I was wanting to grow gooseberries and currents but the information on them indicates that cannot take a Texas summer (three months over 90). Has anyone had luck grow them in my conditions? If so what variety were they?
I’m looking forward to hearing responses. I’m also z7 and was wondering if I could grow some in part shade but hesitant if they would be very productive in this zone.
I grew gooseberries in Amarillo in full sun for several yrs. They did fine. The fruit was tart to very tart. Maybe I picked too early.
I don’t remember the varieties except one was Hinnomaki Red or Yellow.
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If those grew, looks like you could grow any of them! They do tend to be tart, but the longer you let them hang the sweeter they get.
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I tried growing gooseberries in pots a few years ago, and they didn’t do well at all. I planted four more in the ground last year, and they did fine. I planted them in an area that gets mostly shade, and they survived our heat and drought last year. All four are leafing out now with no apparent die back.
I have Poorman, Invicta, Hinnomaki Red, and Black Velvet. They only one I’ve eaten is Invicta, and it was very good. I don’t recall any tartness at all.
Edited to add that this is in z7 Tennessee.
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I have had no trouble growing currant and gooseberry plants in the dry plains. They have suffered no mildew problems or other plant health problems. However the red and black currants never produced more than a few berries and after years of trying, I replaced them with clove currants. They still don’t produce like they would in a better area but produce enough to put up with. I have Achilles,amish, poormans,and Jeanne.gooseberries and they have done ok with the heat. I think hot and humid might bring more problems.
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Thanks for the information. I think I have a new plant to try for next year
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Poorman is fantastic for fresh eating. Black Velvet I found too tart fresh but made awesome Jam/Compot. Experience in zone 4 though.
I live in Richmond, VA in 7b. When I tried currants and gooseberries the issue was mildew, which battered the currants badly. Only the blacks survived. Gooseberries had less issue.
This was in containers, so I put them in the ground this year. But I think the issue is going to be mildew/humidity and not heat.
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I have jostaberry in the ground with just morning sun. It does well with a lot of watering. It can look a bit ratty in our bad heat in July and August, but I still get berries.
I’ve got cuttings if anyone wants (it’s blight resistant). It’s really easy to root.
We stay over 90 a whole lot, too, and usually see above 100 each year. You’re probably hotter, but maybe not by many days.
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I’d recommend full shade to morning sun. Even in the central midwest, mine seem to prefer afternoon shade… They also like rich, organic soil a bit on the acidic side and plenty of moisture. Red and white currants seem to need more shade than blacks for me and are more tart. Gooseberries can be quite sweet with little acidity if you let them hang - pick sooner if you want to make pie!
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Problems growing Gooseberries are more than just the heat. Most gooseberries need above 1000 chill hours. I attempted to grow all heat tolerant gooseberry Varieties in zone 8b (montgomery alabama). Is a plant dpesn’t get the required chill hours it will wake up very late in the season. (Apirl) then whenever the temps get above 82 degrees they defoliate. So the plants never have leaves on them and cannot store energy. They die sooner or later. You need cold winters to wake the plants up in early spring and when you start having more than 4 days above 82 degrees they start to expereince heat stress. This 1,2 punch will kill plants every time.
My Glendale and poorman have done great in full sun in Maryland 7b.
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I think another issue with some of these plants is that they really need cooler nights than some warmer zones get.
The drier parts of Texas might have less mildew pressure and might cool off enough at night. A number of Eastern European gooseberry and current varieties grow in places like southern Ukraine and southern Russia which are somewhat similar to parts of Texas.
The more humid parts of Texas are going to be a hard ask. Josaberry and Crandall current might make it if the soil and microclimate are right. Other varieties will be harder. There are a handful of native Ribes species, some of which grow in the South. Granite Gooseberry is hard to get ahold of but not impossible. Miccosukee Gooseberry is probably the most heat and humidity tolerant, but it’s extremely rare and probably impossible to buy. I’m not sure either of them are edible.
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I am in zone 7b southern middle TN… and tried jostaberry and red currants here a few years back. In full sun they just died… I tried them again in a morning sun only location and they still struggled for 3 or 4 years… dropping all leaves getting funky leaves… not producing fruit. In 4 years I got like 3 or 4 berries. I finally yanked them.
Last spring I planted Jeanne goosberry and Crandall clove current and they did well last year… kept their leaves… the crandell produed a decent crop first year.
I heard from a fellow Tennesean here that Jeanne gooseberry was doing well for him… it grew well for me last year… hope to get fruit this year.
I have those planted in a location that gets good sun until around 1-2 pm… but no direct sun after that. Our late evening sun can be sort of brutal.
TNHunter
I have tried several varieties of red and black currants, josta berries, crandall currant and several varieties of gooseberry. All plants grew fine but none fruited except crandall which produces in abundance. I have gradually let the crandall takeout or overgrow all other currants. The gooseberries make nice fruitless bushes that I have kept so far.
You might be not getting enough chill hours?
We receive 1200 to 1500 each winter