Planting out gooseberries

[Snoop Puss]

Our neighbour bought himself a couple of gooseberry bushes from Lidl a while back and left them with us in their pots. I've been watering them, but they're starting to go yellow. He couldn't and still hasn't made up his mind where he wants them to go, but given their colour he's decided that today is the day they're going to go in the ground. And he wants me to help. I've never grown gooseberries and don't know anything about them. I don't know whether planting them out now makes a difference.

Anyway, any and all advice welcomed re location, preparation of the soil and aftercare.

[ESBkevin]

It is preferred to plant trees and shrubs in their dormant period but nature has this desire to live and thrive so anytime is better than never. It is a good idea to add compost and well rotted manure into the hole and pack the soil around the root fibres well, remembering to puddle them in despite the wet weather we are having. If you have any then mulch well (without touching the bark of the trunk).
Gooseberries are quite hardy and you can take cuttings and shove them in the ground with a decent chance of success.

[BUFFS]

just get them into the ground,any ground, watered in and they will recover soon enough, thems tough old birds, and so tasty...

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, guys. He still hasn't chosen a spot. I know where I'd put them: near where he's collecting water off his roof in a butt. Otherwise he'll be traipsing water up hill and down dale. Worse still for me, as doubtless he'll be wanting me to water them while he's away.

[chrisdb]

If they're in the ground, why would you water them after they settle down? Is this in Spain or the UK?

Apart from during very long dry periods I wouldn't even consider water my gooseberries. They look after themselves just fine. The only thing I do is squish the sawfly larvae if/when they show up.

[Scarlet]

I think Snoop Puss is in Spain Chris snoop, tell him if that if he wants you to look after them either plant near the water or get a pump so that you can pump the water from the water butts to to the new planting area.

[Snoop Puss]

Well, one is in the ground (yes, in Spain). Fairly close to the water, so could be worse.

Having seen the site he's chosen, it'll definitely need some watering. There wasn't a drop of moisture in the soil. Though admittedly that's par for the course round here this year. Every bowl of water for the cats, dogs and chickens is full of ants looking for water. Never seen that before.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

[BUFFS]

dig deep and plant deep, a bucketful of water and as the plant settles in the roots will follow the water and head downwards so that it wont need more water unless there was a drought, and then just a full bucketful again, I cant see any more being needed as they are such deeprooted plants that they have survived for millenia (donkeys years in plain lingo)....and they haven't lost their taste, have they?

[4390evans]

I think potted plants go yellow either when the food has ran out or they need to be out of their containers. Just pot them on if he is still undecided .

[sparrow100]

He can always plant them and move them later. They seem to take to being shifted around in winter - I haven't killed one yet.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, guys. Now in the ground.