"Ian B" wrote

I planted a small gooseberry bush last year and this year it appears to
have some gooseberries on it. Not many, but a few. How do I know when I
can pick them? That is, when they are ripe? They are green and not hairy
and don't look like they will change colour or anything.

Usually the green variety take on a slight yellowy appearance when ripe,
certainly if you try one and they are bitter they are not ripe. BTW, there
may be more than you realise. The first time we grew goosegogs we picked all
we could see and a month later noticed as many again right underneath the
plants and they were so sweet, made lovely gooseberry ice cream.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK