Gooseberries can be the perfect way to mix up those boring berry recipes and add some kick to your custard, cakes, or even your drinks!
These tender little tarts have a zing to them that can really go unexpected.
You don’t know until you’ve tried gooseberry jam.
And now, you can make your own!
Let’s dive in and learn how to grow and care for these delicious Ribes.
Last updated: 8/5/21.
Guide Contents
Quick care guide: Gooseberry
| Plant type | Perennial |
| Origin | USA, Canada |
| Scientific name | Ribes uva-crispa |
| Other names | Black currant, ribes, greengage, poha berry, cape gooseberry, Aztec berry, Inca berry, Golden berry |
| Soil type | Loamy, rich, fertile, well-draining |
| Soil pH | 6.0-6.8 (slightly acidic) |
| Sunlight requirement | Full sun, partial sun |
| Bloom season | Spring, summer |
| Colors | White, green, yellow, pink, purple, lime, maroon, black, clear, orange |
| Max height | 5 feet |
| Max width | 4-5 feet |
| Low temperature | -450F |
| High temperature | 90F |
| Ideal temperature range | 50-70F |
| Humidity | Low |
| Watering requirements | Often during first year of growth, spring, and summer |
| Fertilizer requirements | Low |
| Fertilizer NPK | 5-5-5 |
| Days until germination | 3-6 weeks |
| Days until harvest | 1-2 years |
| Days until bloom | 1-2 years |
| Speed of growth | Moderate |
| Hardiness zones | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Plant depth | 0.25 inches |
| Plant spacing | 10-12 inches |
| Plant with | Yarrow, beans, tomatoes, tansy, chives, strawberries, oregano, kiwi, mint, chamomile, marigold, and grapes |
| Don’t plant with | Other plants in the same family |
| Propagation | Seeds, layering, cuttings, transplants |
| Common pests | Aphids, currant worms, stem girdlers, gooseberry fruitworm, fruit flies, four-lined plant bugs, sawflies, or currant borers |
| Common diseases | Downy mildew, root rot, blight, stem rot |
| Indoor plant | Yes |
| Outdoor plant | Yes |
| Grown in container | Yes |
| Flowering plant | Yes |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
| Care level | Low (very easy) |
| Uses | Decoration, edible, indoor plant, recipes, jams, preserves, cakes, desserts |
What’s a gooseberry?
Gooseberries are a sour, tarty, and forbidden berry. Why forbidden?
Because it’s a banned fruit!
Well, at least it USED to be.
Only a few select states allow gooseberries to be grown.
But if you’re in a vicinity where it’s legal, you’ll be happy to know that it offers a bunch of benefits over other berries like blueberries or winterberries.
Gooseberries are an extremely hardy plant. They’re resistant to pests, easy to grow, and extremely compact in the garden.
These globular berries are part of the Ribes genus, which includes currants like black, green, or red ones.
Toxicity
Gooseberry is known to be highly toxic to wildlife, so avoid feeding or allowing any birds, dogs, cats, chickens, geese, or other wildlife to consume it. Unripe berries and the leaves are also known to cause adverse side effects, so never eat, touch, or harvest them. Always use proper protection when pruning or harvesting.
What do they taste like?
Gooseberries are sour, tarty, and have a kick to them, unlike your traditional berries.
Yes, these aren’t tame berries. They even have thorns. Literally.
Depending on the species you’re growing and the time to harvest, their flavor can be from mildly sweet to extremely sour. It all depends on what you want.
What do gooseberries look like?
Gooseberries are cool. They come in a variety of different colors and sizes, based on the cultivar you’re growing.
Typically, the berries are about 0.5” in diameter. They can be bigger or smaller depending on the cultivar. They come in purple, pink, red, yellow, green, white, maroon, and everything in between.
Each berry grows on the branches that stem out from your gooseberry bush in predictable patterns. The berries are firm, shiny, and globular. They may have tiny hairs on them. American gooseberry shrubs have gray leaves. European shrubs are dark green.
Personally, the European shrubs are a lot easier to pair with complementary plants in the yard IMO.
Why are gooseberries illegal?
Gooseberries are illegal in some US states.
