Mildew

[grahama]

Hi all,

right my first gardening problem, apart from things just dying !! I have noticed that some of my first gooseberries have a white fluffy stuff on them. This is the first season and the plant is only 1 ft tall and I have never seen this before.

I know that gooseberries can be 'fluffy' with hairs but this seems different. If mildew can I stop it or are all the friut buggered ??

Graham

[Jeanied]

Sounds like the dreaded gooseberry mildew to me. The prevention is to improve airflow round the bush by pruning to keep them in an open wine goblet shape.
Treatments for mildew - not sure as I don't spray but I did read about spraying with milk somewhere!

ETA - I wasn't going dotty - I'm sure milk is not licensed to use as a spray and does not conform to regulations but this link gives more detail

http://www.gardenguides.com/779-usin...-pest-tip.html

[mattyod]

the the mildrew is known as Sphaerotheca mors-uvae
The best thing to do is space them out if they're close to each other, so the air can get to the berrys. remove infected branches, you can use myclobutanil or sulphur dust to help treat them, and use a all-purpose feed to help recovery.

[grahama]

Thanks for the replies. I am gutted this has gone pair saped for me. Just looked up treatments and some suggest a watered down milk mixture.

Don't know about that but am I not too late to prune branches out ?? Not that the branches are infected just a few fruits at the moment .

Thanks,

Graham

[Jeanied]

If it was me Graham I'd pick off the worst fruits, spray with milk and cross my fingers. And toes.

ETA - and maybe re-locate the bush in the autumn?

[grahama]

Thanks,

there are alot of crossed branches which could do with pruning, (I see now !!), I will spray and hope, thanks all. Just a little surprised as I planted Invicta which is mildew resistant, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !!!!!!

Graham

will keep u all posted on progress