Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Red Jacket Gooseberry

Brand:  Plant Select

Description:

An original English selection that is very hardy and resistant to powdery mildew; features exceptional yields of red fruit with sweet flesh and a tangy outer skin; needs regular pruning for productivity, remove all branches 4 years or older to the ground

Edible Qualities

Comanche™ Gooseberry is a small shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. It produces clusters of cherry red round berries which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to early fall. The berries will often fade to dark red over time. The berries have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Baking
• Preserves
• Wine-Making

Features & Attributes

Comanche™ Gooseberry has dark green deciduous foliage on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The lobed leaves turn red and yellow in fall. It features an abundance of magnificent cherry red berries from early summer to early fall, which fade to dark red over time.

This is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Comanche™ Gooseberry is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Comanche™ Gooseberry will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.