[JohnB47]

I have two fairly young bushes (Leveller and Winhams Industry) - this their first year bearing any quantity of berries. Over the last few days I've noticed quite a few berries lying on the ground under them. The berries are undamaged.

The bushes still have a large quantity of fruit on them - the leveller in particular has lots and this bush has most fruit lying under it.

Is this just the bushes thinning themselves out, or is it possible bird damage? (I haven't netted them yet). If it's birds, why aren't they eating the fallen berries?

Ta.

[8doubles]

Woodpigeon may be the culprits, the same happened to my goosegogs last year.
Net `em up !

[compostqueen]

I asked about this the other day and was told it was down to the cold

[PAULW]

It sounds like June drop happening in May, with this drought the plants will be struggling to maintain themselves never mind produce fruit, I give all my fruit bushes a can of water each day just to stop them drying out and so far touch wood they are holding on to the fruit, mulching also helps to slow down the drying out process.

[JohnB47]

Thanks all.


Hmmm, it's been very dry down here and we have pidgeon problems too. Perhaps both netting and more watering is needed. I really didn't think I'd be watering so much at this time of year.

[Salmo]

I have dropping goosberries and I put it dowm to recent sharp frost as it started a day or two afterwards. It could be drought and the timing of frost was coincidental.

[shokkyy]

My gooseberries drop some fruit every year, but so do my apple and pear and gage trees, and I always seem to still get a bumper crop from all of them. I think it's just nature's way of thinning out the fruit a bit.

[PAULW]

I have dropping goosberries and I put it dowm to recent sharp frost as it started a day or two afterwards. It could be drought and the timing of frost was coincidental.

Come to sunny Devon where it rains six days out of seven

Unfortunately down here in tropical Dorset we are desperate for rain and while I have been watering the bushes there has not been any loss of fruit

[JohnB47]

Well, I went to the plot tonight and the one loosing berries the most (Winhams Industry) is drooping a few of it's longest branches. I though maybe a pidgeon had sat on them but when I checked they were really heavy with fruit and couldn't stay upright. I lifted them up and they fell right down again. It isn't lack of water - I watered them well last night.

Not sure if I should thin them out myself or support them somehow. Thinning and watering I think and I'll cook the thinnings.