Prune side shoots in summer so that they have just 5 leaves; in winter prune side shoots so that there are one or two buds facing outwards. Since gooseberries produce the most of its fruit on 2 or 3-year-old branches, you will need to cut down any branches older than this. Isolating 5 branches will allow your gooseberry plant to focus its energy on those branches, which will lead to bigger harvesting yields. Polka – This is quite a tall cultivar at around 6 feet. Beware, an unpruned, tangled gooseberry bush is the perfect nesting place for pesky sawfly and caterpillars. Older branches are thicker, darker in color, and may have slightly peeling bark. A cordon Gooseberry is a very space saving option for smaller gardens, it can be grown with a support system in the open, or you can plant against a fence or wall – any aspect is suitable. Regular pruning shears are sufficient for most gooseberry pruning, but you may need a pair of loppers for old wood and larger, mature branches. Even though it seems like you are pruning your gooseberry bush too much, it will actually encourage the growth of new fruit during the next season. Gooseberries bear fruit on 2- to 3-year-old branches. Burpee The problem might also be the fertilization process. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The ideal time for planting gooseberries is in the autumn. Trim the side shoot to 2 buds if you want larger berries. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. In subsequent seasons, remove the oldest canes at the soil surface during the dormant period, leaving 3 each of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old canes per plant. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Neglect makes gooseberries very … The goal of cutting back gooseberry bushes is to keep the center of the plant open to air and sunshine, prune out any dead or diseased branches and to shorten the growth of the plant to a manageable size and to facilitate harvest. Professional trimming of gooseberries To support yield and fruit size, we recommend annual pruning of gooseberry shrubs. Gooseberry is a fruit that has been popularized by its usefulness in creating AMLA powder. For a complete background on how to grow gooseberry plants, we recommend starting from the beginning. This article has been viewed 13,889 times. The gooseberry is one of those plants which only gets better and better with age. They can also be trained as standards (small bushes on a short trunk), or fan trained against a fence or wall. Training Gooseberries Gooseberries can be trained to a cordon or stake. The goal in pruning gooseberries and currants is to develop an open, vase shaped bush with even spaced branches. Many people are nervous about the process so leave fruit unpruned which will result in progressively lower yields as the plant ages. A heavy cropper whose fruits store well. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Prune off all 3-year-old branches to make room for more fruitful, younger branches. More on growing gooseberries: How to plant a bare-root gooseberry Now look at … We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Pruning should be done in winter or early spring when plants are dormant. Cordon training offers the advantage of opening up the plant and leaving the fruit accessible. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Arm yourself with sharp bypass secateurs, and some sturdy gloves if you’re pruning gooseberries, to protect your hands from their spines. Gooseberry bushes in France are not grown on a single stem as in the UK so pruning requires removal of low-lying shoots (and dead wood). You could be putting too many chemicals in your tree or bush. When to Prune Gooseberries. Pruning fruit bushes can seem complicated but is, in fact, very simple. Gooseberry branches should fan outward from the main stem and shouldn't cross over the middle of the plant. Currants and Gooseberries are all part of the Ribes genus. After gooseberries, red and white currants have been harvested - which they all will by the end of July - it is a good idea to give them a summer prune. Crossing branches can also rub against the main stem, which can damage and weaken the plant. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Summer: In the first week of July (not earlier), trim all new side-shoots down to 5 leaves. SUMMER PRUNING CURRANTS. Pruning takes place when the bush is dormant, ideally in late-winter/early-spring. Cutting vertical growth will promote lateral growth. Words: Ben Gaia The old people always seem to grow top prize-winning gooseberries. This will also encourage the vertical and lateral growth of your plant. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Gooseberries, currants and elderberries produce new growth from underground crowns annually. Sterilize your shears by rubbing them down with isopropyl alcohol. Read about how to grow Gooseberry, its health benefits, and the historical background of the Gooseberry fruit at Burpee Seeds. Gooseberries Gooseberries can be very difficult to harvest if they are of a thorny variety. References. In Holland, a single branch is selected and trained up a stake to a height of five to six feet. Plant new bushes in November or March if the soil is very heavy. Follow our guide to growing your own. Pruning gooseberry in winter or early spring will open it up to light and air, resulting in lush and impressive growth in the summer season! In the first year after planting, you will need to cut new shoots in half. season pruning. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Prune gooseberry bushes annually to maintain a goblet shape and mulch in autumn with well-rotted compost, manure or leaf mould. And the leaves dry up at that time. Gooseberries usually grow in a bush, although they can also be trained to grow against a wall or fence and commonly known as a gooseberry patch. Maybe you should do a drip line mechanism. Clearing away old branches will make room for new growth. Canker is a fungal infection that kills the bark of gooseberry plants. Gooseberry bushes need to be pruned annually between late autumn and late winter when gooseberries are dormant. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Since gooseberry plants are impatient to grow in spring, I set bare-root plants in the ground either in the fall, using plenty of mulch, or as early as possible in spring. Pruning Tips. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. You need to water them more. Red currants and gooseberries are similar in their fruiting characteristics. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Cutting back the main branches in the early spring will encourage growth throughout the growing season. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Prune-Gooseberries-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Gooseberries-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Prune-Gooseberries-Step-1.jpg\/aid10058065-v4-728px-Prune-Gooseberries-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"