shrub

Gooseberry

Ribes uva-crispa

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) — a shrub, for Full sun, Medium water. Companions: Comfrey.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to part shade
Watermedium

↑ Gives back

Fruitedible berries
Biomassmedium

Companions

Through the year

Emergence

Bud break and leaf emergence typically occur after the last spring frost and when air temperatures consistently rise above 50C.

Flowering

Flowering usually begins about 30 days after emergence, lasting for approximately three weeks.

Fruiting

Fruit development starts about 45 days after flowering and continues for up to two months.

Harvest

Harvest season typically runs through July, depending on the cultivar and ripeness desired.

Senescence

Leaves begin to senesce and drop with the first autumn frosts and shortening day lengths.

Dormancy

Plants enter dormancy shortly after leaf senescence, triggered by cold temperatures and short days, lasting through winter.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatespotassium, calcium
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodscuttings, division, seed
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~2 yr
Stratificationcold_moist
Divisionautumn

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, pollinators
Can host pestsgooseberry_sawfly, aphids, spider_mites
Can host diseasespowdery_mildew, anthracnose