Gooseberry problems

[sandersj89]

I seem to have a problem on my lone gooseberry bush. It is an Invicta planted as a bare root 4 year old last autumn.

Plenty of foliage, no signs of saw fly and very green and happy. That is until I look at the developing fruit. These seem to be suffer from a form of mildew, covered in a grey “furry” gloom. Also some of the effected fruits have split even though they are still very small.

I have picked of most off the offending fruit and assume I have a fungal problem of some sort but not sure which one. A bit of research throws up American  Gooseberry Mildew but Invicta is meant to be mildew resistant!

Any other ideas about what I have or means to control it please?

Thanks

Jerry

[sandersj89]

[derbex]

Jerry,

I'm at much the same stage as you -although fortunately without the mildew. My book gives a list of chemicals, probably out of date, but also says washing soda 8oz. to the gallon plus 'spreader' (detergent), keep spraying until a week or 2 before harvest. I've also got the Ken Muir book, but the factsheets on his site are much the same -he seems to suggests that leaves and shoots should suffer first, then the fruit? He also mentions common or garden Grey Mould as a possible problem.

Jeremy

[Gillian]

A couple of mine had furry mould on them - but they were 'thinned' off a couple of weeks ago. The others seem to be fine and growing fatter by the day. Anyone any idea when harvest time is?