Gooseberry (Red)

Plant Gooseberry bushes from late autumn to early spring. Choose a sunny border on any well drained soil. Prior to planting, incorporate a generous amount of well rotted manure or garden compost into the soil. Remove any shoots or dormant buds from the base of the plant as these will produce unwanted suckers later on. Plant bushes at a distance of 1.5m (5') apart. Plant them at their original depth which is indicated by a mark left on the stem by the nursery soil. Firm in and water well.

Water well for the first year until plants are fully established. When growing gooseberries, the soil must not dry out during hot periods, particularly while the fruit is being formed. Continue to remove suckers from the base of the plant as they arise. When berries begin to develop, place a net or fruit cage around the plants to protect your crop from greedy birds! Harvest some gooseberries for cooking and freezing in May, leaving the remaining fruit to ripen fully in June for eating fresh from the bush. Prune in winter. Remove dead, damaged and crossing stems then thin stems to create an upright open bush. Shorten remaining stems by half. In spring apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the soil.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.