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I started picking today because the bushes are groaning with fruit, I must have taken 7 lb today and have topped and tailed, ready for bottling. They were all a decent size already. Two bushes and at least 20+ lb left at the smaller size so a huge crop. I can see the blackcurrants also gearing up for a very big crop, so staggering picking for gooseberries is the way forward for me. Not moaning though as these berries will be tremendous all through until next year
Johnny do you have a stake on your standard? Is it windy over there? Mine aren`t on very high legs, like yours but one is lopsided, I am thinking that I need to prune the other side and take out some full branches from the centre. so it gets more balancedMy arms are covered in bright red scratches today, serves me right for picking in short sleeves yesterday. I have got a heavy canvas smock that I am going to wear for my session later this afternoon. They berries certainly seem to grow a fair bit overnight so I am expecting there to be a lot more to pick today. My jars are now nestled in rows on a shelf under the stairs where it is dark and cool. Satisifying to seeSyrup is leftover from yesterday and waiting in the fridge and I also left the maslin out, still filled with water, no point emptying it. I do like the fact that I can stagger my fruit picking like this. It would be far too daunting otherwise and it isn`t too uncomfortable, apart from the scratches, I just sit on a low padded kneeler seat
I have just been down to my plot and tried to tidy up after the ales yesterday.
10 more 1/2 litre kilners done yesterday, so 25 jars are now stashed away. I poached the remaining ones that I picked and yum, they were lovely today. I am leaving all the rest to get big now, plenty there but much better spacing and the branches are looking a lot lighter. My arms are full of red scratches but was very worth while. Now to sit back for a week or three but no longer as the blackcurrants will be good to go in a month to 6 weeks and I want a break
It does seem a good year for most folks with gooseberries. I have just had to thin as the branches are now touching the ground.
Quote from: laurieuk on June 11, 2015, 15:26:34It does seem a good year for most folks with gooseberries. I have just had to thin as the branches are now touching the ground.Well done ,sadly mine are nowhere near that good and some of them are 7 year old bushes now. Perhaps I should have fed them more. Any advice anyone?