[Garden] Two things

[J. Rochon]

Gardeners,
                 I hope to see you tonight. My filial duties have been 
discharged, and I am once again free on Wednesday. I have been looking 
up the care of gooseberries, and found this:

*GOOSEBERRY*

Gooseberry (/Ribes uva-crispa/) is a wonderful soft fruit that will grow 
in zones 3 - 8. There are several varieties of berries available - 
green, yellow, and red, with taste varying from tart to sweet. Some 
berries are small - others as big as quarters. Some have a smooth skin - 
others are slightly hairy.

Soil and cultural requirements are similar to the red currant 
<http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/fruitnuts/currants.asp>. 
Before planting, ensure that the area is clear of perennial weeds as it 
is extremely difficult to weed under the thorny gooseberry branches.

Gooseberry canes have an arching habit. Keep the centre of the bush 
pruned to an open frame to improve air circulation, to help ripen fruit, 
and for easier picking. The berries are borne on year old canes, and on 
two and three year old spurs. Like the currant, no pollinator is 
required, although higher yields and larger fruits may be achieved with 
a cross-pollinator.

Remove canes from the centre, as well as any broken wood, or lateral 
shoots that cross over. Gooseberries ripen in late June or early July. 
For larger berries, cull out every second or third berry early in the 
season.

Given optimum care, a gooseberry bush will grow to a height of 5 feet, 
yielding 7 - 8 lbs of fruit. It can also be grown as a standard, trained 
to a 2 foot stem. Remove all lower branches in fall, and train it until 
you attain the shape you desire. As with the currant, fruit is 
susceptible to sun scalding, so provide some shade.

Fruit is born at the base of year old growth, and on spurs of two and 
three year old wood. A constant supply of fruit depends on thinning out 
all four year old wood and renewing it yearly with vigorous new growth. 
Thin out the old wood in fall, and prune back all weak, crossed or 
diseased growth. Remove branches that grow too low to the ground, and 
shorten young shoots by half. A strong framework is required to carry 
heavy yields.

Powdery mildew may affect gooseberry leaves - plant where there is good 
air circulation. To avoid damage from the currant worm and currant fruit 
fly follow a regular spraying program.

For propagating, follow the same procedure as with currants.

To harvest, strip the berries carefully from the plant.

Nutritionally gooseberries contain Vitamin A, C and trace minerals.

Great for preserving or for baking pies, pick the fruit when slightly 
under-ripe. Immature fruit has the highest pectin content, and makes the 
best jam. The fruit is lovely stewed - red and yellow berries are best 
eaten fresh - the green for preserving.

Second. Does anyone know where a community garden, not ours, could get 
affordable soil testing? There's a group starting in Kitchener, over the 
site of an old dump. They'd like to test for toxins.
> pirg.org
>