Gooseberry ‘Xenia’ has long been a firm favourite for flavour as well as reliability in the garden. Producing an abundance of beautiful red-flushed fruits during summer with exceptional sweet flavour, they’re a delight to eat fresh as well as cooked. East them freshly-picked from the bush or use them to make delicious jams and puddings. These compact, low-maintenance fruit bushes are ideal for growing in gardens or allotments and also have almost spine-free stems which makes picking easy and enjoyable. With superb mildew-resistance, Gooseberry 'Xenia' is certainly one of the best new gooseberry introductions of recent years!Plant in an open sunny position on any well drained soil. Prior to planting, incorporate a generous amount of well rotted manure or garden compost into the soil. Remove any shoots or dormant buds from the base of the plant as these will produce unwanted suckers later on. Gooseberries should be planted at a distance of 1.5m (5') apart at their original depth which is indicated by a mark left on the stem by the nursery soil.Water well for the first year until plants are fully established. When growing gooseberries, the soil must not dry out during hot periods, particularly while the fruit is being formed. Remove any suckers from the base of the plant as they arise. Netting the bushes will help to protect the currants from birds. Harvest for cooking and freezing in May, leaving the remaining fruit to ripen fully in June for eating fresh from the bush.Prune gooseberry plants in winter. Remove dead, damaged and crossing stems, before thinning the remaining stems to create an upright open bush. Shorten the remaining stems by half. In spring apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the soil.Position: Full Sun/Partial ShadeHeight: Up to 1.2m when fully establishedSpread: Up to 1.2m when fully establishedSupplied as 1 or 3 x Gooseberry ‘Xenia’ bare root plants.