Big bud mite

[pigletwillie]

As its been very mild you may find that your currant bushes are starting to bud.

A potential problem you may incur is big bud mite, this as its name suggests shows up as big swollen buds that are full of mites. These burst forth later and infest the plant and its neighbours. The mites can cause reversion disease which dramatically reduces yields and will weaken the plant.

If you see and abnormally big, distorted buds (in comparison to others on the plant), the offending branch should be pruned out and burnt, not composted

[Snadger]

As its been very mild you may find that your currant bushes are starting to bud.

A potential problem you may incur is big bud mite, this as its name suggests shows up as big swollen buds that are full of mites. These burst forth later and infest the plant and its neighbours. The mites can cause reversion disease which dramatically reduces yields and will weaken the plant.

If you see and abnormally big, distorted buds (in comparison to others on the plant), the offending branch should be pruned out and burnt, not composted

Is it not enough just to take the big buds off then piglet? I had blackcurrants in my other garden and used to take the buds off and disect them......I never did find anything so the mites must be microscopic are they?

I think I did have rampant reversion as the leaves were small and the crops were poor in the latter years! Apparently you should get rid of old and use new certified stock every 10 years or so, which I have done!

Two new Ben Conan bushes for this year on a different site!

[pigletwillie]

I wouldnt risk just a bud snadger for the sake of the whole bush. Apparently they are microscopic and you get thousands in an affected bud. Although I havent seen any either.

[valmarg]

I can remember the blackcurrants in dad's orchard being infested with big bud. Grandad just grubbed the lot out and burnt them.

Sad, but it got rid of the problem.

[Snadger]

I can remember the blackcurrants in dad's orchard being infested with big bud. Grandad just grubbed the lot out and burnt them.

Sad, but it got rid of the problem.

Yeah! That would just about do it!!!!!!!! Lol

[pigletwillie]

I have actually practiced what I was preaching today and thankfully I am big bud mite free so far.

[Snadger]

I have actually practiced what I was preaching today and thankfully I am big bud mite free so far.

Are your blackcurrants budding up already? Mine are just like sticks with no sign of new buds yet!!

[pigletwillie]

Budding up like buddy things, buddy"

Sorry, couldnt resist that, I am actually on a friends pc in the Forest of Dean, getting well and truely into the new years spirit.

[Snadger]

Just been to the lottie today and my blackcurrants DO have buds on them. No big buds either. Amasing what can happen overnight!

[valmarg]

Oh dear, I've just re-read my posting on this site. It does sound daft Snadger. The bit that seems to have got lost in the ether was, that there was no treatment/cure for big bud (aka blackcurrant gall mite) in those days so the only option was to grub them out and burn the plants.

I don't know if any of the more modern systemic insecticides would work on big bud, but I get the impression that Piglet, like us, would not want to use such a chemical on anything he was going to eat.

Having looked in my ancient copy (c. 1974) of the RHS booklet The Fruit Garden Displayed:-

"Hand picking and burning the 'big buds' may limit infestations and spraying half to 1% lime sulphur when the first flowers open and again after three weeks will also give some control."

Always assuming that the EU hasn't banned lime sulphate in the meantime.

I think the telling bit of the RHS booklet quotation re picking off the 'big buds' "may limit infestations", but from what I understand the best bet is to cut your losses, grub out and burn the affected plants and replace with healthy stock.

[Snadger]

Oh dear, I've just re-read my posting on this site. It does sound daft Snadger. The bit that seems to have got lost in the ether was, that there was no treatment/cure for big bud (aka blackcurrant gall mite) in those days so the only option was to grub them out and burn the plants.

I don't know if any of the more modern systemic insecticides would work on big bud, but I get the impression that Piglet, like us, would not want to use such a chemical on anything he was going to eat.

Having looked in my ancient copy (c. 1974) of the RHS booklet The Fruit Garden Displayed:-

"Hand picking and burning the 'big buds' may limit infestations and spraying half to 1% lime sulphur when the first flowers open and again after three weeks will also give some control."

Always assuming that the EU hasn't banned lime sulphate in the meantime.

I think the telling bit of the RHS booklet quotation re picking off the 'big buds' "may limit infestations", but from what I understand the best bet is to cut your losses, grub out and burn the affected plants and replace with healthy stock.

I suppose 'you cut your cloth to suit your means' i.e. you buy new plants or as long as you get a decent crop from what you've got, you take off buds or prune branches and you live with it!

You would probably need to start again with fresh stock every eight to ten years anyway!

[running_muttley]

All of my buds seem big, I know it's been a mild winter, I think we've only had 1 frost so far this year. How big is "BIG"?

[pigletwillie]

A "big" bud will appear to be distorted, almost "blown" and obviously bigger than its neighbouring buds. It will readily stand out.