Gooseberries Invicta AGM - 1 Bush - NOVEMBER DELIVERY

PREPARATION
Prepare the soil thoroughly preferably in a sunny, sheltered site, protected from strong winds and frost pockets. Dig in compost or well rotted manure into the planting hole, planting the bare rooted bushes by spreading their roots out in the hole and covering with well conditioned soil and compost. With container grown bushes, keep the surface of the rootball compost below the surrounding soil.

PLANTING

Space cordons 30cm-45cm (12-18") apart and bushes at least 1.2m (4ft) apart to allow accress for picking. Keep plants well watered until established, and cover the soil around then with a 5-7½cm (2-3") thick mulch of compost or bark.

PRUNING

In order to get a good yield prune your gooseberry plants in winter as this helps to form a balanced branch structure and keeps the centre of the bush open to make picking easier. Mildew disease is also reduced if air circulation is encouraged. Prune back the previous years growth to two buds. Prune out any shoots that are growing into the centre of the bush, and cut back leaders by one-third. Summer pruning is optional but will help the sun get to the fruit to help ripen it more quickly. Tie the leading shoot tip into the support as it grows. In winter shorten the previous years growth on the main tip back by a quarter to encourage new side-shoots. Shorten side-shoots pruned in summer to two or three buds.

MULCHING

In spring apply a mulch of well rotted manure as well as nitrogen and potassium fertilisers.

GROWING TIPS

Start thinning gooseberries during late May or early June removing about half the crop. The fruits from this first harvest can be used for cooking. This will give a longer cropping season and leaves others more room to grow to a larger size. The second harvest can be picked a few weeks later, and many of the fruits will be picked full of natural sugar and taste delicious.

GENERAL TIPS

Never let plants go short of water when their fruits are swelling and ripening however, heavy watering after a drought can cause fruits to split and rot. If you are not growing your gooseberries in a fruit cage, cover bushes with netting during June and July to keep off birds. Ensure it is weighted down at the base to prevent blackbirds getting underneath.