Gooseberries

Gardening to 'grow your own food' from square foot to half an acre !!
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Megsmum
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Gooseberries

Post by Megsmum »

First of all, I live in Spain so cropping seasons a little different. I planted gooseberry bushes two years ago, a few last year but this year WOW absolutely smothered. At what stage do I pick them, how will I know they are ready.

I’m looking forward to gooseberry crumble )like(
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Mo
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Re: Gooseberries

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I start picking when they look like gooseberries, not too tiny but smallish. Thin along the branches so that the rest have room to swell. The small ones taste quite sharp, which is good for pies (I think) - tasty. Eventually, depending on variety, they get ripe and sweet to eat raw. Keep thinning more and more as you want them. They also are easy to freeze - no preparation needed, just bag them or put them in a tub. Unless they are wet they won't stick together. If I'm freezing blackcurrants etc I do then on a flat tray, them bag them frozen.Mine are good now.
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
Megsmum
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Re: Gooseberries

Post by Megsmum »

Thanks , thinning on Saturday )like(
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KarenE
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Re: Gooseberries

Post by KarenE »

Hi

It depends on the variety - if red gooseberries, they are ready (and delicious!) when they turn red - not just as they are turning but when they have gone a deeper red. That is when they are at their swetest. I'm going to be harvesting mine this weekend probably. For green gooseberries, if you want them sweeter they start to turn a more yellowy green.

If you've still got any left ;)
Karen
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Mo
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Joined: 30 Apr 2007, 09:39
Location: Cheshire (nr Chester)

Re: Gooseberries

Post by Mo »

Mine are going yellow and sweet now, and every time I walk past them there are more under the bush (that's the trouble with waiting for them to go sweet).
Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire
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