Ribes uva-crispa 'Pax' (Gooseberry)

A well shaped, slightly bristly fruit that is dark red when fully ripe. Berries are larger than Invicta. Good eating. The plants are very vigorous and spreading but can be shaped up by pruning. Produces occasional spines on young wood, but at maturity it is virtually spineless. Harvest from December to January.

The variety 'Pax' has high yields of berries, dark red when fully ripe with moderate dessert flavour, maturing in December and January. Can be eaten fresh, in pies and jam. Mostly thornless and resistant to powdery mildew. Vigorous and spreading, can be pruned to shape. Plant in free-draining, moisture retentive soil. Prune in winter to shape and remove spindly branches.