Gooseberry 'Xenia'

Ribes uva-crispa

How to grow Gooseberry 'Xenia'

  • Full Sun

  • Medium

Gooseberries fruit on the previous seasons wood, so pruning is usually done in the dormant season reducing stem by about a third to a half. Feed plant in very early spring as growth starts using blood fish bone

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Xenia is thought of as hardy, so this plant will survive close to or on freezing temperatures.

Growing Xenia from seed

Not usually grown from seed, but can be grown from cuttings of semi ripe wood in late summer

Transplanting Xenia

Choose a sunny or part sunny spot in well prepared ground, with weeds removed. add well rotted manure or blood fish bone

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Xenia is a hardy plant.

Harvesting Xenia

Harvest alternate fruit for cooking or jam, as they ripen, leaving the rest to soften on the bush and develop sweetness.

This variety tends to be ready for harvesting by mid summer.

Gooseberry Xenia Etymology

‘Xenia’ means friendship or hospitality. I think this is because it is less thorny than usual gooseberies