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Fruit EdibleShrubs

Ribes uva-crispa 'Captivator' (C)

gooseberry 'Captivator'

A deep red gooseberry suitable for culinary and edible use, fairly disease resistant and almost thornless, just a few on new growth. A deciduous shrub with a spreading bushy habit and mid-green lobed leaves. White flowers appear March to April and steady picking of the fruit begins in July. Self-fertile

Synonyms

Ribes uva-crispa var. reclinatum 'Captivator'

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Grossulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Ribes can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes spiny, with simple, usually palmately lobed leaves and small tubular or bell-shaped, solitary or racemose flowers borne in spring or summer, followed by juicy, sometimes edible berries
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow gooseberries in a moist but well-drained soil that has been improves with organic matter. Mildly alkaline (chalky) soils are tolerated. They can be grown as goblet-shaped bushes or cordons. Water well as fruits swell and keep the base of the plants weed and grass-free. See gooseberry cultivation for more growing advice

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Edible fruit

Pruning

Prune gooseberries in winter and summer

Pests

May be susceptible to gooseberry sawfly, capsid bug, birds, squirrels and aphids can be problematic

Diseases

May be susceptible to American gooseberry mildew and gooseberry leaf spot can cause problems

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