[Fen]

Netted my raspberries, currants and gooseberries today and found the soil very dry. Laid the hose along the raspberry row to just water the roots but don't know what to do with the other fruit. I won't water them, from above, in case of grey mould, but if I give the roots a really good drink, will the currants and gooseberrie split?

[solway cropper]

I doubt it. If you don't give them any water you won't get any fruit. I'm in Cumbria and we haven't had any rain to speak of for three months so I've thoroughly drenched the roots of my soft fruit and two new apple trees. The blackcurrants are just starting to darken and look like giving a bumper crop.

[pigeonpie]

I know it may be a bit late for this year but some mulch around the base of fruit trees and bushes really works well.  Especially if it is some well rotted compost which helps feed at the same time as keeping the moisture in.  I've not watered our fruit so far this year and we've had it very dry.  The redcurrants look fantastic and are bigger than they've been in recent years and the blackcurrants are fruiting up nicely.  Don't forget that the more you water things the more it encourages them to keep shallow roots so they end up depending on you for water more.  If plants have to find their own water they will send roots deeper where the soil remains moist for longer.

[monsoon]

because of the number of cats around we have slate chipping under ours (they have their own raised bed) and seems to stop the soil drying out so fast.

[Dominic]

I water mine fairly randomly, if they look like they need it, dont be afraid to give them a good long soak once in a while, just dont get into the habbit of watering them a bit every day.