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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: David P on July 17, 2012, 22:49:50

Title: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: David P on July 17, 2012, 22:49:50
Hi all

I have had a what I think is a gooseberry bush in my garden for ages now but its never really done anything... (the catepillars usually see it off)

Til this year and some berries have grown.  I was leaving them til they got bigger but now they have gone redish??  Are they still ok to eat??  And why have they gone red?

Many thanks

Dave
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: Ninnyscrops. on July 17, 2012, 23:19:19
Probably a dessert variety David, they will have tinges of red and taste sweeter than some normal green goosegogs.

The only way to test their taste is to eat one  ;)

Ninny
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: antipodes on July 18, 2012, 10:01:54
The red varieties are delish (I have them :)  They will go a really dark blood red if you leave them and get mice and sweet. They make lovely jam.
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: Melbourne12 on July 18, 2012, 12:01:58
Mrs Melbourne12 would kill me if I suggested cooking her dessert gooseberries!  They're for eating raw!  :)
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: Stevens706 on July 18, 2012, 12:43:20
I have a couple of red gooseberries, one word if warning is that the blackbirds love them, they have stripped mine so will have to protect them next year
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: Borlotti on July 18, 2012, 13:49:55
Watch out for mice.  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: cobnut on July 18, 2012, 18:18:25
My gooseberries are red too.  No idea what variety they are as they were cheapies from aldi.  They taste nice though and I've already made a few pots of jam (and scoffed straight off the bush of course).  Crumble is next.   These and the blackcurrants are about the only things that have done well this year.
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: davholla on July 18, 2012, 20:31:16
Quote from: David P on July 17, 2012, 22:49:50
Hi all

I have had a what I think is a gooseberry bush in my garden for ages now but its never really done anything... (the catepillars usually see it off)

Til this year and some berries have grown.  I was leaving them til they got bigger but now they have gone redish??  Are they still ok to eat??  And why have they gone red?

Many thanks

Dave
Wait until they are really soft (pigeons permitting) and they will be lovelly.
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: David P on July 18, 2012, 22:51:26
Thank you all!!

I cant wait to eat them now.... I've put a net over them too...

:)
Title: Re: Gooseberries going red?
Post by: pamsdish on July 19, 2012, 07:02:21
Aldis sold red gooseberries lat year I bought one too,no fruit this year