[Nobbie]

When are people picking their gooseberries? Seems quite late to me already as the blackcurrants are nearly ripe. These are Invicta, so picked green. When I had a look, they didn’t seem that large is what made me question whether they are ready. Probably subconsciously trying to avoid the thorn fest of picking them

[Grubbypaws]

We picked our Invicta yesterday. Ours were a little small too but were ready. I guess that the size may be due to how dry it has been. With the chore of so much watering needed this year the gooseberries often got forgotten.

[New shoot]

I’ve picked some of mine today, but I split the crop most years. Todays fruit is ripe enough for what I want, which is making preserves (loads of pectin) and would also be fine for cooking.

The half I have left will be part picked for freezing for puds and some left to become really ripe as they make great dessert gooseberries.

Invicta is a useful one as you can pick when really quite hard and green. They are pretty sour at that stage but are great for preserves or puddings. When riper they are still pretty tart, but tasty.  Left until fully ripe they get a pale yellow tint to them and are much sweeter.

Taste one with what you want to use them for in mind and make a decision based on that.

[AnneB]

I have an Invicta bush that I inherited with the plot.  It isn't cordon trained and is rather unruly and too near the boundary fence.  There is also lots of couch grass around its roots.  I have tried to prune it into shape and get rid of the grass with limited success.
Its position makes netting and harvesting fruit rather awkward.

Anyway, it is a very productive  bush.
This morning I steeled myself for the vicious thorns and picked all the fruit.
Some of it was a bit small, but mostly a good size.  I find it easier to do in one go.

My redcurrants and blackcurrants are not ripe yet.  Redcurrants next then blackcurrants mid July here as a rule.

[Nobbie]

Great, thanks for all the info. Looks like I’ll steel myself and get picking this week.