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This article is about the plant species ''Ribes uva-crispa'', a shrub with edible fruit commonly referred to as '''Gooseberry'''. The [[berries]] are usually green, but different cultivars produce a range of yellow, red or white fruit. The flavour is usually tart but modern varieties tend to be sweeter. In a temperate climate [[forest garden]], gooseberries perform excellently in the shrub layer since they are fairly shade tolerant.<ref name=crawford2016>Crawford, M (2016). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/creating-a-forest-garden-working-with-nature-to-grow-edible-crops/oclc/1041938577 Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops.] Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.</ref> Along with other ''Ribes'' spp. such as [[blackcurrant]]s (''R. nigrum'') and [[Currants|redcurrants/whitecurrants]] (''R. rubrum''), some consider gooseberries to be the backbone of the shrub layer.<ref name=hart2019>Hart, R (2019). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/forest-gardening-cultivating-an-edible-landscape/oclc/833079861?referer=br&ht=edition Forest gardening : rediscovering nature and community in a post industrial age.] Green Books. ISBN 9781900322027.</ref> | This article is about the plant species ''Ribes uva-crispa'', a shrub with edible fruit commonly referred to as '''Gooseberry'''. The [[berries]] are usually green, but different cultivars produce a range of yellow, red or white fruit. The flavour is usually tart but modern varieties tend to be sweeter. In a temperate climate [[forest garden]], gooseberries perform excellently in the shrub layer since they are fairly shade tolerant.<ref name=crawford2016>Crawford, M (2016). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/creating-a-forest-garden-working-with-nature-to-grow-edible-crops/oclc/1041938577 Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops.] Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.</ref> Along with other ''Ribes'' spp. such as [[blackcurrant]]s (''R. nigrum'') and [[Currants|redcurrants/whitecurrants]] (''R. rubrum''), some consider gooseberries to be the backbone of the shrub layer.<ref name=hart2019>Hart, R (2019). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/forest-gardening-cultivating-an-edible-landscape/oclc/833079861?referer=br&ht=edition Forest gardening : rediscovering nature and community in a post industrial age.] Green Books. ISBN 9781900322027.</ref> They are woodland plants in their natural state.<ref name=hart2019 /> | ||
==Background Information== | ==Background Information== | ||
Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
===Etymology=== | ===Etymology=== | ||
===Varieties=== | ===Varieties=== | ||
* '''"Whinhan's Industry":''' especially shade tolerant and therefore more appropriate for forest gardens.<ref name=hart2019 /> | |||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
Originally a woodland and hedgerow plant, the first selective breeding took place in the British Ilses in the 16th century, particularly by amatuer growers in the industrial midlands.<ref name=mabey2012 /> Traditionally, gooseberry was grown in orchards in the Fens (Eastern England).<ref name=hart2019 /> Yearly gooseberry competions with awards for the largest gooseberry took place in Lancashire,<ref name=hart2019 /> and still take place in some UK villages.<ref name=mabey2012 /> Since the creation of cultivated | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
===Range=== | ===Range=== | ||
It is sometimes debated whether goosebrry is native to the UK, but it almost certainly is.<ref name=mabey2012 /> Some gooseberries growing in the wild do represent garden "escapes" which have been bird sown.<ref name=mabey2012 /> | |||
===Morphology=== | ===Morphology=== | ||
Single trunked, multistemmed shrub. <ref name=crawford2016 /> | Single trunked, multistemmed deciduous shrub.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Mature height 1-1.5m and similar spread. | ||
Leaves are 3 or 4 lobed and have blunt toothed margins.<ref name=mabey2012 /> | |||
Flowers are green-white,<ref name=crawford2016 /> or green-red and drooping.<ref name=mabey2012 /> | |||
Fruit are grape sized but more rounded.<ref name=mabey2012 /> They are usually hairy.<ref name=mabey2012 /> | |||
Bushes will crop for about 25 years.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Growth Habit=== | ===Growth Habit=== | ||
===Reproduction=== | ===Reproduction=== | ||
Gooseberry is self fertile (one plant will fruit by itself).<ref name=crawford2016 /> Flowers in spring.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Flowering fairly resistant to frost.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Bee pollintated.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
==Cultivation: Site Selection== | ==Cultivation: Site Selection== | ||
===Hardiness=== | ===Hardiness=== | ||
USDA hardiness zone 5.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Soil Type=== | ===Soil Type=== | ||
===Soil pH=== | ===Soil pH=== | ||
===Shade Preference=== | ===Shade Preference=== | ||
Full sun.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Shade Tolerance=== | ===Shade Tolerance=== | ||
Tolerates quite a lot of shade.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Under shaded conditions it tends to be more "leggy", fruiting higher up.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Aspect=== | ===Aspect=== | ||
===Exposure=== | ===Exposure=== | ||
==Cultivation: Techniques== | ==Cultivation: Techniques== | ||
Typically purchased from suppliers as bare-rooted or potted bushes. These are best planted in winter.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Propagation=== | ===Propagation=== | ||
* '''Hardwood cuttings:''' take cuttings in late autumn and place them in outdoors nursery bed.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Maintenance=== | ===Maintenance=== | ||
===Watering=== | ===Watering=== | ||
Line 33: | Line 50: | ||
==Harvest== | ==Harvest== | ||
