mildew on gooseberries

slowcompost · « **on:** May 22, 2007, 21:55 »

Hi
Ive grown gooseberries for years and for the first time 2 of 4 bushes have suddenly got mildew. Every single fruit has gone milky white.
Has anyone else had this this year. Is it to do with the weather ? or is it a virus ?.
Anyone got any advice on what to about it, ie. dig out infected bushes or do they recover.
Dont really want to loose them cause the're big bushes.

WG. · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2007, 21:57 »

Mildew is brought on by dry conditions so April is getting the blame. Someone posted about pruning to open up the bush so perhaps you could use the Search for that? Post again if you need instructions.

yummy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2007, 21:59 »

I've noticed all 4 of my bushes have some mildew appearing over the past couple of days. Mine are quite crowded together though so I'm assuming they need pruning in winter so that air can circulate round them better?

Some of them are quite big already so I may just pick them and use for cooking. At least then I get some. I dunno if that is the right thing to do? It is only my first year on the plot and I have no idea what I am doing really.

I wonder if there is anything that can be done in the short term to save this years crop?

Annie · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2007, 22:27 »

More of a prevention than cure,at first sign of mildew spray a 50/50 mix of milk and water,I was sceptical but it does work.

WG. · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2007, 22:37 »

Wonderful, Annie. I was planning to try that on courgettes this year since I read about them using it on vines.

Annie · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2007, 22:44 »

I haven`t tried it on courgettes as we don`t have a problem until the end of the season and one organic variety i grow is resistant,so at that stage it wouldn`t make a difference to us here.I have mainly used it on flowering plants this year that got it after the very wet to hot dry weather and it worked a treat.The good thing is it takes seconds to make so no delay.

BAK · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2007, 07:53 »

see the following thread ...

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=4518

slowcompost · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2007, 21:06 »

Thanks a lot for that advice bak I've followed that thread and pasted the info. on pruning to follow up in the winter.
I think thats the problem with my gooseberries, they have never been pruned in years and are pretty dense in the centre.

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mildew on gooseberries

WG.

WG.