In the past, they were banned in 1911 because they contributed to white pine blister rust. This particular rust killed a certain type of plant species, so it was outlawed because of its ability to infect pine, especially in states like Maine or New York.
Now, the ban has been revoked in some states and it’s up to each state to determine whether or not gooseberries can be grown.
You must do your research to see if gooseberries are legal in your jurisdiction before you try to grow or import them. It can be unlawful for you to do so even if you didn’t know.
Are they easy to grow?
Yes, gooseberries are the perfect berry for beginners because they take care of themselves once they get going.
Other than some regular pruning, watering, cutting, and harvesting, it’s straightforward to produce them. Plus, they make a great fruit to eat raw or used as a jam, sauce, etc.
Can you eat them?
Yes, gooseberries may have gotten a bad rep because they were once banned.
Do NOT eat unripe berries or the leaves.
But it’s not because they’re poisonous or anything like that. People have gotten confused over time and the waters have become murky regarding their reputation.
Since the ban has been lifted, now it’s up to each state to decide whether or not they want to allow gooseberries to be legal.
Because of this, some people can easily assume that just because some states mark it as illegal, it’s “bad” fruit.
Gooseberries have a distinct splash of flavor that erupts in your mouth.
They can be extremely sour to sweet. The flavor depends on the type of gooseberry you’re growing, when you harvest, and how you grew it (soil type, plant food, etc.)
Plus you don’t even have to eat it. Some people use it exclusively as a decoration or privacy hedge. The berries are just topping on the cake, friend.
Types of gooseberry
Wondering which gooseberry to grow in your garden? There are dozens to choose from, each with its own unique flavor profile.
Here are some to get you started:
- Black velvet (grows up to 5 feet, partial shade, American)
- Captivator (3 feet tall, resilient to fungus, American)
- Hinnonmaki yellow (superior flavor, 1” berries)
- Hinnomaki red (American, sour, 5 feet tall)
- Pax (sweet berries on minimal thorns)
- Careless (large fruits)
- Invicta (green plant, large fruits, green cooker)
- Jeanne (purple, rust-resistant, 3 feet tall, American)
- Little ben (tarty, 3 feet tall)
- Leveller (yellow, sweet berries)
- Glendale (full sun tolerance)
- Cape gooseberry (goldenberry)
- Whitesmith (desert cooker, white berries)
- Whinham’s Industry (big red berries)
- Pixwell (pink/green berries, 5 feet tall, American)
See this list for all varieties.
There are spineless varieties, which are expensive but may be with the extra cost. The thorns make everything more difficult from pruning to harvesting. Look for Xenia or Pax.
Note that American types are usually smaller but mildew resistant. They also produce more yield and are easier to manage compared to European ones. European gooseberries have much tastier yields though.
How to propagate
Gooseberry is extremely easy to propagate. You can start from seed or use a pre-grown shrub.
how to grow gooseberries from seed, laying, or cuttings. Or you can buy a baby bush from the nursery if you don’t want to mess with germination.
From seed
Starting from seed takes the longest because you have to deal with germination.
You’re starting from nothing, but it’s also the most rewarding out of all the different ways you can propagate. Seeds can be started in a pot, in the soil, or even below a trellis to climb.
Note that if you’re growing it outside in your garden, you should pick the home for it to be permanent. It’s hard to move once it becomes established because of its unwieldy size.
So that means if you want to use it as a privacy hedge, barrier, or some kind of decor, you should plant it accordingly.
Also, growing from seed won’t produce plants that are identical to the original plant.
Seeds often produce hybrids or random ones, so you don’t know what you’re getting. They also require a lot of time and some effort to grow. But if you’re up for it, here’s how you do it.
Get the seeds. Read the packet. That’s step one.
Next, put the seeds into a soak for a few hours. This will increase the germination rate. Take them out. Let them dry to room temperature.
Wrap them in a towel and put them in the fridge for 120 days. Keep the towel moist, but not wet. This is called cold stratification and is required to germinate gooseberry seeds.
Buy one of those seed starter kits then fill it with a good quality potting mix. It helps if you choose the same mix you plan to use in the garden later. This will reduce plant shock.
