The Fast-Growing Fruit You Can Plant And Grow In The Fall

Fall is one of the best times of the year to garden, and it's an excellent opportunity to plant shrubs in your yard or garden — including fruit producers such as gooseberries (Ribes spp.). Gooseberries are one of the fruits you can plant once and they'll return to your garden on their own every year. You should plant these fast-growing, fruit-bearing shrubs in the fall for a harvest of delicious, sweet, and acidic berries in the early summer. Some types of gooseberries are even great for container gardening.

Fall is actually the best time to plant these shrubs since autumn allows time for the trees and shrubs to become established in your yard in time for spring growth.  These fast-growing bushes reach up to 5 feet tall and wide, and bear edible fruit in the form of pink, red, yellow, purple, or green berries, depending on the cultivar. Fruiting starts just two or three years after planting, depending on the age of the nursery plant. Some of these plants have thorns but there are thornless types as well, which are easier to harvest. Other types of gooseberries are known for their pretty red flowers that will beautify your yard.

Before planting a gooseberry in your garden this fall, check your USDA Hardiness Zone – gooseberries are only recommended for zones 3 to 6. Once you find out that your zone is compatible, choose a location in full sun to part shade that has well-draining clay or loam soils enriched with compost to grow this fruit-bearing shrub. Aim for a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5, and design your planting layout so that these fast-growing bushes are at least 3 feet apart.

Taking our advice to plant a gooseberry bush in the fall, gardeners should dig a hole twice as wide as but slightly deeper than the nursery pot the plant came in. Loosen the outer edge of the plant's root ball and place the root ball in the hole. Then cover the crown of the plant with an extra inch of soil. For those still looking for the best spot to situate a fast-growing gooseberry plant, you don't have to limit these shrubs to an orchard. These fruiting plants can be part of your front yard, adding to your edible landscaping.