Gooseberry Thieves!

Submitted by Marc De'ath

I had only just begun to eye up my gooseberries as ready 'n' ripe for picking when, faster than you can say 'Gooseberry Chutney,' they were gone...

It seems my gooseberry bushes have been victim to some kind bird raid before I could get my little hands on them. They'd been bursting at the seams, branches bending with the weight of the plump juicey green fruits,
I was just thinking a couple more days sunshine will set em off nicely.

I must admit, I'd been struggling for ideas as to what to do with them, but I was going to have fun trying to find out. Gooseberry Jam's, Chutnies, Ice Cream Ripple had all crossed my mind - now, I'll only have enough to try one of those.

I have posted a question to finbow here for the best preventative measure for next time round - I am guessing nets of some kind will be the answer, but I'll wait to hear what the gardnenig guru has to say.

I have also asked how we're s'posed to know when they are ripe, my guess was when they were slightly soft and golden - let's watch this space....

Now, I'm off to get my blackcurrents before they go the same way.