Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and 'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the air temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south shore of Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there are a few days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and it's usually the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's. So, I intend to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily moved indoors if
necessary.

It seems a shame, though, since that means they would probably not reach their
full size, and there's a spot on the north side of the house that would
otherwise be ideal for them. Is there another way to protect gooseberries
from high summer temperatures (e.g. covering them with wet fabric, etc. ?) Or
might these varieties survive a week of 90-ish temperatures anyways?

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

AlleyCatStudio1 wrote:

Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and 'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the air temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south shore of Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there are a few days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and it's usually the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's. So, I intend to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily moved indoors if
necessary.

It seems a shame, though, since that means they would probably not reach their
full size, and there's a spot on the north side of the house that would
otherwise be ideal for them. Is there another way to protect gooseberries
from high summer temperatures (e.g. covering them with wet fabric, etc. ?) Or
might these varieties survive a week of 90-ish temperatures anyways?


I'm not sure what you mean by "collapse". I had some Jostaberries for a
few years (they are a gooseberry x black current hybrid) and they grew very
well here in southern Minnesota, where the summers usually get in the 90's.
I finally pulled them out because they weren't very productive, but that
could have been because I couldn't tell how to prune them. They didn't
grow like normal gooseberries or currents, they were more bushlike. The
one year they did produce well the summer was unseasonably cool. That may
have been a coincidence. The plants never wilted, even when the
temperature would occasionally approach 100.

If you live near the Great Lakes, gooseberries should do fine.

Best regards,
Bob

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Bob wrote:

AlleyCatStudio1 wrote:

Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and 'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the air
temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south shore of
Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there are a few
days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and it's usually
the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's. So, I intend
to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily moved indoors
if
necessary.

It seems a shame, though, since that means they would probably not reach
their
full size, and there's a spot on the north side of the house that would
otherwise be ideal for them. Is there another way to protect gooseberries
from high summer temperatures (e.g. covering them with wet fabric, etc.
?) Or
might these varieties survive a week of 90-ish temperatures anyways?



I'm not sure what you mean by "collapse".

I'm not sure either; but that's what online articles such as this one say:
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/gooseberry.html

I had some Jostaberries for a
few years (they are a gooseberry x black current hybrid) and they grew very
well here in southern Minnesota, where the summers usually get in the 90's.

I finally pulled them out because they weren't very productive, but that
could have been because I couldn't tell how to prune them. They didn't
grow like normal gooseberries or currents, they were more bushlike. The
one year they did produce well the summer was unseasonably cool. That may
have been a coincidence. The plants never wilted, even when the
temperature would occasionally approach 100.

If you live near the Great Lakes, gooseberries should do fine.

Best regards,
Bob

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

AlleyCatStudio1 said:

Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and 'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the air temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south shore of Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there are a few days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and it's usually the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's. So, I intend to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily moved indoors if
necessary.

I could not keep gooseberries or black currants going here in Plymouth, even in
partial shade. My soil is way to sandy and dries (and warms) very quickly.
One summer it was just too warm and dry and the next spring they were dead.

The neighbor where I used to live had a nice row of red currants which did
very well. We had heavy soil with a high water table -- they were never
stressed for water, even in the drought of '88. (The water table was high
enough that we had crayfish burrows in the low spots in our back yards!
The currants were planted on a raised-up spot so that they weren't waterlogged.)

--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

ustible (AlleyCatStudio1) wrote in message ...
Bob wrote:

AlleyCatStudio1 wrote:

Hello all --


I'm not sure what you mean by "collapse".

I'm not sure either; but that's what online articles such as this one say:
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/gooseberry.html

This article is about growing gooseberries in California, a place with
a hotter, drier climate than the Great Lakes. Gooseberries do best in
more humid climates with a distinct prolonged chill period---climates
such as yours.

Quit worrying about what applies in California--you don't live there.


J. Del Col

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

In the past I grew gooseberries, and we often reach 100F in the summer.
They never seemed to suffer from the heat. They did get some late afternoon
shade. I had good crops for a few years; what finally caused me to yank
them was the gooseberry saw fly, which I grew tired of battling.

Black currants do very well for me, both the Crandall, which is lovely and
smells like cloves in bloom, and the Consort. I had Jostaberries for 10
years, and they grew vigorously, but never bore much fruit.

Good luck and have fun,
Sue

--

Zone 6, South-central PA


"AlleyCatStudio1" wrote in message
...
Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and 'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the air
temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south shore of Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there are a few
days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and it's usually
the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's. So, I intend
to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily moved indoors if
necessary.

It seems a shame, though, since that means they would probably not reach
their
full size, and there's a spot on the north side of the house that would
otherwise be ideal for them. Is there another way to protect
gooseberries
from high summer temperatures (e.g. covering them with wet fabric, etc. ?)
Or
might these varieties survive a week of 90-ish temperatures anyways?

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

"Pat Kiewicz" wrote in message
...
AlleyCatStudio1 said:

Hello all --

I recently ordered two Gooseberry plants ('Invicta' and
'Hinnonmaki Red'
cultivars). I've read that gooseberries "collapse" when the
air temperature
exceeds 85 degrees: I live about half a mile from the south
shore of Lake
Erie, so the summers aren't like Arizona, but typically there
are a few days or
weeks during the summer that exceed the 85-degree mark, and
it's usually the
case where we get at least one week that goes into the 90's.
So, I intend to
plant them in large containers so they can be temporarily
moved indoors if
necessary.


Don't even think about growing them in containers.
Sure it can be done but you will have to carry so much water to
them that
your life will be miserable! The amount of water a mature bush
requires is
phenomenal, especially at those temperatures.

In any case, it's likely to make the problem worse rather than
better because
roots are even more sensitive to high temperatures than leaves
and shoots.

Put them in the ground - they'll be fine and grow better too.


--
Gerry
www.garden-guide.net
.... for responsible gardening

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

"SugarChile" wrote in message
...
In the past I grew gooseberries, and we often reach 100F in the summer.
They never seemed to suffer from the heat. They did get some late
afternoon
shade. I had good crops for a few years; what finally caused me to yank
them was the gooseberry saw fly, which I grew tired of battling.

Black currants do very well for me, both the Crandall, which is lovely and
smells like cloves in bloom, and the Consort. I had Jostaberries for 10
years, and they grew vigorously, but never bore much fruit.

Good luck and have fun,
Sue

--

Zone 6, South-central PA


Agreed. Our gooseberry is very productive also with weather sometimes above
100F and mostly in the high 90s all summer. They are also under an overgrown
lilac in full shade. (In the Idaho desert, zone 6) Our neighbor has a very
productive currant in the shade. I'm transplanting some this year to see how
they like full sun :-o My guess is they will probably burn up, but I have
to try, because it's a spot I'd really like to have them grow.

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Thanks for all the answers, everybody! And if they'll produce in full shade,
that would be super too, as there are other spots along the northern side of
the house which have ideal soil conditions, but are shaded by other bushes and
the house next door.

Now my only other question is how long I have to wait until they'll bear enough
fruit to make a tart!

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

Gooseberries and hot weather
 

J. Del Col wrote:

(AlleyCatStudio1) wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the answers, everybody! And if they'll produce in full
shade,
that would be super too, as there are other spots along the northern side
of
the house which have ideal soil conditions, but are shaded by other bushes
and
the house next door.

Now my only other question is how long I have to wait until they'll bear
enough
fruit to make a tart!

The site you referred to answers that question---about two years from
cuttings.

Hmmm, doesn't say how much, though. :-/

Gooseberries and hot weather