Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Chiswickian on June 04, 2009, 13:56

Title: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: Chiswickian on June 04, 2009, 13:56

last night  I found one (and only one) of the branches of one of  the gooseberry bushes I planted has been stripped totally of it's leaves. I presume a bird. What sort of birds do this? I will have to net soon.
Ian

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: barney rubble on June 04, 2009, 13:57

Oh dear - look on page 2 of this forum for a similar post from scabs this morning

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: DD. on June 04, 2009, 13:58

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=38256.0

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: scabs on June 04, 2009, 14:00

I feel your pain.  >:(

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: Chiswickian on June 04, 2009, 14:05

damn and blast

off up to the plot this evening and I guess I know what I am going to see!
Thanks all

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: Babstreefern on June 04, 2009, 19:50

Sorry, not birds Chis ???.  Its Gooseberry sawfly :ohmy:.  Had them myself last week on one or two branches.  They eat the leaves, and leave the fruit.  I've got a bug spray (yellow spray bottle), and douse them with it, also do the ground around the base of the trunk.  Apparently they do come back, sometimes as much as three times a year, so keep your peeps open

Title: Re: gooseberry branch stripped bare
Post by: Chiswickian on June 04, 2009, 20:45

thanks Babs
you were all correct - I went up to the plot and squashed a load of the blighters. I should have checked the bush before casting aspersions on our feathered friends.  I also bought some permethrin spray and doused the plants with it but it's dear stuff.  >:(