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A guide to choosing Gooseberry bushes

Please find below some information that you may find helpful in selecting and buying gooseberry bushes:

Growth habit and training. Gooseberries are normally grown as bushes, but they can also be grown as cordons which a have a single vertical main stem with short branches. In good growing conditions bushes can grow up to 1.5m/5ft in height and spread. You should therefore allow 1.5m/5ft between bushes. Cordons can be planted much closer together with a spacing of 30cm/1ft. We supply two year old bush plants usually with three or more branches. These can be trained as cordons by selecting and growing the most suitable branch and removing the rest.

Cropping season. Gooseberries are one of the earliest fruit to ripen. They ripen in July in southern England. Gooseberries can be frozen for culinary use through the rest of the year.

Growing in containers. Gooseberry bushes can be grown in containers and planters. Use a soil based John Innes No 3 compost and 20L or larger pots.

Pollination. All gooseberries are self-fertile and individual varieties can be grown on their own.