Green thumb is itching, anyone else?

[rancher hicks]

Do you prune your gooseberry bushes? Should I cut them back this year and if so when? What about currant bushes? I have stakes in to fence my five bushes in as well as the currants and raspberries.

 

[queenchick16]

Do you prune your gooseberry bushes? Should I cut them back this year and if so when? What about currant bushes? I have stakes in to fence my five bushes in as well as the currants and raspberries.

I trim mine a little when it gets unruly and remove any dead branches. Its not something that gets a lot of my attention since it seems to do OK without it. You know that they will tolerate some shade; almost prefer it

 

[queenchick16]

I trim mine a little when it gets unruly and remove any dead branches. Its not something that gets a lot of my attention since it seems to do OK without it. You know that they will tolerate some shade; almost prefer it

I never trim or prune anything in hot weather

 

[rancher hicks]

I have them planted in a semi shaded area. They are not very big yet. Nor are the branches thick, but it's only the first year. Do you use any fertilizers. Horse manure etc. etc. I will mulch them when I get them surrounded by chicken wire to keep the girls from scratching around them. I was just thinking I may just make a round of fencing around each plant for now. I have 5 bushes about 4 feet apart.

 

[queenchick16]

I have them planted in a semi shaded area. They are not very big yet. Nor are the branches thick, but it's only the first year. Do you use any fertilizers. Horse manure etc. etc. I will mulch them when I get them surrounded by chicken wire to keep the girls from scratching around them. I was just thinking I may just make a round of fencing around each plant for now. I have 5 bushes about 4 feet apart.

I think once they get going you are going to have gooseberries coming out your ears, as the saying goes.I have two plants. I give them a balanced fertilizer I think horse manure would work. My blueberries are what I've got down pat, ever since I got the ph correct. You might check on line for more info on the gooseberries.

 

[rancher hicks]

I think once they get going you are going to have gooseberries coming out your ears, as the saying goes.I have two plants. I give them a balanced fertilizer I think horse manure would work. My blueberries are what I've got down pat, ever since I got the ph correct. You might check on line for more info on the gooseberries.

Well I could but then what would we have to talk about?

As for my ears I wouldn't mind. They can be frozen until I'm ready for them right? Not to mention I could share them with the chickens. Which is why I got chickens in the first place. To eat all the stuff we don't. DW always buys produce and then it goes bad, so I toss it to the chickens just before it turns.

I can't believe it's 7:30. The window was open and the chickens were squaking so I got up to see what the trouble was at 5:30 and stayed up. It was nothing.

 

[queenchick16]

Well I could but then what would we have to talk about?

As for my ears I wouldn't mind. They can be frozen until I'm ready for them right? Not to mention I could share them with the chickens. Which is why I got chickens in the first place. To eat all the stuff we don't. DW always buys produce and then it goes bad, so I toss it to the chickens just before it turns.

I can't believe it's 7:30. The window was open and the chickens were squaking so I got up to see what the trouble was at 5:30 and stayed up. It was nothing.

Being a "rancher" you should be up at 5:30 every morning.

My one girl has been screaming a lot lately.I think its because I have a relatively new set of kids in one section of the run that are now free for the past few mornings. I'm sure my neighbors think I have a rooster. I don't . Can't in the town I'm in on Long Island.She has also been laying eggs all over the place...WEIRD. Yes I know this isn't about gardening folks...TWO yellow tomatoes and counting

 

[Kassaundra]

I never trim or prune anything in hot weather

I agree w/ that except for my raspberries, I cut them back just after they finish bearing (need to do it now) b/c it is so much easier to identify the canes that bore this year w/ the berry nubs still on them. But that might not be considered pruning since it is spent canes that I am cutting.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well Queen it don't matter to me.

Kass it never occurred to me to prune them right after they were done bearing. Does that hurt the plant at all?

 

[Kassaundra]

No b/c you are cutting the cane clear to the ground. That cane is spent and even if not pruned most of them die anyway, but if you don't cut them out and back they can create loss of good air circulation that can cause mold or disease. (I do not have everbearing vines, if your vines are everbearing this does not apply)