Crops › Gooseberry › Captivator
Captivator
Gooseberry in the US
Captivator offers a good red fruit with fewer thorns than some, which is always a bonus when you're harvesting. It’s a good, solid choice for a garden bush, reliable for a decent crop.
Sow window for Gooseberry generally, zone 6. In season now.
Buy Captivator seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
How to grow it
Gooseberries are usually grown from cuttings or bought as bare-root plants, not really sown from seed much, like I say. If you're going for cuttings, pop 'em in around 6 inches (15 cm) deep in good soil. Timing is key, mind. For zones 3-7, April through May works well. In warmer zones like 8-10, you can start as early as January or February, or pick it up again from September right through to December. Just make sure the ground isn't frozen solid. Space them about 3 to 5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) apart to give them room to spread out. They're not like your annuals, these are for the long haul.
Once your young gooseberry plants are growing well, pick a spot in full sun or light shade. They like well-drained soil, you know. When planting out, give them plenty of space, about 3 to 5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) between each one, and the same between rows if you've got a few. They'll grow into decent-sized bushes over time. You don't often see them in containers, but a very large pot might do for a dwarf variety, if you're really pushed for space.
More Gooseberry varieties
Track your Gooseberry from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
