The gooseberry is a fruit rich in vitamins, trace elements and nutrients useful to preserve physical and mental well-being. It is a perennial shrub that can reach a height between 50 and 200 cm, its fruit is a berry of dimensions between 10 and 25 mm and a variable color in relation to its variety. In fact, there are berries of pale green, yellow, pink or violet. This plant also grows wild in high altitude forests and is widespread in Europe, Asia and America.
The origins of the gooseberry are quite uncertain, since this shrub grows wild in several continents. A first description of its appearance and its properties are present in the book Herbal written by the famous English naturalist William Turner in 1551. At that time, this plant was particularly widespread in Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands.
How to grow currants
The gooseberry is a very resistant shrub that does not require special care for its cultivation since it does not fear the rigid climates and is rarely subject to the attack of external parasites.
Therefore, this plant can be easily cultivated in the soil by making a hole at least 50 cm wide, removing stones or roots. Once the shrub has been planted, it is advisable to place an organic fertilizer in the hornbeam well. , which must be mixed with the previously removed soil.
To guarantee the success of its cultivation, it is important to irrigate the soil abundantly, keeping it constantly humid, especially in the period before flowering and, therefore, in the spring.
Where to plant currants
The gooseberry to grow and bloom requires a semi-sunny exposure but, in any case, is protected from the elements.
This shrub bears very well the winter temperatures and, on the contrary, requires a long exposure to the cold, but can suffer the heat during the summer months.
Cultivation of currants in pots.
Currants can also be grown in large pots containing at least 10 liters of soil.
The potting of this shrub requires an annual fertilization to be carried out in autumn, before the arrival of the intense cold.
Do the currants resist the cold?
This plant supports very cold and particularly cold winter temperatures, on the contrary, it needs to flourish in the best way during the spring. The only cold that can harm your crop is represented by possible late frosts that occur after flowering.
When the ripe currant
Depending on the variety of currants, the fruits can mature at the beginning of summer, in the middle months of summer or at the end.
When to pick up currants
In general, the fruit should be picked when it is fully ripe and, therefore, has a uniform color. However, if you want to use these fruits in processed products, it is possible to collect them even if they have not reached perfect maturity.
How to reproduce currants
The gooseberry can be reproduced by cuttings in the autumn period. This cut should be healthy and robust, should have a length of about 30 cm and should not remove buds or leaves.
To obtain an excellent result, it is recommended to plant the cut in a very humid soil.
How to prune the currant
The pruning of the shrub should be carried out in winter to eliminate diseased or damaged branches from the weather.
The currant varieties
The gooseberry is grown in many varieties that differ in color, flavor, size and period of fruit ripening.
The most common types of red currants are Poorman and Winham's Industry, which are mainly used to create fruit in syrup, and Josta, very common in the Netherlands.
Among the varieties of white currant are Careless, White Smith, Leveler and Indian gooseberry, also known as soul.
Indian gooseberry
Indian gooseberry, commonly known as soul, is well known and used throughout the world for its remarkable beneficial properties for health and its use in cosmetics, mainly in the field of hair care.
But this is not the only use that can be made of this shrub. Alma is widely used for its beneficial effects since ancient times, in particular this plant has remarkable antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic and antioxidant properties.
For a long time, the soul has also been used to relieve the symptoms of hepatitis and gastric ulcer.
Currants from India are also widely used in the field of cosmetics in powder form or as an ingredient in products intended to strengthen hair and make them softer and brighter.
How to eat currants
The gooseberry can be consumed in several ways both fresh and processed.
If you love the sour flavors, you can eat them as a delicious appetizer to end the hunger in the middle of the morning or in the afternoon or take the juice that is sold in several supermarkets.
However, if you prefer the sweetest and most delicate flavors, you can add them to fruit salads combined with apricots, bananas, cranberries, pears or apples. This fruit is also used as decoration for desserts or dishes based on meat or fish or as a basic ingredient for jellies, syrups, jams and marmalades.
Currants Recipes
The gooseberry can be used in different recipes as a main or secondary ingredient. Discover, then, the main uses in the kitchen of this fruit.
Gooseberry jelly
To prepare currant gelatin the following ingredients are necessary:
1.5 kg of currants
1 kg of brown cane sugar
Put the fruits deprived of their core in a pot with water mixing over high heat, until they appear undone.
Subsequently, filter the mixture, weigh the juice obtained and mix in a container with the same amount of sugar to obtain a uniform paste.
Pour this pasta in a saucepan and simmer until it boils.
The therapeutic properties of gooseberry.
The gooseberry is an excellent ally for health and wellbeing, as it is rich in important active ingredients such as pectin, vitamins A and C, malic acid, salicylic and tartaric, flavonoids, fiber, potassium, iron and levulose, a sugar. Well tolerated, too, by those with diabetes.
Among the main beneficial effects of this fruit are:
- Stimulation of immune defenses, thanks to the high content of vitamin C.
- Detoxifying and purifying properties, since it promotes diuresis and the possible elimination of toxins.
- Excellent antioxidant properties, since it slows the cellular aging of the epidermis.
- Astringent properties: its constant intake helps to rebalance intestinal functions.
- Discrete digestive properties, favored by its bitter taste, which stimulate the production of gastric juices.