Melinda Myers

Gooseberry

Botanical Name

Ribes

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 8

Height

4 to 6 feet

Width

2 feet plus

Flowers

Tiny purplish-pink

Fruit

Green, maturing to purple or yellow

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Gooseberries are still banned in come communities. Check before planting.
• Grow in a cool location with good air circulation to reduce disease problems
• Properly space and plant on a trellis to reduce disease problems

Problems

Powdery mildew, anthracnose, leaf spot, aphids, borers, stem girdlers

Varieties

• American gooseberries are smaller but more resistant to mildew than the European types. European types produce larger and better tasting fruit.
• Pixwell Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum 'Pixwell') - Zones 3-8, fast grower up to 5'