[sion01]

Last winter I planted 9 new gooseberry bushes.Three each of Invicta,Hinnomaki red and Hinnomaki yellow.I tasted some from each of the bushes this afternoon and was disappointed as they are absolutely tasteless.No sweetness or sharpness and no gooseberry flavour what so ever. Is that  the experience of other gardeners with these varietys or are my taste buds dead

[AnneB]

I have Hinnonmaki Red and Invicta.  Both very gooseberry like in the taste depatment for me.

[surbie100]

I've got Hinnomaki Red, Invicta and some Unknown Ancient Green from my Mum. All taste very gooseberry-y. If it's their first year on your plot maybe give them another year to get used to where they are and put down some decent roots?

[8doubles]

I have found that underipe goosegogs are better flavoured for cooking and jams. Fully ripe they do loose flavour and tartness.

[Goosegirl]

Might be a daft thing to say but they haven't been watered too much so the flavour has been diluted in their berries? I have the same trouble with toms and am wondering if that was the same reason?

[Mrs Bee]

Might be a daft thing to say but they haven't been watered too much so the flavour has been diluted in their berries? I have the same trouble with toms and am wondering if that was the same reason?

I was going to say that.
After reading the lovely James Wong's book, I think I may have over watered lots of things  in the past.

[solway cropper]

If you have 9 bushes you must really like gooseberries. My three give me kilos of fruit which is enough for tarts, pies and jams. And, yes, they taste like gooseberries!

[BumbleJo]

Picked some goosegobs from my invicta bush, huge, maybe slightly under ripe, cooked gently- no flavour.  Haven't watered excessively, fed early spring, mulched.  Maybe lack of sunshine but it's a puzzle for sure.

[AK9]

Got some gooseberries from the previous owner of the plot.
1 is green  and for 2 the gooseberries are turning red.

Are the 2 above red gooseberries?

And when is it the best time to pick them up?

[Goosegirl]

Ah - BumbleJo might just have the answer there re- lack of sunshine.

[sunshineband]

Got some gooseberries from the previous owner of the plot.
1 is green  and for 2 the gooseberries are turning red.

Are the 2 above red gooseberries?

And when is it the best time to pick them up?

Either when hard as cooking berries, or when they "give" slightly as dessert berries. Green ones tend to go a bit golden then too