Native Range and Climate

American gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum) are primarily native to the warm summer continental climate (Dfb) of New England and the Great Lakes region.  The average July high within this area generally resides between 75F to 80F (21.1C to 26.7C), but it may extend to 85F+ (29.4C) in their southern range.

Canadian gooseberries (Ribes oxyacanthoides subsp.  oxyacanthoides) are native from Alaska to the Hudson Bay and south to eastern Wyoming and the Great Lakes region.  The area primarily experiences the subarctic (Dfc), warm summer continental (Dfb), and, to a lesser extent, the cold semi-arid climate (BSk).  There are four other subspecies of Ribes oxyacanthoides.  Their range lies, for the most part, in the northwestern quarter of the United States.

European gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa or Ribes grossularia) are native to the mountainous regions Europe, Caucasus, and North Africa, but they have naturalized throughout Europe as well as the more northern areas of the United States.

In Europe, they are commonly found in the warm summer continental (Dfb), subpolar oceanic (Cfc), and subarctic climate (Dfc).  In the United States, they have primarily naturalized in the warm summer continental climate (Dfb).^[1] The average July high within both regions generally resides between 70F and 80F (21.1C to 26.7C).  In warmer areas with more rain and humidity, European gooseberries struggle to survive.  In North Africa and other countries with a similar climate, such as Spain and Greece, they appear to thrive in the limited areas that experience a warm summer mediterranean climate (Csb).^[1][2]

Disease

American powdery mildew (Podosphaera mors-uvae) generally causes significant damage to European gooseberries.  Invicta and Greenfinch are the exceptions, since both are quite resistant.  American species, and various European hybrids, have a high level of resistance as well.

Leaf spot and pre-mature defoliation are caused by anthracnose (Drepanopeziza ribis) or septoria (Mycosphaerella ribis).  It is the primary reason why improved selections have had limited success in the northern range of the humid subtropical climate of North America (without the use of chemical control).  Due to their American parentage, most hybrid varieties are tolerant enough to survive and produce a decent crop in such an area, but only Jeanne has demonstrated a high level of resistance.  However, reports are limited and further experimentation is required, with Sabine, Amish Red, and, especially, Glendale being in greater need of it, since it has been subtly implied that they have additional resistance as well.

The vast majority of gooseberry varieties are quite resistant to White pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), and those that are susceptible are generally not harmed by the disease.  Unfortunately, WPBR is a serious threat to white pine species native to North America, but a small number of selections have been found to have various forms of resistance.^[3] They are currently being used for selective breeding in hopes to develop trees with resistance that is both strong and durable.  Since the vast majority of white pines in the US are still susceptible, some states, primarily in the northeast, have banned black currants and, to a lesser extent, red currants and gooseberries, since the latter two are less susceptible to the disease.  In some cases, gooseberries are banned on a county level, and, in other cases, they may require you to get a permit or limit your options to certain varieties.

Pests

Green larva that feed on the leaves are the only gooseberry pests I commonly see complaints about in the United States.  The gooseberry sawfly is almost exclusively blamed, but their larva generally have black spots as well.  None of those I have seen had black spots, and I have seen another, larger green larva feed on gooseberry foliage en masse.  I have also noticed gooseberry bushes in or near densely planted areas with a high bird population have practically no issue with the larva, while those outside of this range, roughly 150 feet away, are quickly defoliated.

Nutritional Values

Measurements of the Ascorbic acid (AA) content of gooseberries have ranged between 15.4 and 189 mg/100g FW.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} However, the slight majority of the studies I have read had results around 20 to 25 mg/100g, but it was fairly common for their values to be roughly double that amount.  Red gooseberries may, on average, develop a higher AA content than green gooseberries, but in a study that compared 20 different varieties, the AA of the green varieties were quite different from one another and ultimately consisted of the highest and the lowest values.^[6] Regardless, their results were difficult to compare to red gooseberries, since only a few were tested.

The total phenolic content (TPC) ranged between 35 and 630 mg/100g FW, with a mean low and high of 158mg and 326mg.^{[4][10][5][11][7][12][9][13][14]} The three studies that only gave one value were also within this range (191 to 253).  The TPC of red and green gooseberries were equivalent to one another.

In one study, the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of three gooseberry varieties were compared to multiple varieties of 11 different fruit.^[7] The average TPC of gooseberry (375 mg/100g FW) was significantly higher than pear (191) and apple (256) but fairly similar to white currant (323), cherry (324), raspberry (333), strawberry (335), european plum (348), and red currant (387).  However, their TPC was significantly lower than blueberry (491), black currant (705), and blackberry (803).  The average AA content of gooseberry (57.6 mg/100g FW) was significantly higher than plum (3), blueberry (13.3), pear (18.8), cherry (21.3), and apple (23.8) but fairly similar to white currant (43.1), raspberry (64.3), and blackberry (72.5).  Their AA content was significantly lower than that of strawberry (106), red currant (110.2), and black currant (293.8).^[7]