"Gooseberries"
Although you can eat them raw, they are very sharp and nearly always cooked with a little sugar first. But don't let that put you off. They are well worth growing in the garden and usually crop earlier in the year than other fruits. There are many different types from small yellow sweet fruits to larger red dessert varieties.
Generally gooseberries should be planted in the autumn. Prepare the soil in a sunny well drained spot in your garden. Remove any perennial weeds and non-organic debris. Dig a hole large enough to take the roots of your plant, and put a little well rotted manure or all purpose fertilizer in the base of the hole. Place carefully, spreading out the roots gently and re-fill the hole with the soil you dug out. Firm down and water well. For at least the first winter, mulch around the plant to protect the roots from extreme cold or frost. This may be necessary in subsequent winters if you live in a cold climate. * Always check on the manufacturer's growing recommendations for your particular plant, as varieties and regional needs may differ. From planting to cropping may take a couple of years, so be patient! It'll be worth it in the end...   Looking after your plants: It's important to water bushes regularly and not let them dry out, especially during the weeks the fruits are growing and swelling. If you let the ground dry out and then water, you may find the fruits will split or crack. Bushes should be pruned every year after the fruits have finished. Cut out the middle branches, to make picking easier. Also cut off any straggly branches and dead wood. Fruit develops on old wood, not new, so don't cut the branches right back. Leave a bud or two on each branch so that the fruits have room to develop. Summer pruning is also advisable in some cases. Check on any variety differences, but usually you can cut back a little of the plant in the summer without affecting the growth too much. Gooseberries come early in the year and are one of the first fruits to be picked from the garden. Make the most of them! Eating: As mentioned above, gooseberries can be eaten raw, but many varieties are sharp and need a little sugar to make them palatable. Top and tail the fruits and rinse under the tap to wash off any bits of twig or leaf. Cut in half and cook gently in a pan with some sugar and serve simply with ice cream or hot custard. They can also be made into pies. Cook as before then put them into an ovenproof dish and cover with a short-crust pastry. Or line a tin with pastry and spread halved fruits over the pastry. Glaze with a little sugar and water and bake to make an open tart. And if you have plenty left over, make lots of jam! Pop over to this page to find out more about different berries you can grow at home...Berries Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Garden Fruit Page Back To Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/gooseberries.html |
And in the US Nature Hills supply all sorts of fruit trees and bushes .. Type 'gooseberries into the search box on their homepage to get to the gorgeous gooseberries a lot quicker!