Cuttings

[finefencer]

Hello all,
I am looking for some advice/help
I had a gooseberry, Leveller and to me the best I have tasted. The leaves were on, fruit was showing, then it withered????? I pulled it out to see why, only to find that the bark and the roots were bare...vine weevil I think. I have tried to get a replacement but no luck...so I thought about taking cuttings from what was left, I know that it is the wrong time of the year to do this but I would try. I have dipped the cuttings in hormon rooting powder, wrapped spag moss around, and then wrapped the the rooting area in clingfilm. What do you think?

[FionaH]

I moved this out of growing techniques so people can see it!

[Jeanied]

Anything is worth a try Finefencer! It may well work - as another wise grape once told me - things want to grow! I'd put the cuttings into soil though, as this is replicating the tip rooting that the bushes do all by themselves. I now have three extra bushes on my plot due to lax pruning and tip rooting!
I'd be worried about the vine weevil in your soil, now. How are you going to deal with that.

[FB.]

R.V. Roger list Leveller on their website:

> Link here <

I'm not really into gooseberries, but my understanding is that Leveller requires good soil, good growing conditions and good care - and is prone to mildew - which is why it is *apparently* being phased out and replaced by the easier-to-grow Hinnomaki Yellow.

[Neiller59]

I know it's not much help now but I found layering to be a good failsafe for my gooseberry plant, after several failed cuttings,at the end of last summer I pulled a branch down to the grond and covered the middle half with soil, came back yesterday and cut it off from the mother plant, a bit like a strawberry runner

[Snadger]

I know it's not much help now but I found layering to be a good failsafe for my gooseberry plant, after several failed cuttings,at the end of last summer I pulled a branch down to the grond and covered the middle half with soil, came back yesterday and cut it off from the mother plant, a bit like a strawberry runner

One of my gooseberries gave a fine crop last year so I've just put a brick on each of about half a dozen sideshoots. Hopefully they will layer themselves for next year.

Good luck with your cuttings finefencer. At this time of year I would imagine softwood cuttings would have more of a chance than hardwood ones though?
Having said that I've seen piles of prunings just root by themselves!

[FB.]

For currants and gooseberries, I would take (hardwood) cuttings in autumn, when the leaves start to change colour. I've had nearly 100% success rate from 6-12" long cuttings taken at that time.
I agree about softwood cuttings perhaps being a better choice at this time of year.
Layering will also work, buy you don't get as many young plants in such as short space of time as when you take cuttings in autumn.

[Neiller59]

Putting a clear plastic bag over the cutting always has helped cuttings root speed and success rate for me too, increases humidity and slows water loss which is helpful as the plants have no roots to take a drink then again some things you just stick in the ground and they'll grow away like there's no tomorrow hope it all works out for your gooseberry plants!

[Neiller59]

And congrats fb 1k posts :P

[finefencer]

Thank you all for your advise....the cuttings didn't work but I found a plant that I hope will do the job.............happy growing

[Neiller59]

Sad to here bout the cutting. Hoping this new plant lives up to it's predecessor's reputaion