I have 2 gooseberry bushes which have grown very large and have lots of foliage but no berries. Last year I cut them back but they are even worse this year! I'm not sure if I should abandon them or if this situation can be rectified. Advice?
This is a common problem with gooseberries and although cutting the plants back might seem like the best way to regenerate them, it's just about the worst thing you can do. When you severely prune a gooseberry bush, it responds by producing lots of leafy green growth and limiting its berry production. This is because it needs all that leaf space to feed its root system and stay healthy. Berries are merely a function of reproduction and can be sacrificed for a few years while the plant gets its strength back.
So what should you have done?
You were on the right track in thinking that pruning was necessary to get your gooseberries to return to the vital producers they once were. You just needed to be a little more selective in how you did that pruning. An explanation of the whys and hows of gooseberry pruning can be found here.
It may seem daunting at first, but once you learn the ins and outs of proper pruning, your gooseberries will reward you with healthy crops for many years to come.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at vanessa@gardenmuse.ca.
Posted: July 29, 2011
