You can propagate gooseberries through hardwood cuttings or layering, both best done in late summer or early fall after the last fruit harvest.
Here’s a breakdown of each method:
1. Hardwood Cuttings:
- Timing: Late summer or early fall (after fruiting).
- Selection: Choose healthy, one-year-old stems with soft growth at the tip and woodier growth at the base.
- Cutting: Cut stems to about 20cm (8 inches) in length, using clean, sharp secateurs.
- Preparation: Remove lower leaves from the cuttings.
- Planting: Push the end of the cuttings into moist soil in a nursery area or a fertile bed.
- Care: Ensure the soil remains moist and firm around the cuttings.
- Rooting: Gooseberry cuttings root easily and don’t usually require rooting hormone.
- Spring Growth: In spring, look for new growth as an indication that the cuttings have rooted well.
2. Layering:
- Timing: Spring or early summer.
- Method: Bend a healthy stem down to the soil, ensuring a section is buried while the tip stays above ground.
- Securing: Secure the buried section with a peg or weight.
- Rooting: The buried section will develop roots.
- Separation: Once roots are established, you can cut the rooted section from the parent plant and plant it elsewhere.