Plants for Colorado Homesteads, Urban Farms, Gardens, and Food Forests
A Front Range Micro-Nursery Englewood CO
Gooseberries
Hinnomaki Red Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa ‘Hinnomaki Red’
USDA Hardiness Zone 3-6
Hinnomaki Red grows as a 3-5 ft shrub that bears sweet berries with tart red skin. It is an early season bloomer. It can produce berries in the first year so it is a good variety for anxious growers. Gooseberries have short sharp thorns similar to brambles so thought should be given to its planting location. Additionally, consider the thorns when pruning so that future harvesting is not fraught with peril.
Somewhat mildew resistant variety.
Avoid fertilizing heavily with nitrogen, but ensure sufficient potassium is available for flower and fruit production. Plants should be mulched to keep evenly moist as dry spells followed by heavy watering can split the fruit.
Immature fruit on Hinnomaki Red gooseberry
Jeanne Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa ‘L Jeanne’
USDA Hardiness Zone 4-8
Jeanne is a semi-thornless gooseberry with flavorful, medium sized, maroon berries. It is a late season bloomer with fruit beginning to ripen in the latter part of July. An improved cultivar, it resists powdery mildew and other fungal diseases as well as aphids and sawflies. Thusly, fruit is abundant due to less loss before harvest in combination with improved flowering and fruit set.
Avoid fertilizing heavily with nitrogen, but ensure sufficient potassium is available for flower and fruit production. Plants should be mulched to keep evenly moist as dry spells followed by heavy watering can split the fruit.