Green yet ripe
The smooth berry remains pale green and shows ripeness through translucency, aroma and gentle yielding.
Ribes uva-crispa EASYCRISP® ‘Mr. Green’ 13cm
Normal price
€11,20
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Ribes uva-crispa Easycrisp® ‘Mr. Green’
No thorns. You can give it a hug 💚
- Large smooth green berries
- Very sweet balanced flavour
- Compact habit 80–100cm
- High mildew tolerance
Ribes uva-crispa Easycrisp® ‘Mr. Green’ stands out for its large smooth green gooseberries, which develop an attractive translucence as they ripen. Hanging among the lobed leaves, they combine juicy flesh, sweetness and refreshing acidity without needing to turn red. Restrained growth and relatively few spines make the shrub approachable, while the sight of its fruit-filled branches is a reminder that even a small harvest can be a beautiful part of the garden.
In the middle layer of a low fruit border, the green berries add detail without a strong colour contrast. It can also grow in a roomy outdoor pot, bringing flowering, fruit development and the increasing translucence of the berries within easy view.
What makes it special
‘Mr. Green’ combines sweet dessert fruit, a compact broad habit and almost thornless access in a very small footprint.
Sweet crisp bite
Thin skin opens into very juicy flesh, with enough acidity to keep high sweetness refreshing.
Small broad bush
Naturally compact growth remains around 80–100cm and fills sideways more than upwards.
Why you will love it: It gives large sweet accessible fruit on a bush that needs neither a large garden nor a battle with spines.
In the garden & on the terracePositioning & plant combinationsThe front of a bright bed or a large container in morning sun, where the whole low broad form can be seen.
Ideal position
Plant in sun to bright partial shade and allow 80–100cm in height with 40–60cm spread. In hot regions protect the western side from reflected heat.
Compatible combinations
Airy annual flowers and one low aromatic herb frame the compact bush without hiding it.
- Cosmos bipinnatus — Fine tall flowers rise behind the bush while letting light pass between stems.
- Nigella damascena — Fine blue flowers temporarily fill outer gaps and are easily removed after flowering.
- Ocimum basilicum — In a separate pot beside it, basil adds aroma and summer flowers without root competition.
Care at a glance
Light
Sun to partial shade; avoid fierce reflected heat.
Water
Deep watering when the surface dries, especially while berries fill.
Climate & hardiness
Very good winter hardiness; in a container only the roots need protection from prolonged deep frost.
Safety
Wash fully ripe fruit before eating.
Detailed careComplete care guideSoil, watering, support, feeding and cultivar-specific prevention.
Soil & drainage
Choose fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral reaction. Keep the crown clear and mulch the outer root zone with organic material.
Watering
Water deeply when the surface dries, especially during flowering and while the fruit is swelling. Even moisture helps the thin skin remain supple.
Shape & support
Keep 6–8 short stems opening like a low bowl. Support is usually unnecessary beyond a low ring when outer laterals are laden.
Feeding
Each spring add mature compost and a balanced fruit-shrub feed according to its label. Excess nitrogen crowds the crown and delays wood ripening.
Heat protection
In very hot regions choose morning sun with light afternoon shade. Retain enough foliage around pale fruit to prevent scorching.
Prevent problems
Thin only the crowded centre, water evenly while thin-skinned berries swell and retain enough leaves above the fruit.
From flower to basketFruiting & harvestSimple guidance on pollination, ripening, picking and protecting the crop.
Pollination
‘Mr. Green’ is self-fertile and crops alone. Another cultivar flowering at the same time may improve fruit filling.
When it ripens
The main harvest comes from late June into early July.
How to harvest
Wait until the berry is pale green, slightly translucent and full. Hold the short stalk and lift gently.
Fruit protection
Use a small netted dome over a frame and temporary light shade only during fierce heat.
After planting: maintain even moisture, let the low crown fill and remove only branches touching the soil.
Clear pruning planHow to prune this fruiting plantLate winter · very light shortening in early summer
When to prune
Late winter · very light shortening in early summer
‘Mr. Green’ is naturally low and broad, so pruning is not for reducing height; it opens small windows of light and retains short fruiting laterals. Renew a few old stems and avoid uniform clipping.
01
Build
Low bowl
Action: Choose 5–6 short outward-facing stems and remove only broken or very low competitors.
Retain: Keep a full crown with a small clear centre.
02
Train
Lit berries
Action: Remove one crossing stem from the centre. In early summer shorten only an overlong non-fruiting lateral after five leaves.
Retain: Keep short fruiting spurs and protective foliage above green berries.
03
Renew
Small renewal
Action: Cut 1–2 of the darkest old stems at ground level and choose the same number of low new replacements.
Retain: Keep 6–8 stems of different ages without changing the natural broad outline.
New / productive — retainOld or exhausted woodCut point
Clean tools
Use sharp, clean tools suited to the diameter of the wood.
After harvest
Remove only one exhausted twig touching the soil. Leave healthy foliage to feed the roots.
Do not do this: Do not cut every tip to keep it low; it is already compact and clipping creates a dense shaded shell.
Development over timeHow the plant developsA realistic path from establishment to mature form.
Broad crown
Short stems open sideways at low level and quickly fill a small space.
Green berries
Short fruiting laterals hold large smooth fruit among lobed leaves.
Translucent ripeness
Ripe fruit remains green but becomes brighter, fuller and slightly translucent.
Mature habit & dimensions
Established shrubHeight 0.8–1 mSpread 0.4–0.6 m
Woody branches with short fruiting laterals and lobed leaves.
Form through time
SpringSmall flowers on the short laterals.
Early summerGreen fruit hangs beneath the foliage.
The plant loses its leaves in winter; the perennial base or woody framework remains.
What to expect after planting: Short stems open sideways at low level and quickly fill a small space.
History & originCultivar originThe green-fruited selection in Easycrisp®
Within Lubera’s Easycrisp® collection, ‘Mr. Green’ combines large sweet fruit with relatively few spines. Its fruit stays green when ripe, giving the cultivar the characteristic described by its name.
Its commercial introduction is associated with Lubera. The original selector, parent pair and date of origin have not been published.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail behind the plant's appearance and behaviour
One berry with many seeds
A gooseberry is botanically a berry, developing from one ovary and containing many seeds. It differs from a blackberry, whose surface consists of separate drupelets. The pale lines in the skin follow the fruit’s internal vascular pattern.
Leaves on short shoots
In Ribes uva-crispa, many leaves and flowers develop on short shoots along the woody framework. Their small internodes bring them close together, creating groups of foliage and fruit without a long new cane being required for every flowering site.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers for choosing, growing, harvesting and pruning this cultivar.
01Does it need another plant?
No. It is self-fertile, while another cultivar with similar flowering time may enhance fruit set.
02How large does it become?
Approximately 80–100cm high and 40–60cm wide, with naturally low broad growth.
03Is it suitable for a container?
Yes. Its compact habit suits a large container with even watering and light afternoon shade.
04When is the fruit picked?
From late June into early July, when green berries become bright, translucent and slightly yielding.
05How do I know it is ripe if it stays green?
Ripe fruit becomes brighter and translucent, fills out and gives very slightly to the touch.
06When should it be pruned?
In late winter remove a little old wood; in early summer shorten only overlong non-fruiting laterals.
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