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* '''"Whinhan's Industry":''' especially shade tolerant and therefore more appropriate for forest gardens.<ref name=hart2019 /> | * '''"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 /> | 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 /> | ||
==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 /> | 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 deciduous shrub.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Mature height 1-1.5m and similar spread. | Single trunked, multistemmed deciduous shrub.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Mature height 1-1.5m and similar spread. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 25: | ||
Fruit are grape sized but more rounded.<ref name=mabey2012 /> They are usually hairy.<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 /> | 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 /> | 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 /> | USDA hardiness zone 5.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | ||
===Soil Type=== | ===Soil Type=== | ||
===Soil pH=== | ===Soil pH=== | ||
===Shade Preference=== | ===Shade Preference=== | ||
Full sun.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | 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 /> | 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= | Typically purchased from suppliers as bare-rooted or potted bushes. These are best planted in winter,<ref name=crawford2016 /> or autumn.<ref name=seymour2014 /> | ||
Bushes should be spaced 1.5m apart.<ref name=seymour2014 /> As cordons, gooseberries should be spaced 30cm apart (in the row).<ref name=seymour2014 /> With the deep bed method, the spacing can be reduced to 1.2m.<ref name=seymour2014 /> | |||
Gooseberries are good for small gardens since they fruit heavily and do not take a lot of space.<ref name=seymour2014>Seymour, M (2014). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/new-self-sufficient-gardener/oclc/972683557?referer=br&ht=edition The New Self-Sufficient Gardener: The complete illustrated guide to planning, growing, storing and preserving your own garden produce.] Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781409346784.</ref> | Gooseberries are good for small gardens since they fruit heavily and do not take a lot of space.<ref name=seymour2014>Seymour, M (2014). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/new-self-sufficient-gardener/oclc/972683557?referer=br&ht=edition The New Self-Sufficient Gardener: The complete illustrated guide to planning, growing, storing and preserving your own garden produce.] Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781409346784.</ref> | ||
===Propagation=== | ===Propagation=== | ||
| Line 56: | Line 67: | ||
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 /> | 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 /> | ||
One method of quickly harvesting gooseberries is to pull the branches through your hand while wearing a thick glove. Catch the fruit in a sheet. To separate the fruit from fallen leaves and thorns etc, place the contents of the sheet down a board which allows the round fruit to roll down into a container.<ref name=seymour2014 /> | |||
==Preservation== | ==Preservation== | ||
Fresh fruit will store for only 1-2 weeks.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | Fresh fruit will store for only 1-2 weeks.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | ||
==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
* '''Wine''' -- See: [[Wines|Household Cyclopedia, Wines and Ciders (1881)]] | * '''Wine''' -- See: [[Wines|Household Cyclopedia, Wines and Ciders (1881)]] | ||
| Line 68: | Line 83: | ||
Secondary uses: | Secondary uses: | ||
* '''Bee plant'''<ref name=crawford2016 /> | * '''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. | * '''[[Fennel]] and Gooseberry sauce''' for mackerel. | ||
==Nutritional Values== | ==Nutritional Values== | ||
Revision as of 09:17, 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]
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] or autumn.[4]
Bushes should be spaced 1.5m apart.[4] As cordons, gooseberries should be spaced 30cm apart (in the row).[4] With the deep bed method, the spacing can be reduced to 1.2m.[4]
Gooseberries are good for small gardens since they fruit heavily and do not take a lot of space.[4]
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]
One method of quickly harvesting gooseberries is to pull the branches through your hand while wearing a thick glove. Catch the fruit in a sheet. To separate the fruit from fallen leaves and thorns etc, place the contents of the sheet down a board which allows the round fruit to roll down into a container.[4]
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.[5]
- 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Seymour, M (2014). The New Self-Sufficient Gardener: The complete illustrated guide to planning, growing, storing and preserving your own garden produce. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 9781409346784.
- ↑ Crawford, M; Aitken, C (2013) Food from your forest garden : How to harvest, cook and preserve your forest garden produce. Green Books. ISBN 9780857841124.