‘Mašenka’ – Belarusian reliability

This Belarusian variety was bred by crossing ‘Houghton’ × ‘Confection’ and has been registered in Russia since 1997. The bush is of medium vigour with a spreading habit, self-fertile, and bears long yellow-brown thorns along the full length of the shoots. Frost hardiness is high, making it a reliable choice for climatically demanding locations.

Fruits are medium-sized (3–3.5 g), elongated-oval, with a firm brick-red skin and fine, juicy flesh. Total sugar content reaches up to 14.5%, and vitamin C content is 36.5 mg/100 g. Yield is high and consistent – approximately 6 kg per bush. The variety is suitable for universal use: fresh eating as well as all types of processing.

‘Tukuma Konfekšu’ – a vitamin powerhouse from Latvia

‘Tukuma Konfekšu’ – meaning “Tukums Sweets” – is an old Latvian variety originating from the area around the town of Tukums. The bush grows vigorously and tall, with sparse branching and thorny shoots. It is suitable both for classic bush cultivation and for espalier training.

Fruits are medium-large to large, oval, pink-red in colour with a characteristically translucent skin. In full sun they develop a deep red hue. Flavour is rated as excellent – sweet-sour to very sweet. The outstanding feature of this variety lies in its nutritional profile: among the many gooseberry varieties studied, it has one of the highest vitamin C and antioxidant contents.

‘Triumf’ – the English classic for every gardener

‘Triumf’ is a historic English white gooseberry variety that, despite its age, has maintained its place in gardens across Europe. The bush reaches 1–1.5 m in height, is self-fertile, flowers in April to May, and is well suited even for beginner gardeners. It grows without difficulty in sun or partial shade and tolerates various soil types with a pH of 6.0–6.5.

Fruits are large, green-yellow (“white”), juicy, with an excellent sweet-sour flavour and a delicate grape note. An above-average characteristic is its good shelf life – fruits keep in the refrigerator for up to one week. The variety is suitable for gardens, group planting, and hedgerows. Planting distance is 1.5 m (bushes) or 1–1.2 m (standards).

‘Zviedru Sarkanā’ – sweet in the colour of Swedish homes

An intriguing story is already hidden in the name itself: “Swedish Red” does not refer to the country of origin, but to the iconic Falun red – the shade used to paint traditional wooden houses in Sweden. This deep red colour is precisely what characterises the attractive berries of this variety.

The bush is spreading and dense, with branches drooping under the weight of the fruit – it is therefore recommended to grow it with support or to tie up the branches so that the fruits do not touch the ground. The fruits are large, very sweet, with a dessert quality, and rank among the finest tasting of all the varieties compared here. An ideal choice for gardeners seeking a gooseberry primarily for fresh eating straight from the bush.

‘Kuršu Dzintars’ – Latvian golden amber

“Courland Amber” is a historic Latvian variety bred between 1930 and 1970, considered by many gardeners and experts to be one of the most delicious gooseberries in Europe. The flavour is exceptionally sweet and dessert-like, driven by a high sugar content (13.3 °Brix). Fruits are medium-sized, amber-yellow with a thin skin, and ripen very early – among the first of the season.

The bush is upright and open, with very few thorns – which greatly eases picking. The drawback is poor shelf life: the fruits are intended primarily for immediate consumption and are not suited to longer transport or storage.

‘Maija’ – Latvia’s modern yield champion

‘Maija’ is a modern variety registered in 2016 by the Latvian Institute of Horticulture (Dārzkopības institūts). It is prized above all for its extra-large fruits (4–6 g) and exceptionally high yield – a mature bush can produce 4–8 kg of fruit. The berries are oval, light green in colour, with a good sweet-sour flavour.

The bush grows vigorously, tall, and upright, which makes it suitable not only for home gardens but also for commercial orchards with mechanised harvesting. Flowers tolerate spring frosts down to −3 °C. Good resistance to American gooseberry mildew makes this one of the most suitable varieties for gardeners who wish to minimise the use of plant protection products.