Sow 2-3 seeds per compartment about 0.5” deep. Water generously. Then just keep them moist until they germinate.
Once they grow a few sets of leaves, you can move them outside to your garden. Four or five sets of true leaves should be a sign of an established plant.
From cuttings
Propagation from cuttings is easy. All you need is an American gooseberry bush that’s established. Cut out a virulent cane that’s sitting on the base of the plant.
It should be snipped with a pair of sterilized pruners right next to a flower bud. The cutting should be dusted with rooting hormone, then covered with soil. The cut side should be covered about ⅓ of the way. The other half should be exposed to the light.
Use compost or a thin layer of mulch to cover the exposed half. When you’re done, only the very edge of it should be exposed. The cutting will develop its roots over time.
European gooseberry should be layered instead. They don’t take well to cuttings for the most part. Take cuttings in the early spring or late fall. Never do it during the growing season.
By transplant
When transplanting gooseberry, simply remove it from the original container and plant it in the same depth and width as the original pot. Let it adjust to your garden.
If the leaves turn yellow or drop over time, that’s normal. Some people let it slowly acclimate to the garden by exposing it to sunlight for a few days.
Put it in the sun then shade it for a few hours each day until it hardens off.
Layering
While laying may sound difficult, it’s very easy.
You’ll need a fully grown shrub to do this with. If you have one, it makes preparing a second gooseberry eye.
- Find a good branch near the base of your plant.
- Use a branch that’s not too rigid so it can bend with ease. If it’s not flexible, it’ll uproot itself.
- Bend it into the soil and tie it down.
- Cover it with soil at least ⅓ of the way, leave the other 2/3 exposed or use a light bit of compost.
- Keep it watered just like the main plant.
- Over one season, it should develop roots. Cut it off and plant it elsewhere.
That’s it. There’s nothing special about it.
Plant in the spring or fall for bare-root gooseberries.
How to care for gooseberry
Here are some basic guidelines on caring for gooseberries.
Depending on the type you’re growing, your plant’s needs may vary. However, you can use these tips as a high-level overview.
Hardiness zone
Gooseberry grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. It can be grown in higher or lower zones, provided that you give it adequate shade in hot weather or insulate it in the cold.
But for the least amount of maintenance, growing it in the recommended zone is the easiest. Check this site if you don’t know your zone.
Soil
Plant gooseberries in rich, fertile soil that’s well-draining. It likes high nitrogen and potash-dense substates.
You can amend it with some additives if your soil is lacking in the nutrient profile. If you don’t know your soil’s metrics, use a test kit to find out. Use organic if you want to grow organic berries. Avoid shallow, dry soils.
Soil pH
Aim for a slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0-6.5. Like most other berries, gooseberries prefer a lower pH.
You can amend your soil if you need to lower the pH. But it’s easier to just buy a few bags of soil that fit the bill.
Depth
When planting seeds, sow a seed a quarter-inch deep.
When using cuttings or layering, cover the branch a few inches deep with soil, while exposing the rest of the branch to compost or mulch. That’s all there is to it.
Spacing
Place each plant about 3 feet apart to minimize the competition between plants. Gooseberry does get pretty wide, so you should allow adequate spacing between each shrub.
Sunlight
Gooseberries like cool spots, so partial sunlight are best. They can grow in full sun if you’re in a cooler hardiness zone (northern US), so they can be a good plant for those morning rays.
For those in a warmer zone, don’t be afraid to give them 6 or 7 hours of sunlight per day.
The more sun, the more fruit you’ll produce.
However, if it’s scorching hot, the sun will burn the leaves.
This is why it’s important to position it in a way where it doesn’t get burned up by the afternoon sun. Try to keep temperatures below 80F if possible.
You can use plant shades to help block out those harmful beams of light. The best way to do it is to start with the right location in your garden.
Choose somewhere that’s cool with partial sun- a bit of afternoon sun with plenty of shade is good. Plant on an eastern-facing side of your garden.
Watering
Keep the base of the plant moist, but not wet. Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week, but account for rain or doubt and adjust accordingly. Never overwater.
