Bill Beardsworth (The Governor) has made his selection of the best gooseberry varieties from his fruit garden at the farm.
Bill says, “These varieties I find particularly suited to the northern climate, we achieve good crops even though our fruit beds are east facing”.
Gooseberry ‘Leveller’
Mrs Beardsworth says this is the best gooseberry for pies and crumble, very good flavour”.
A heavy cropping, mid season variety with large, sweet yellow fruit. A popular exhibition variety with an open habit, making picking easy. Generally for culinary use but can be a desert berry if the fruit is allowed to fully ripen on the bush.
Gooseberry ‘Hinnonmaki Red’
The berries are not the largest but there are loads of them. It’s very hardy, resilient and a joy to grow”.
A reliable and easy to grow variety with heavy crops of red, sweet fleshed fruits. Upright, easy to prune habit and good mildew resistance.
Gooseberry ‘Captivator’
“A lovely gooseberry that has surprised me with it’s quality and flavour considering it’s a thornless”.
Almost thornless stems with a good upright habit. The berries are blush pink and eat from the bush sweet. Good mildew resistance.
Gooseberry ‘Martlet’
“One of the few new varieties that has an excellent flavour”.
A new mid-late season, desert variety. Bearing large, sweet fruit of a deep red colour. Very heavy cropping, disease resistant and self fertile.
Gooseberry ‘Whitesmith’
“If you prefer green gooseberries go for this one, it won’t let you down”.
Early-mid season variety with large, pale green fruit with a smooth skin and sweet flavour. A strong upright habit making it easy to grow. Particularly fine jam and cooking variety.
Gooseberry ‘Whinhams Industry’
“You have to take a leap of faith with this one, it can have the odd bad year. With a good summer it will provide the best gooseberries you will ever taste”.
A classic variety dating from 1850. Fruits are dark red with a sweet flavour, very heavy cropper.
Gooseberry ‘May Duke’
“I love this variety as it gives a very early crop, allowing me to show off a little. It crops very heavily, just leave on the bush and by late summer they are sweeter than grapes”.
An early variety, with smooth, dark red fruits. Habit is upright and easy to prune.
