Gooseberries

Hargreaves Plants offers a selection of the most popular cultivars available.  As self-fertile bushes, one bush can be grown in isolation and still produce fruit.  Gooseberry bushes are also able to withstand harsher conditions in terms of temperature and wind making them a good choice for cooler areas.  As they are also small in stature, they can be trained in any shape and are ideal for potting culture and the home garden market.

Xenia 

Originally from Switzerland, Xenia is one of the best gooseberry introductions to the UK in the past few years.  The bushes are upright, strong, with some mildew resistance and almost spine-free stems, making harvesting much easier.  New growth has fewer thorns and demonstrates strong vigour levels.  The early to mid season harvest will yield masses of large (up to 14g) highly attractive, deep red dessert quality fruits which are very sweet when ripe in late June.

Supply of plant material for Xenia is limited due to the high demand and novelty of this variety.  As such, plants are only available to order on contract, so to book or request further information please contact a member of the sales team.  All plants are supplied 'royalty paid' and propagation is strictly prohibited.  Any illegal propagation is liable to lead to legal action.

Invicta

This variety has developed into the most widely planted gooseberry in the UK.  The plant itself is vigorous, easy to grow and very quickly reaches its full potential.  It has good resistance to Powdery Mildew and can be trained in the same way as raspberries.  The plants give a very high yield year on year and are ready for picking late June onwards, up to double the yield of Careless and possibly the highest yielding gooseberry on the market.  Invicta produces large, oval, smooth skin berries that ripen to a pale yellow colour that are sweet enough to eat fresh off the bush, but are exceptional for all culinary uses.

Hinnonmaki Green

An upright, round, deciduous shrub with green shallow lobed leaves that bears large, green fruits from mid July onwards.  It has many culinary uses from salad garnish through to fruit drink flavourings.  The crop shows resistance to mildew, and is best grown on well drained, neutral soil in full sun, protected from strong winds and frost pockets.

Hinnonmaki Red

A deciduous shrub with green, shallow lobed leaves in the summer that turn red in the autumn months.  It produces white flowers in the spring that lead onto medium sized, purple red berries with a tangy outer skin and sweet flesh that are harvested during the summer.  This fruit is ideal for bottling and preserves, but if left to ripen on, can be used as a dessert gooseberry.  These plants begin fruiting in the planting year, making them ideal for the home garden market, also being very adaptable and resistant to mildew.  The plants tolerate partial shade and prefer a cool, moist growing area, therefore northern facing slopes with protection from direct sunlight are ideal.

Hinnonmaki Yellow

Hinnonmaki Yellow is a very hardy variety bred in Finland with a spreading habit so it does benefit from some support.  Ripe fruit is ready to pick mid July, the fruit itself is medium to large, with an excellent aromatic flavour with a hint of apricot.  It has exeptional Mildew and general disease resistance, and as such is recommended for growing as an organic variety.