Nicholas is forbidden to enter the gooseberry garden because his aunt may assume this is garden where Nicholas seized the frog that was in his milk and bread.
The gooseberry garden contains delightful flowers, shrubs, and fruits. In her mind, the aunt may believe Nicholas may desire to enter this garden and explore more or eat some of the "forbidden fruit." Furthermore, once she forbids him to enter this garden, the aunt knows Nicholas is rebellious enough that he will want to defy her:
It was clear to his aunt that he was determined to get into the gooseberry garden, "only," as she remarked to herself, "because I have told him he is not to."
Of course, the clever Nicholas encourages her in this belief that he does, indeed, desire to enter this garden. By doing so, he knows she will become obsessed with guarding "her garden." Nicholas's scheme is brilliant because the garden has two doors and the aunt will be very occupied with her guarding. In this way, he can enjoy his day after he makes "one or two sorties into the front garden" and stealthily goes towards one of the doors just to confirm her suspicions.
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