[vegmandan]

Can anyone tell me why I've had such a poor gooseberry crop this year as last year I had a bumper crop (when it was really wet).

It's only rained here once in the last 6 weeks,do gooseberry bushes drop fruit as a shock response like some fruit trees do as I only have about 20% as many fruit set as last year?

Also for the 1st time this year I've put it in a fruit cage with a mesh of about 10mm.

Could this be keeping the bees out to pollinate ?,mind you my blackcurrants are as good as ever in the same cage

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[gobs]

There is biannual bearing in a lot of fruit across the board and yes, water at fruit swelling time is crucial to all.

[muntjac]

and in winter can i suggest you clear the rubbish from the base stems and chuck some good manure on em .. gogs like thumbs matey