In the wild, gooseberries can be found scattered in woods and hedgerows in most of Europe.<ref name=mabey2012 /> Wild gooseberries fruit from early July onwards.<ref name=mabey2012>Mabey, R (2012). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/food-for-free/oclc/843338599?referer=br&ht=edition Food For Free.] HarperCollins. ISNB 9780007183036.</ref> | In the wild, gooseberries can be found scattered in woods and hedgerows in most of Europe.<ref name=mabey2012 /> Wild gooseberries fruit from early July onwards.<ref name=mabey2012>Mabey, R (2012). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/food-for-free/oclc/843338599?referer=br&ht=edition Food For Free.] HarperCollins. ISNB 9780007183036.</ref> | ||
Acidic, green gooseberries can be harvested in May but they need to be cooked.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
For cultivated varieties, yield is about 4kg per year per bush under full sun conditions.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Yield is reduced in shade.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
==Preservation== | ==Preservation== | ||
Fresh fruit will store for only 1-2 weeks.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
* '''Wine''' -- See: [[Wines|Household Cyclopedia, Wines and Ciders (1881)]] | |||
* | * '''Jam''' -- Gooseberries are high in pectin and are useful to add to low pectin fruits which would otherwise not set easily when making jam.<ref name=crawfordaitken2013>Crawford, M; Aitken, C (2013) [https://www.worldcat.org/title/food-from-your-forest-garden-how-to-harvest-cook-and-preserve-your-forest-garden-produce/oclc/833278613?referer=di&ht=edition Food from your forest garden : How to harvest, cook and preserve your forest garden produce.] Green Books. ISBN 9780857841124.</ref> | ||
* '''Jelly''' | |||
* '''Fruit leather''' -- pulp needs thickening.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
* '''Sauces''' | |||
* '''Pies''' | |||
* Can be bottled, pickled and served cooked with food. | |||
Secondary uses: | |||
* '''Bee plant'''<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
==Cooking== | ==Cooking== | ||
* Gooseberry Pie | * '''Gooseberry Pie''' | ||
* Gooseberry Fool, a traditional English desert. | * '''Gooseberry Fool''', a traditional English desert. | ||
* '''[[Fennel]] and Gooseberry sauce''' for mackerel. | |||
==Nutritional Values== | ==Nutritional Values== | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} |
Revision as of 09:00, 14 April 2019
This article is about the plant species Ribes uva-crispa, a shrub with edible fruit commonly referred to as Gooseberry. The berries are usually green, but different cultivars produce a range of yellow, red or white fruit. The flavour is usually tart but modern varieties tend to be sweeter. In a temperate climate forest garden, gooseberries perform excellently in the shrub layer since they are fairly shade tolerant.[1] Along with other Ribes spp. such as blackcurrants (R. nigrum) and redcurrants/whitecurrants (R. rubrum), some consider gooseberries to be the backbone of the shrub layer.[2] They are woodland plants in their natural state.[2]
Background Information
Taxonomy
Common names
Etymology
Varieties
- "Whinhan's Industry": especially shade tolerant and therefore more appropriate for forest gardens.[2]
History
Originally a woodland and hedgerow plant, the first selective breeding took place in the British Ilses in the 16th century, particularly by amatuer growers in the industrial midlands.[3] Traditionally, gooseberry was grown in orchards in the Fens (Eastern England).[2] Yearly gooseberry competions with awards for the largest gooseberry took place in Lancashire,[2] and still take place in some UK villages.[3] Since the creation of cultivated
Behaviour
Range
It is sometimes debated whether goosebrry is native to the UK, but it almost certainly is.[3] Some gooseberries growing in the wild do represent garden "escapes" which have been bird sown.[3]
Morphology
Single trunked, multistemmed deciduous shrub.[1] Mature height 1-1.5m and similar spread.
Leaves are 3 or 4 lobed and have blunt toothed margins.[3]
Flowers are green-white,[1] or green-red and drooping.[3]
Fruit are grape sized but more rounded.[3] They are usually hairy.[3] Bushes will crop for about 25 years.[1]
Growth Habit
Reproduction
Gooseberry is self fertile (one plant will fruit by itself).[1] Flowers in spring.[1] Flowering fairly resistant to frost.[1] Bee pollintated.[1]
Cultivation: Site Selection
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 5.[1]
Soil Type
Soil pH
Shade Preference
Full sun.[1]
Shade Tolerance
Tolerates quite a lot of shade.[1] Under shaded conditions it tends to be more "leggy", fruiting higher up.[1]
Aspect
Exposure
Cultivation: Techniques
Typically purchased from suppliers as bare-rooted or potted bushes. These are best planted in winter.[1]
Propagation
- Hardwood cuttings: take cuttings in late autumn and place them in outdoors nursery bed.[1]
Maintenance
Watering
Pruning
Problems
Harvest
In the wild, gooseberries can be found scattered in woods and hedgerows in most of Europe.[3] Wild gooseberries fruit from early July onwards.[3]
Acidic, green gooseberries can be harvested in May but they need to be cooked.[1]
For cultivated varieties, yield is about 4kg per year per bush under full sun conditions.[1] Yield is reduced in shade.[1]
Preservation
Fresh fruit will store for only 1-2 weeks.[1]
Uses
- Wine -- See: Household Cyclopedia, Wines and Ciders (1881)
- Jam -- Gooseberries are high in pectin and are useful to add to low pectin fruits which would otherwise not set easily when making jam.[4]
- Jelly
- Fruit leather -- pulp needs thickening.[1]
- Sauces
- Pies
- Can be bottled, pickled and served cooked with food.
Secondary uses:
- Bee plant[1]
Cooking
- Gooseberry Pie
- Gooseberry Fool, a traditional English desert.
- Fennel and Gooseberry sauce for mackerel.
Nutritional Values
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Crawford, M (2016). Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops. Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Hart, R (2019). Forest gardening : rediscovering nature and community in a post industrial age. Green Books. ISBN 9781900322027.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Mabey, R (2012). Food For Free. HarperCollins. ISNB 9780007183036.
- ↑ Crawford, M; Aitken, C (2013) Food from your forest garden : How to harvest, cook and preserve your forest garden produce. Green Books. ISBN 9780857841124.