Very healthy plants but no gooseberries??

by tony
(victoria)

I planted my gooseberry tree years ago. i have yet to see one berry !!!! i,m not even sure when they are supposed to fruit? Would any one be able to tell me what i am missing??

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Very healthy plants but no gooseberries??

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Jan 17, 2011
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no fruit on goosberries in Ferntree Gully, victoria
by: Anonymous

I too have been growing gooseberry plants for over 10 years waiting for the likelyhood of fruit.

I grew them successfully when I lived in Monbulk, Victoria, but now am closer to the city and don't think its gets cool enough in winter because I don't even get buds.

Does anyone know if they are being successfully grown at a lower altitude than Monbulk? I live in Ferntree Gully, Victoria, just on the outskirts of Melbourne.

So far I've been told too much feed; not enough feed; too much sun; not enough sun; more phosphate; and finally a colder winter.

Can't do much about that! The bushes are large and healthy and pruned and fed every year but no fruit.

Nov 22, 2010
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Why are my Gooseberries not Fruiting
by: Anonymous

Tony,

There are possibly a number of reasons why your gooseberry bush isn't fruiting.

1) It is too young a plant. You said you planted it years ago, but until a gooseberry bush is 4 years old is really won't bear much, and what it does bear the birds will probably get the fruit before you do.

2)Your gooseberry bush may need feeding. You didn't say if you feed it, or have just left it to fend for itself. Gooseberries are heavy feeders and need an annual application of well-rotted farmyard manure and blood and bone dug around the bush every autumn. In the spring you can put some pellets of chicken manure around the plant. However, if you over-fertilize your gooseberries you can end up with a loss of leaves, and again no fruit. So a good balance is required.

3) Never let the soil around your gooseberry bush dry out. Australia's climate is harsh, with long spells of drought. Make sure that you have a good layer of mulch around your plant, keeping it away from the trunk. Replenish this as soon as you see it breaking down to maintain a constant moisture level in the soil. This will also help reduce mildew in gooseberries.

4) Your gooseberry bush may need pruning. You did'nt say if you had ever pruned your gooseberry bush. Although gooseberry plants can fruit without pruning, pruning will improve the crop. Thin out the centre of the bushes; fruit is produced both on the young wood, and from spurs on the older branches; cut out closely all shoots removed, and do not shorten the points of the young shoots unless your aim is to produce wood. See my page on growing gooseberries for details.

5) Birds love gooseberries, as mentioned before. Protect your gooseberry plants with a fruit cage or cover with a net.

6)Do you have the right climate where you are? If you live in the Adelaide Hills you will be fine, as gooseberries need cold winters and mild summers. If you don't get the chilly winters and your summers are hot and dry then you won't be successful with your gooseberries.

If you can grow red currants where you are, then you will be able to grow gooseberries. If that is the case, then you will just need to pay attention to your feeding program, mulching and pruning as above.

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