[diggin@diggle]

Hello
I have 5 Gooseberry bushes that were all infected with American Mildew last year.
In my Dr Hessayon book it says to treat with Supercarb. Can someone tell me what this is and where I can get it from. Or is there an alternative I can use.

Thank you
John

[mikem]

The Gardeners World web site suggests:-

Organic
Space out plants and cut out congested branches to improve air circulation. Cut off any infected branches straight away. Plant resistant cultivars, such as 'Invicta' and 'Greenfinch'.

Chemical
Use an all-purpose feed, rather than one high in nitrogen, as this will only generate soft new growth that's prone to infection. Spray infected plants with myclobutanil or sulphur dust.

I had this problem for a few years and I think that I had been overdoing the nitrogen fertiliser.  Last year I pruned out a lot of branches from the middle and crossing twigs.  I also sprayed with a sulphur dust that I got from the local garden centre, read the instructions as if I recall correctly it said only do it once.  Last year no problems, fingers crossed for this year.

[mumofstig]

I think the supercarb will be bicarbonate of soda

Have a look at this old post about it
 

Trillium: A lot of older commercial remedies have been banned. supercarb sounds like it might be bicarbonate of soda and water solution with some dishwash liquid to make it stick. That helps with powdery mildew. Sometimes the plant is more dry at the roots than you realize and the mildew forms.