Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: mdjlucan on May 06, 2015, 09:34

Title: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mdjlucan on May 06, 2015, 09:34

I've just look at my two new bushes on all the new leaf its full of green fly hundreds of them what's the best spray to get rid of them is they'll one where I can  die loot in to a spray gun thanks

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mumofstig on May 06, 2015, 10:13

I use water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid in - you have to do it a few times though.

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mdjlucan on May 06, 2015, 10:42

Thanks Will this kill the bush

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: DD. on May 06, 2015, 10:44

There wouldn't be much point doing it if it did!

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mdjlucan on May 07, 2015, 06:21

What I meant how Will the Green fly  affect the plant

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: New shoot on May 07, 2015, 06:37

Greenfly eat the sap, so they will weaken a plant if left unchecked.  This may well affect flower and fruit production.

They don't suck sap as such, they insert their mouth parts into the plant and let the plant push the sap into them.  They can't digest the sap fast enough, so a proportion comes straight out the other end as honeydew.  This sweet sticky liquid attracts ants and if it drops onto the leaves, black sooty mould can form.  This blocks the plant's ability to photosynthesise properly.

All in all, they are not great news for the plant, but they won't kill it.  Soap spray knocks out the worst of them and hopefully you will get some ladybirds and other predators in shortly, who will eat the rest :)

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mdjlucan on May 07, 2015, 08:25

Thank you

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: Dave NE on May 07, 2015, 13:59

Don't forget to net them, a few years ago I walked up the path to collect my gooesgogs and there wasn't a single berry left, probably stripped that morning and that was an end to G and elderflower wine, Dave

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: mdjlucan on May 07, 2015, 16:36

How much sope do I need to add to the water

Title: Re: Gooseberry bush
Post by: simonwatson on May 08, 2015, 10:49

Just a couple of drops of washing up liquid in a hand sized sprayer will do.