Gooseberry hates wet roots. It can also lead to fungal problems since the roots are right at the soil surface.
Use a high-quality mulch to help keep the water retained plus reduce watering.
Don’t let it dry out between watering sessions.
Humidity
Humidity should be kept relatively low because of the cool, shady nature of gooseberries.
Excess water is not a good thing.
You may end up giving your plant fungus or mold if you keep it humid. Prune to reduce humidity and increase the evaporation rate.
Temperature
Gooseberry grows in a wide range between -30F to 85F. You don’t need to worry about this if you’re in the right zone.
Mulching
Mulching has multiple benefits and there’s no reason to. You preserve water, prevent bugs, stop weeds, and help insulate the temperature swings.
Use a few inches of straw, bark chips, or compost to mulch your gooseberry. If you’re in a hot region, use less. If you’re in a colder region, use more.
A good layer of mulch can help stop the wild swings in the winter and your roots from becoming damaged. Since the roots are so shallow, the layer of mulch helps.
Plant food
Gooseberry will need some fertilizer to grow and produce those bountiful harvests. Unlike other berry plants, they’re heavy feeders.
Use a balanced fertilizer in the spring to help give them enough food for the season. Be careful of overfertilizing, as this can lead to powdery mildew, root rot, or fungus problems.
A blanched plant food (NPK 10-10-10 or 5-5-5) is good enough. Use as directed.
Pruning
Prune your gooseberry with a sterilized pair of pruners (use rubbing alcohol) regularly. This will encourage it to grow and produce more harvest. It may seem counterintuitive, but it helps.
During the first year, there’s no need to prune much. This is because you need to let it grow and develop its branches. Cut back about 3 leaves from the base in July or August.
Keep the center of the bush exposed to prevent plant fungus.
Next season, prune regularly. When the branches reach their second season of growth, they produce a lot of fruit. The second and third seasons will be very productive if you give it the TLC it needs. Prune off any damaged, wilted, or yellowing foliage.
Cut at the base of the plant. Any branches that have become weak or spotted with pests or fungus should be removed immediately.
When you prune, be sure to wear some kind of protective gear because the thorns are sharp!
Use proper garden gloves, clothing, and thick shoes. The thorns will rip through thin clothing. You’ve been warned. Exercise common sense and caution!
Prune in the late winter before winter is here.
What to prune
Prune the old canes. Gooseberry is most productive during the second year of growth, so any older branches should be removed- typically around 4-5 years.
When you start seeing that a specific cane doesn’t produce the gooseberries it did last season, prune it. Remove canes that are broken, wilted, or have pests. If two or more canes brush up against each other, remove the weakest canes.
A single gooseberry should have 10-12 canes total. All other canes sap energy from the plant. Keep only the best canes.
Some should be newer shoots and others are older so then you have a good combo of canes growing at different times.
In the second season, cut off the weakest canes. Only keep about a half dozen or so. In the third season, keep about 12 total and keep it like that going forward.
You can recycle the cans by cutting the oldest and letting the youngest grow. You should be pruning twice a year to keep it in shape.
Trellising
Gooseberries are excellent climbers and will climb the walls of your house, trellis, or fence. This allows you to use it to cover up ugly fencing, or as a privacy hedge from your neighbors.
The thorns that grow out of it also give it that double-up defense from wildlife that may be getting into your garden. Trellising can also help prevent water from pooling, which can reduce pest activity.
You can stake up trellises around the garden and position the gooseberry right below it. It’ll magically learn to climb it when it attaches to it. Once it does, it’s hard to remove. So plan.
Wind
Because they’re so darn tall, they can get toppled by high winds. You’ll want to stake or trellis them if you’re in a windy area. Plant strategically. Shelter them from the wind and they’ll be good to go.
Staking
Oh boy, do gooseberries grow quite tall. This is why people put them on trellises- they have something to climb so they don’t topple over and destroy themselves.
While staking isn’t needed, it’s highly advisable if you’re not growing them on some tall vertical service like a fence, wall, or trellis.
Remember that gooseberries can grow up to 5 feet. In areas with drafts or winds, it can get uprooted so you may want to use stakes to hold it in place.
Harvesting
