Fruits
Ribes
Gooseberry
A fruiting Ribes shrub with tart-to-sweet berries for eating fresh or preserving. Berry color, thorniness and disease resistance vary widely because no cultivar is named.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Even moisture; well-drained soil
Sizes & prices
- #1.5$27.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
Ask about this plantSelect a section to expand.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees
Fruit & harvest
- First bearing
- Often 1–3 years after planting.
- Tri-state harvest
- Gooseberries typically ripen around early summer in Kentucky.
- Pollination
- Most gooseberries are self-fruitful.
Growing & care
- Care & pruning
- Prune established shrubs in late winter to open the canopy, remove old wood and make harvest easier. Select disease-resistant stock where possible.
- Size & habit
- Allow at least 3 ft. between plants, with room to harvest around thorny canes.
- Winter
- Prune after the coldest winter weather, before fresh spring growth. Commercial selections differ; an exact cold-hardiness rating needs the named variety.
Sources & photo credits
University of Minnesota Extension
University of Kentucky Extension
Photo: mako (image resized for display) · CC BY 2.0
Size & selection: Size varies by selection; allow at least 3 ft. between plants and enough room for harvesting around the thorny canes. Plant spacing is not a mature-height measurement.
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.