Gooseberry Pax

Collecting gooseberry berries is often complicated by the large number of thorns on the branches of the shrub. The emergence of varieties devoid of thorns was welcomed by amateur gardeners, as well as people involved in the cultivation of crops on an industrial scale. One of the most comfortable varieties for harvesting is the Pax gooseberry.

Pax is a hybrid of the famous British gooseberry with large red berries from Whinham's Industry and a thornless variety from Canada (derived from a cross between Captivator and Lancashire Lad). Bred by an employee of the East Malling Research station in Kent - Elizabeth Keep, doctor of botany, registered in 1989.

The Pax variety is widely distributed in North America, Canada and Europe, especially in the UK. In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, it is only gaining popularity. Planting material is brought from nurseries in Poland: this country is one of the leaders in the cultivation of gooseberries.

Pax is a high-yielding, large-fruited, unpretentious and winter-hardy early variety with immunity to a number of diseases. It has an interesting characteristic feature: rare and soft thorns are present on the shoots only in the first year of the plant's life, and then disappear. Ripe berries have a sweet taste, pink-red color and a little hairiness.

The bushes are erect, with skeletal branches and abundant root shoots, the height is up to 120 cm. The flowers are self-pollinated.

The berries of the correct oval shape are impressive in size: up to 3.5 cm in length. The average weight of the fruits is 7-10 g, but it can reach 12-14 g. As they ripen, they change color from light green to pink, and then turn red blush. At the stage of full ripeness, the fruits have a rich burgundy color.

The skin is thin, dense, does not crack, with veins and slight pubescence. The pulp is fleshy, with small bones. The variety is excellently transported, without spoilage and leaks, especially if harvested at the stage of technical ripeness.

The villi on the surface of the berries are not felt during tasting. The skin is slightly crunchy, the pulp is juicy and aromatic. The ripe fruits of Pax have a sweet, sugar-like taste with practically no sourness. The balance of sweetness and acidity is greatly influenced by the amount of sun.

The purpose is universal: berries are eaten fresh, used for desserts and baked goods, or they are used for making jam, jam, compote. Freezing will help to preserve vitamins as much as possible: the selected berries must be washed, dried and put into bags or closed containers.

In the central regions and central Russia, the period of removable ripeness of the variety begins in the 20th of June and lasts until July. In the southern regions, berry picking can be carried out already at the beginning of the first summer month. Very young 2-year-old seedlings begin to bear fruit, and very abundantly. In one place, the bush can grow without problems and bring a stable harvest up to 12-15 years.

Pax is a high-yielding variety: an adult, healthy bush yields on average about 15 kg of berries, but it can also give record yields of 25-30 kg per season.The Pax shrub has a tendency to thicken, but even in the absence of rejuvenating pruning, it bears fruit abundantly.

Fruits hold well on branches, do not fall off, dry when separated. Presentation is preserved for a long time.

Gooseberry planting is carried out in the fall, before frost. Despite the unpretentiousness of Pax to the soil, the best option would be soil with a neutral pH level, well-drained loam or sandy loam.

Pax is ideally suited to a sunny location, protected from drafts, in the southern or southwestern part of the garden. Wetlands should be avoided due to the risk of root rot. The soil is prepared and dug up in advance. Dig a hole in advance (70x80cm), fill it with a mixture of ash, humus and mineral additives. A distance of 70 cm to 1.5 m is maintained between the holes.

A healthy seedling with green buds and a developed root system can be kept in a rooting stimulator. Some gardeners dip the underside of the plant before planting in a clay mash. The seedling is placed in a hole, covered with prepared soil, watered abundantly and mulched.

When growing Pax, the following actions are carried out:

• thickening of the bush, root growth is regulated by pruning;
• they put supports under the branches heavy from berries;
• reduce the frequency of watering during the ripening period of berries;
• in the fall, water-charging irrigation is carried out (20 liters per bush).

Most often, Pax is formed on a trunk or grown on a trellis.

Pax is immune to spheroteca (American powdery mildew) and leaf blight.

Traditional methods and biochemistry help to fight pests (spider mites, sawflies, moths, aphids, beetles). Bushes spray or apply insecticides to the soil.