Perhaps there is someone out there, who can recommend a good (org?) gooseberry feed??

[pigletwillie]

Plant it in the next size up pot and do this as required, yearly if needed. Use John Innes no3 compost and do remember to feed it when its fruiting. It could do with a neaten up as well, take the long shoot down by at least half and aim to get an open"goblet" shape over the next couple of years.

[Snadger]

Is it deffo a gooseberry? Looks like a blackcurrant to me.........but there again, what do I know?

[BarleySugar]

My gooseberries have thorns on, I can't see any in the picture. It does look a bit like a currant.

[rustylady]

Whether it's a goosberry or a currant it has definitely been neglected. The fruit dropping off I would say is caused by lack of water. The plant needs either re-potting or planting into open ground.

[rustylady]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I am digging gooseberry bushes up to plant in containers. What size containers do I need to buy? I know it is the wrong time of the year but that can't be helped.

LJ you need at least 10" pots for reasonable sized plants. Dig them up with as much root as you can and use a soil-based (John Innes) compost. Are they going to stay in the pots, or is this move temporary?

[nick the grief]

Bigger the better LJ within reason. ( see my comments on the Honeysuckle theread). Use a JINo 2 or 3 and make sure it doesn't dry out in the summer ( if you've got anywhere a bit shady put them there) You might want to cutt some of the top growth back as well to reduce stress on the plant.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to teach LJ to suck eggs Granny .... er I mean Granny to suck eggs LJ

[nick the grief]

My gooseberries have thorns on, I can't see any in the picture. It does look a bit like a currant.

There's 1 plot on our site with a thornless goosgog and it's huge!!! and the berries are big as well.

[Salina]

okay thanks for the advice, will put it in a much bigger pot asap. it get plenty of water so not sure?
it's defintly a goosberry bush because the little tiny berries that appeared were mini gooseberries lol.