[makedoandmend]

Folks,

I love goosegogs and grew them very successfully for years, with no real attention.

For the last 4-5 years however I have been plagued by mildew and sawfly.

Previously I've cut them back - really brutally, but I obviously had no fruit the first year. The second year I lost all the fruit to an early frost.

This year I re-planted the bushes in fresh compost and washed the old soil / compost off the root ball, I used underground watering pipework and Vitax organic to try and tackle the Mildew. The bush recovered with some second year growth, so I was hopeful.

Despite my best efforts I'm back to square one. I have concluded that once mildewed I can't eradicate it from the old wood. The sawfly problem - well I don't know what to think.

I have decided to replant new bushes next year and would like a mildew resistant ( green variety if poss) recommendation.

I would be happy to try a combination of green, red and yellow as long as one bush is green.

thanks,

Makedo.

[surbie100]

Try here, which has a list of resistant varieties:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=739

I have Hinnomaki and Invicta, but am new to growing so no previous knowledge of either. Squirrels have taken nearly all my fruit this year.

[AnnieB]

Invista, Greenfinch and the Hinnomaki varieties, red, white and yellow, seem the main options for mildew resistance.
There are 2 varieties - Black Velvet and Worcestershire berry that are classed with gooseberry's but having grown Black Velvet I would avoid. They are current sized and although they crop well the bushes will take a lot of blood out of you. They are really spiky and evil, I gave up with them as they just were too much of a problem.

There seems to be a new one called Martlet (Red) available.

Try the Chris Bowers site as they have a side tab for Mildew resistance selection, at least it gives the names.

http://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/category/gooseberries/

[makedoandmend]

Thanks Surbie100 and AnnieB,

Invicta seems to be the one to go for, I'll see if I can source some bushes locally.

Kind regards,

Makedo.

[bigben]

Thanks Surbie100 and AnnieB,

Invicta seems to be the one to go for, I'll see if I can source some bushes locally.

Kind regards,

Makedo.

I have given up with mine which produce big berries but most of them are wasted to mildew. Yesterday I ordered 3 invicta bushes from Amazon - I will let you know what they are like when they arrive.

[brianbishop]

I grow my Invicta as cordons against a fence  and get very good cropping. Advantage of cordons is  good air circulation ,and easy to net against bird attacks . Keep mine about 6ft high for ease of picking.
Bish

[surbie100]

I got mine from Blackmoors, really good quality stuff and great customer service.