When to harvest gooseberries?

[AdrienneRobinson]

Just wondering if anyone knows how you can tell if/when gooseberries are ready to pick?

[Geoff]

If they are the green ones just steadily thin them out as soon as some look a sensible size. The red ones, almost a different but very delicious fruit, you can pick as soon as they have some colour but the deeper the colour the sweeter the fruit, when they are almost black they are are a real treat straight off the bush.

[AdrienneRobinson]

Thanks Geoff, that’s very helpful.

[henacynflin]

I try and harvest them, in race, before the birds eat them though some years they win.