North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Kieran &/or Donna" <holycow@frontiernet.net>]

Bill,
   I'm not sure about eating gooseberries raw, the only ones I have ever 
tasted are the few I've picked from my Pixwell plant, and they were sure not 
impressive that way.  My husband has never mentioned raw gooseberries, 
mostly he's talked about them in pies.   So though I definitely want 
gooseberries to cook with, I'd also like to grow one or two that are 
considered good for desert, just so I can find out what they taste like.
   I note Alan said that they ripen the same time as sweet cherries, which 
means very early.  I like that idea, and though I too would prefer to eat 
sweet cherries, they crop poorly for me and the birds eat them anyway.  They 
are WAY to big to net, whereas it appears that most of the gooseberries are 
small enough there is some possibility of keeping the birds off them.   I 
suppose I'd have to have chicken wire or something to keep any netting from 
getting hung on the bushes.  I have a friend who has made little hoops about 
4' high and covered with netting to keep deer out of at least part of her 
garden.  Hmmm... maybe I should figure out a way to do this with the 
blueberries while awaiting my gooseberry harvest.
   I've gone back to an earlier gooseberry discussion as well, and feel 
like I now know a lot more about what should or shouldn't do for me.  I 
think I'll try too many (as usual) and see what does best.  I feel like they 
are one plant at least that will appreciate the fact that our place runs 
about 4 degrees cooler than the surrounding area, summer and winter.
   And no Richard, I don't enjoy enjoy documenting my frustrations, I do 
that out of duty to help others.  I would much rather be boasting about my 
successes!  The trouble with fruit successes though, is that by the time one 
arrives, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the tree.  I forget the 
umpteen buckets of water I've brought it and the long grudging wait for it 
to grow and get past adolescence.
   Thank you all for telling me so much about your experiences.   Donna TN 
Z6