Ribes uva-crispa Easycrisp 'Lady Late'

The Easycrisp 'Lady Late'  Gooseberry is a recent selection that stands out for its almost thornless branches as they age, its regular and high yield of hairless, juicy, sweet and fruity flavoured fruits, and its healthy growth as well as its good tolerance to powdery mildew. In summer, gooseberries are delicious and enhance salads, savoury dishes, or desserts. In April, its greenish-white flowers, somewhat insignificant, are a food source for bees and other beneficial insects. A sunny exposure and nutrient-rich soil are necessary for an excellent harvest. This bush is relatively undemanding and resistant to diseases. It can be grown in open ground or pots. Easy to maintain and generous, it brings pleasure and enchantment to the garden—plant from October to March for a harvest in July-August.

The Gooseberry, in Latin Ribes grossularia var. uva-crispa, also called Spiny Gooseberry or Curly Grape, belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like the Red Currants (Ribes rubrum) and the Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum). The name "Gooseberry" comes from the English, who have been using this gooseberry for a long time to make a sweet and sour sauce to accompany mackerel. Cultivated in northern Europe since the 16th century, the Gooseberry is a fertile hybrid resulting from cross-breeding two species native to Europe and North Africa, still spontaneous in mountain forests in Scotland, France, and the Caucasus.

The Ribes uva-crispa Easycrisp 'Lady Late'  is a recent Swiss creation from the Easycrisp range. A range of gooseberry varieties selected for their high yields, large aromatic and juicy fruits, on almost thornless, vigorous and disease-resistant plants, especially powdery mildew. It forms a bushy, sparsely thorny shrub with a tufted habit of slightly stiff, branched and upright branches. This very hardy bush will reach a height of 1 m (3ft) with a spread of 80 cm (32in). The foliage is deciduous, composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves, medium green. This shrub resembles classic gooseberries but is mainly different in the fruits: larger and sweeter, they appear solitary along the branches, unlike cluster gooseberries. Flowering occurs in spring, in clusters of small greenish insignificant flowers intensely visited by bees. Fruiting occurs more on one and two-year-old branches. The harvest takes place from late July to mid-August. The bush then becomes covered with large smooth-skinned berries, round to oval, 1.4 cm (1in) in diameter, distributed along the branches. At maturity, the gooseberries turn bright red and are filled with translucent, juicy, fruity, sweet, and slightly acidic pulp containing tiny seeds.

Lady Late Gooseberry is self-fertile, so it does not need a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety nearby will increase production. Harvesting is done as the fruits ripen. It is simplified due to the size of the berries. A gooseberry bush produces about 3 to 5 kg of fruits per plant, depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant. The fruits contain vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Moreover, their low sugar content classifies them among the least energetic small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). The fruit is purifying for the body thanks to its diuretic, digestive, liver decongestant, and laxative properties provided it is consumed when barely ripe. Picked from the bush, they are delicious to eat fresh; for more indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a bit of granulated sugar. In cooking, to attenuate the acidity of the fruits, they can be blanched for one minute and then refreshed under cold water. It is excellent for jellies or jams but can also be used to garnish pies and make cakes. They will be perfect for making syrups, sorbets, ice creams, or desserts. The subtle balance between the flavours and acidity of the fruits offers an interesting use to accompany meats (game, poultry, etc.), fatty fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, etc.), or as a garnish for salads.

In summer, Lady Late Gooseberry offers moments of pleasure with its succulent fruits. Harvesting is easy because the berries are large, and the plant has almost no thorns—a great delight for the taste buds and a satisfaction for the picker. You can pair it with Blackcurrants, Raspberries, Blueberries, May Berry, or other varieties of small fruits to form an edible hedge. As in any planting, it is essential to alternate species and varieties where possible. This limits the risk of diseases and promotes pollination, even if the variety is self-fertile. It can be grown in a pot, but you must choose a container at least 40 cm (16in) tall and regularly water it with non-limestone water.