First of the fruit crops

Excellent gooseberry crumble sounds tasty.

No sign of fruit on mine yet.

Do you feed your bushes?

No I don't Scotkat. But last year I really made an effort to prune it properly and I think its paid off! I only have one bush which was in a border outside the kitchen door when we moved in - just about the only thing that was in the garden apart from a couple of raspberry canes which we also kept and so far have produced well.

I to just have a 1 Gooseberry bush Digginfit.

Those look so tasty,and one of my favourite fruits..I have never grown fruit bushes,through lack of space really.Would one of these take up much room,Digginfit,as I have a shrub I am thinking of removing,which is in a sunny and quite open position,so would appreciate your feedback please..

Bloomer, my bush is in a fairly narrow border about 2 feet wide which is backed by a fence. The bush so far as grown to about 2 and half feet wide and high so it's quite a compact little bush. It gets sun from mid morning to late afternoon but I think would benefit from a bit more sun. It is growing between a red currant and a sage bush. The bush is at least 6 years old and this year's is the best crop I've had.

Hope this helps.

Sandra had you thought of getting a young one and training it into a cordon? I grew a couple of triple stem cordons against the garage wall in our last house and they cropped really well - and were also easy to pick and prune.
You can also get them trained as standards if space is a problem.

Thanks Digginfit.It sounds similar to the position that I have in mind..and a narrow border too..although it gets the sun all day till early evening..I will bear that in mind,should I decide to have one,thank you,very helpful..

Also thank you too,Sue..I would have liked to try a cordon,but sadly nowhere suitable to train it .we only have low walls,and no garage ..do either of you know if one could be grown in a large pot,if I decide to keep the shrub I was going to get rid of? I really don't have anywhere else I could plant one..my borders are pretty full..

That's wonderful :o)

You could grow a nice half standard in a tub. Not easy to find but you could train your own. Will send you cuttings later if you remind me. Mine are resistant to blight.

Thank you for your kind offer,Sue..but have you seen the price of postage these days? It seems to be around,or over £5 for the smallest parcel now..and quite honestly,I think it's awful...please don't spend that kind of money..I don't mean to throw kindness in your face,but a few of us have decided not to send them anymore..it is almost as cheap just to buy something..such a shame,it has got so expensive,and spoiled a lot of pleasure for those of us who have enjoyed sending and receiving gifts :o(