My First plant bargain of the year Gooseberry

[Islander1]

Hi all: I went out shopping today and just as I was going in to the shop they had a trolley with quite a few plants on it they where on sale. They did not looking very good and needed a good water.

I thought I would take a look to see if I could rescue one. I come across a few gooseberry bushes I picked the best one out of the bad bunch. I took it to the till and it cost £3

I have cleaned the bush up and gave it a good watering. I am going to grow this bush in a large plant pot.

Is there anything special I need to do to the plant and can I leave it out over winter.

[Jay-ell]

It should be fine over winter - they're pretty hardy plants.

How big were the roots, how many stems does it have and how long are they?

Was it in a pot or bare root?

Can you get a photo of it?

[Islander1]

I took some photos what do you think? I will be putting the plant in to a bigger plant pot tomorrow. When I got it today it had a lot of brown leaves so cut them all off and now it looks a lot better after a good watering.

[veggiechicken]

That looks good, Islander. Don't forget to turn any bits you prune into cuttings. Then you will have several new plants for your £3

[Islander1]

That looks good, Islander. Don't forget to turn any bits you prune into cuttings. Then you will have several new plants for your £3

Thank you I have never grown a plant from cutting so will need to look in to how to do this.

Will the plant be ok planted in a large plant lot?

I was thinking about buying 2 but checked online why I was there and they said you only need one plant.

[veggiechicken]

You don't need 2 gooseberry bushes for pollination - just bees!
It should be OK in a pot - about the size of a bucket for now.
When you prune it, push the cuttings into a pot of compost to about half their length, water them and sit back and wait for signs of new growth or roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. I do this with most of the fruit bush prunings. I have lots now!!

[Jay-ell]

Nice looking plant.
I'd cut back the stems once it's been potted on to give it a chance to settle in. I'd prune to an outward facing bud to start developing the classic goblet shape.

As VC said, stick any prunings into a pot and you'll get more plants. I have a couple of plants that were started from a couple of prunings that got trod on and grew.

[cheops]

Looks a good strong plant which should do well with all the good advice you have been given. One note of caution though - it is only a good buy if the berries it produces are to your liking. Once it produces which will not be till next year you will know how 'special' your gooseberry bush is. Hopefully it will be to your liking and lots of cuttings will even produce even more great bushes.

[BUFFS]

Looks a good strong plant which should do well with all the good advice you have been given. One note of caution though - it is only a good buy if the berries it produces are to your liking. Once it produces which will not be till next year you will know how 'special' your gooseberry bush is. Hopefully it will be to your liking and lots of cuttings will even produce even more great bushes.

when you do get gooseberries, let them ripen properly before picking, when they start to feel a little bit softer, then they will be at their sweetest..

[whydoineedone?]

Gooseberry bush.

I've just done the same. In Wilko I bought a gooseberry, fig, loganberry and blueberry. Stuck 'em in and hope for the best. Will they fruit this year? I planted them a couple of weeks ago. Good luck!

[BUFFS]

I've just done the same. In Wilko I bought a gooseberry, fig, loganberry and blueberry. Stuck 'em in and hope for the best. Will they fruit this year? I planted them a couple of weeks ago. Good luck!

just so you know when the time comes, your figs are ripe when they hang downwards, as they grow pointing upwards until then...enjoy what you get..

[Ocelot]

I have two large gooseberry plants, but neither has ever fruited since I bought them (about 10 years). I don't know what I am doing wrong.

[Jay-ell]

I have two large gooseberry plants, but neither has ever fruited since I bought them (about 10 years). I don't know what I am doing wrong.

I don't kno either - lets start with pruning - how and when do you do it?

[Islander1]

Hi all just a Update.

I have replanted my Gooseberry Bush in to a larger pot. So far it looks very healthy. What do you all think of its new home.

[veggiechicken]

Looks better in a larger pot! When are you going to undo the ties so that you can see the shape of the bush?