Gooseberries When to sow and plant When to plant gooseberries
Plant a gooseberry in late autumn and it has plenty of time to settle in before the new growing season starts in spring.
In short
The RHS says late autumn is ideal for planting gooseberries, so they settle in before spring. Bare-root bushes are sold only while dormant, from late autumn to early spring. Garden Organic plants from October to February. Plant at the same depth as before, in a sunny, sheltered spot.
Gooseberries: what to do and when
Under cover and outdoors, for UK conditions. The weather differs from year to year and from north to south, so check your local conditions too.
Cheat sheet: planting gooseberries
| What | Advice |
|---|---|
| When to plant | Late autumn is ideal (RHS). October to February (Garden Organic) |
| Bare-root plants | Only sold while dormant, from late autumn to early spring (RHS) |
| Plants in pots | Any time, but not when the ground is waterlogged (RHS) |
| Site | Sunny for the best and sweetest crop, tolerates some shade, sheltered (RHS). Sunny or part shaded, sheltered (Garden Organic) |
| Soil | Copes with most soils, prefers moist, well-drained ground (RHS) |
| Depth | The same depth the plant was growing before (RHS) |
| Spacing | Bushes and standards 1.2–1.5 m, cordons 30–38 cm, fans 1–1.5 m (RHS). Bushes 100–150 cm (Garden Organic) |
| Watering | Regularly in dry spells for the first couple of years (RHS) |
How to do it
- Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. The RHS says the stems are brittle and can snap in wind, especially when laden with fruit.
- Avoid sites prone to late frosts, which the RHS says can damage the flowers and reduce fruiting.
- If your bush is bare-root, do not let the roots dry out, Garden Organic says. If you do not know straight away where it will go, it suggests heeling in: planting it temporarily in a spare bit of well-watered ground.
- Plant in late autumn if you can. Plants in pots can go in at any time, but not into waterlogged ground.
- Set the plant at the same depth it was growing before. For a pot plant, line up the top of the compost with the soil surface. For a bare-root plant, line up the soil mark on the stem.
- Space bushes and standards 1.2–1.5 m apart, cordons 30–38 cm apart and fans 1–1.5 m apart.
- Water well after planting, Garden Organic says, then mulch. Leave a small mulch-free circle around the base of the stems, the RHS says, to avoid rotting.
- Water regularly in dry spells for the first couple of years after planting.
Common questions
Is it better to plant gooseberries in autumn or spring?
The RHS calls late autumn ideal, because it gives plants plenty of time to settle in before the new growing season starts in spring. Garden Organic plants from October to February.
How deep should I plant a gooseberry bush?
At the same depth it was growing before, the RHS says. Line up the soil mark on the stem of a bare-root plant, or the top of the compost of a pot plant, with the soil surface. Garden Organic's fruit planting guide also says no deeper than the original soil mark.
How far apart should gooseberries be planted?
The RHS spaces bushes and standards 1.2–1.5 m apart, cordons 30–38 cm and fans 1–1.5 m. Garden Organic spaces bushes 100–150 cm apart, so its lower figure is a little closer.
Can I plant gooseberries in summer?
Plants in pots, yes. The RHS says they can go in at any time, but not when the ground is waterlogged. Bare-root plants are only available while dormant, from late autumn to early spring.
Can I grow a gooseberry in a pot?
Yes. The RHS uses a pot at least 40 cm wide and deep, with plenty of drainage holes in the base.
When will a new gooseberry bush fruit?
Garden Organic gives an average time to harvest of 18 months or more. The RHS says established plants usually crop abundantly every summer for at least 10–15 years.
Sources
We wrote this page using the sources below.
- How to grow gooseberries, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
- Gooseberry (growing guide), Garden Organic
- Planting fruit trees and bushes, Garden Organic