Gooseberries & Gooseberry Information

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Common Names:     Gooseberry (English)
Related Species:     Currant, Black Currant
Origin:                    Caucasus Mountains and North Africa
Adaptation:            Cool regions with great winter chilling

DESCRIPTION
Growth Habit:           Bushes up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Well protected with a multitude of thorns which hamper hand harvesting.
Foliage:                   The buds perk up early spring and self pollinate though we assist them to grow bigger with the introduction of bumble bees. 
Flowers:                   Inconspicuous flowers, green with pink flushed petals, open in early spring.
Fruit:                       Fruit - borne singly or in pairs at the axils. this summer the bushes produced in excess of 4 kgs each all hand picked.

FRUIT FACTS:
Gooseberries have been grown in Britain since the time of Henry VII. Gooseberry Juice was also used as a medicine in   the treatment of fevers and in the sixteenth century they were recommended to plague victims.

Nutrition:
Per 100 grms edible fruit provides approximately 80% Juice. Full of Energy, Carbohydrates, Fiber.

Minerals:
Excellent Source of proanthocyanins (Tannins). Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and heaps of vitamins A & C

Gooseberries at Mamaku Blue:
Spray Free Fruit grown in Biologically managed Soil to enhance the Natural Health Benefits this traditional fruit provides.
We have grown gooseberries since 1980 and now grow the Invicta Variety which is Mould resistant and produces a good medium size berry. Each season harvest starts approximately mid December with the berries harvested for the New Zealand Indian people who use them to make their special chutneys. The second pick near Christmas is for the general public who enjoy the sweet and sour sharp texture the gooseberry provides. English people particularly enjoy this traditional delicacy. The third and final pick is of the sweeter overripe berries which are processed into sparkling wine, liqueur, jams, chutneys, pies, muffins and other products served at the Mamaku Blue Visitor Centre shop and cafe.