I have a big bush of cape gooseberry. probably the biggest success of the year, even though it is only me that likes them! It is covered in fruit, like literally dozens of "lanterns" trouble is, it is getting colder and they seem to be slow at ripening. Can I help them along? it seems that they don't ripen once you pick them, tried that. This was them about 10 days ago...
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/antipodes_photo/fruit_oct07.jpg)
They are very fruity sweet/sour and they last for ages even once picked and it would be a shame if they grew so much fruit but it never got ready. Any ideas?
I use bananas to ripen my kiwis, just put them in the same bowl. Might be worth a trial with your cape gooseberies.
try covering your CG with a couple of layers of fleece to keep them a bit warmer and to extend the growing /ripening season.
They are very strong. I remember picking ripe gooseberries in the beginning of december and they were very good.
( I forgot about the plant. It was hidden behind a currant bush and I found it after clearing my plot. :-[)
No guarantee that your fruits will survive this treatment as well, of course. So I would protect them. But I would also leave the fruits on the plant to ripen.
Ah thanks for that. There is loads of fruit and it would be a shame not to have as much of it as possible (I personally really like it's sweet sour flavour) Maybe I will try putting a bit of plastic over the top, make a greenhouse effect.
Do I need to prune it at the end or will it die down of its own accord??