Gooseberry
There are two types of gooseberry. This page is about the European gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa). The American gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) is a different species.
Names
Scientific
Ribes uva-crispa
Synonym
Ribes grossularia
English
European gooseberry
Gooseberry
Dutch
Klapbes
Knoeper
Kruisbes
Stekelbes
Spanish
Grosella espinosa
Grosella espinosa europea
French
Groseillier à maquereau
German
Stachelbeere
Taxonomy
Genus
Ribes
Family
Grossulariaceae
Order
Saxifragales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Europe, North West Africa, South West Asia
Distribution:
Mainly in Europe, especially in the northern (cooler) countries).
Evergreen or deciduous:
Gooseberries are deciduous plants.
Flowers:
Bell-shaped flowers which grow either single or in pairs.
Leaves:
Dark green 3 or 5 lobed leaves.
Fruits:
Round fruits with a diameter of about 2 to 2.5 cm. The fruits can be hairy or smooth. Often the color is light green but some cultivar have white, yellow, reddish or purple fruits.
Plant:
The plants have branches with sharp spines.
Climate and weather:
Gooseberry need a temperate climate and grows well in the north of Europe.
Pollination:
Flowers are hermaphroditic and self-pollinating.
Height:
Gooseberry bushes can be 1 to 3 meter high.
Spacing
About 1 to 1.2 meters between plants.
Propagation:
Can be propagated by seed but the preferred method is by cuttings.
Insect pests:
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Diseases:
Mildew is a common problem.
Harvesting:
Hand picking the ripe fruits. Be careful as the branches have spines.
Uses:
Fruits are eaten fresh as a snack or dessert or are used in cooking, to flavor drinks, in fruit pies, jams or to make wine.
Proverbs and Quotes
- The words of elders are like the gooseberry: bitter at first, then sweet.
Crop categories
Fruits
Food crops
Temperate crops
Pictures
Gooseberry