The 2022 Cut

Last fall I eliminated four rows of gooseberry bushes—700-800 seedlings—saving the best for further evaluation and/or breeding:

  • (Captivator x R. curvatum) x (R. cynosbati x Invicta)

    • 18-53a-024 1.97 g/berry

    • 18-53a-058 2.42 g/berry

    • 18-53a-084 2.11 g/berry

    • 18-53b-020 2.50 g/berry

    • 18-53b-072 1.82 g/berry

    • 18-54a-150 2.56 g/berry

    • 18-54b-160 2.07 g/berry

  • (Captivator x R. cynosbati) x (Hinnomaki Red x R. curvatum) and reciprocal cross

    • 18-53b-150 2.42 g/berry

    • 19-53a-176 2.56 g/berry

    • 19-54b-072 2.12 g/berry

  • (Abundance x Invicta) x (Captivator x R. cynosbati)

    • 18-55a-084 2.19 g/berry

    • 18-55b-097 2.63 g/berry

  • (Industry x Invicta) x (R. cynosbati x Invicta)

    • 21-63b-124 3.26 g/berry

    • 21-63b-158 3.02 g/berry

  • Industry x Invicta

    • 17-55a-171 1.47 g/berry

    • 17-56a-016 1.33 g/berry

    • 17-56a-057 1.56 g/berry

  • Captivator x R. cynosbati

    • 10-50b-115 3.40 g/berry, (2.88 kg/bush at 7 yrs/2021)

  • Abundance 1.51 g/berry

Notes: ‘Abundance’, ‘Houghton’, and ‘Glenndale’ are good varieties for this area. ‘Industry’, R. cynosbati, R. curvatum, and R. missouriensis also do well.

‘Invicta’ has large berries but will not grow here. Usually I can keep it growing in pots long enough to make a few crosses. Crosses with ‘Industry’ do well. Crosses with R. cynosbati do better in pots than in the field—all R. cynosbati x Invicta seedlings used for parents are kept in pots.

‘Hinnomaki Red’ has a bit of flavor when eaten fresh, unlike the other varieties mentioned here, which are better cooked. However, calling it flavorful would be an overstatement.

‘Captivator’ is a thornless variety but not productive here. Many of the flowers on potted plants are misshapen and produce little pollen. It may require a pollinator to set berries.

‘Abundance’, a sibling of ‘Pixwell’, is an excellent variety—small but very productive. It’s the one we use for making jelly.