Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Gooseberries, redcurrants and whitecurrants
All three of these bush fruit will cope with a wide range of soil conditions. They crop best in a sunny position, but will tolerate partial shade. Cordon or fan-trained plants can be grown on a wall or fence with a northerly aspect. To save space, use bushes trained as standards that can be underplanted with other crops, or add to ornamental borders. Water regularly, and protect ripening crops from birds with netting. Watch out for aphids, mildew and gooseberry sawfly.
Recommended cultivars
Gooseberries: Dessert: ‘Leveller’ AGM (yellow fruited, mid-season) or ‘Lord Derby’ (red fruited, late). Culinary: ‘Invicta’ AGM (which is resistant to mildew).
Redcurrant and whitecurrants: ‘Jonkheer van Tets’ AGM (early), ‘Red Lake’ AGM (mid-season), ‘Stanza’ AGM (mid to late). Whitecurrant ‘White Grape’ AGM (mid-season).
Further information