Made my mouth pucker up and water just reading! Never had gooseberries but I would try them if I ever get the opportunity. I love tart, sour!

Great article!

Pucker is a great word for them!! Exactly. I should have used it in the article.

First heard of gooseberries when I was about nine. In my entire life I have never seen a gooseberry growing. Thanks for the image in my mind and the taste.

I remember seeing them growing on the side of the schoolyard when I was in elementary school in Kansas City, Kansas. They were against the fence in a neighboring house's yard. I used to admire them while we were at recess. I thought they were so pretty! Another kid told me what they were. I don't remember trying them, though, as I was taught that you don't take what doesn't belong to you.
I've always wanted to try them, but I never saw any since then. Thanks for the sweet article, Sharon!

Greene, look for the green, you'll love them if you like sour.
And wear armor if you ever run into a bush . . . they're that bad.

If you find them, be sure to let me know!
Thanks so much for the acorns.

Ha! KY, sweet words for a sour article!
I hope someday you get to try them.

I wonder if it's too late to plant them here? I found the one that is described as "practically thornless":
http://www.gardencrossings.com...

With all the cool weather and the rain, I think you'd be fine planting it now.
Make sure it's gooseberry and not currant! Oh yes, I just checked, get it!!

Oh, I see some pink ones!



Mom's 1957 Pyrex Gooseberry bowl

Love it!!!

Sharon, south central Kansas has to be hotter and drier than where you are! We grow loads of gooseberries, both thorned and thornless. Here's a picture of 'Pixwell' in my yard tonight.

My mother in law always made gooseberry pie for me, and my father in law and I could share a whole pie because no one else liked them! Now she's gone, so I'll have to learn to make my own pies.

That's the best news I've heard all week, Cindi! I've already talked myself into trying again. When I brought those plants here from the mountains, and I did more than once, I'm now thinking that maybe it was the shock of such a change coming from 5b-6a then to 7a. I just could not keep any of them alive. However, if I purchased a plant that was grown in conditions much more like mine, it might survive. I'm going to try. Yours look great!! Exactly the right time to pick, just before they turn pink.

Thank you so much. I'm glad I decided to write this article, and I was hoping somebody would come along and point me in a new direction. I finally realize what happened and what I did wrong. I lost a Mountain Laurel the very same way and countless ferns and wildflowers. Live and learn, I guess, but it sure took me a long time!!

It looks on the map as if I'm a bit south of you, but I'll bet that won't matter a bit.

Does "self-pollinating" mean that having only one bush is okay?

Yes, one should be fine.

Thanks, I figure one would be enough to feed the critters and maybe I'll get to taste a berry or two. LOL

Robins. I swear there were robins filling the trees just waiting for them to ripen a little. I can only remember robins.

Yikes! Shipping is $12.95 for one 5 1/2" pot! I will ask my local nursery if they have them or can get them.

Ouch! Look eastward, maybe explore the Lexington area or look toward Morehead/Ashland to see if there are any places there that do mail order. It would be closer and shouldn't be a climate shock. Might get a bigger one too.

Stupid question - is there any chance gooseberries and muscadines are the same thing?

No, muscadines are in the grape family -- VItis -- gooseberries are Ribes. I'm pretty sure about that. And as I remember, gooseberries are a larger berry and unlike grapes, they neither vine nor cluster.

There are no stupid questions, Vic.