When gooseberries are ready for harvest depends on the variety and also what one wishes to use the berries for. In general, however, gooseberries will be ready to harvest from late June to early July.
Some varieties of gooseberries turn red or pink when they are ready to be harvested. For other varieties, the best way to tell if they are ripe is to squeeze them gently. When they are ripe, they should not be hard and have a little give. However, if one desires to make jams or jellies, it is recommended to pick the hard, unripened fruit. Those berries have a slightly bitter taste more suited for canning.
