Taking a cutting from an established gooseberry bush

Can you grow gooseberries from seed? Yes. Should you? No; gooseberries, being hybrids, may not grow true to seed. You are much better off buying a young plant, or taking a cutting from a gooseberry cane that’s at least a year old.

Growing from Cuttings

If you have a gardener friend who’s already growing gooseberries—and you live in a region that allows you to grow them—you can start your own gooseberry bush with a 1-foot-long cutting from a gooseberry cane that’s at least a year old. Get it in late fall or early spring.

Don’t harvest from that cane in the first year. Instead, pick off all the blossoms in the spring so the plant can put its energy into solid root growth. In year two, you may get a small harvest. By year three, you should expect a full crop.

If you want to make your gooseberry growing a little easier, order your own plant from a reputable nursery to ensure that the plant is disease-resistant and cleared for growing where you plan to plant it. It will wind up costing you less in time, money, and tending if you start with a healthy plant.

Have you tried growing gooseberries from cuttings? Which method do you prefer—and why? Please share your experiences with us.