How to prune gooseberry

Late winter (February–March) while dormant; summer tip-prune sideshoots in June. Remove dead, crossing or downward branches and any stems older than 3 years. Shorten sideshoots to 2–3 leaves in summer (Mildew control) and to 2 buds in winter. Keep 8–10 well-spaced main arms on a bush, or train as a cordon or standard.

Annually (winter + light summer tipping). Gooseberries fruit on both old wood spurs and new-season growth, but an open, well-thinned framework prevents the dense thorny thickets that make harvesting painful and invite mildew. Annual winter pruning keeps yields high and the plant manageable. Aim for a clear short leg and an open bowl of evenly spaced branches.

Remove dead, crossing or downward branches and any stems older than 3 years. Shorten sideshoots to 2–3 leaves in summer (Mildew control) and to 2 buds in winter. Keep 8–10 well-spaced main arms on a bush, or train as a cordon or standard.