[SG6]

Is there a "pest" that throws itself at a gooseberry ?
It is NOT gooseberry sawfly, actually may not even be a pest. 

Have a half standard gooseberry, and owing to utter neglect  it was well bent over. So decided to a) prune it and b) pick off whatever fruit it had on.

More fruit then expected about 7lbs, but on many leaves were small bugs, looked a bit like ladybird larve, but were coloured a bit too much for the one I am aware of and also the number was very high.

They also appeared "attached" to the leaves and some of the fruit.

As said may not be a pest as they seemed to do no damage at all that I could see. More seemed to be living on the plant and that is it.

Question now is: Gooseberry crumble or gooseberry wine ? 

[compostqueen]

Cobbler  

I have this very day googled and come up with cobbler a la Delia. It looks simple but delish

She has other ideas on there too from fool to jam.  

Oh and I should add that there is a wonderful preserves section on this very forum 

[sunshineband]

And they may have been ladybird pupae 

[Mrs Bee]

Gooseberry, sparkling wine and elderflower jelly,
                    Goosberry fool
                    gooseberry and elderflower sorbet or icecream
                     baked gooseberry and elderflower cheescake
                      or gooseberry streusal cake.

 Sorry, no idea what the creepies are but will keep looking here in case anyone else knows.

[JohnB47]

SG6 - Ladybird larvae do go through an end stage where they are attached to leaves, stems, walls etc. The Ladybird then emerges from this sac a pale yellow colour, which gradually turns the traditional red over a few hours. A close up pic would help.

[SG6]

John you may be right, quick search and the images on the ladybird survey site do not seem to match, however the search engine, Bing in this case, then puts up images of ladybird larvae and they look much more like the one I have. More orange/yellow marking are indicated.

I wondered why the gooseberry had attracted so many which is why I suspected something more along the lines of a pest or infestation.

[Madame Cholet]

Just made goosgog and rhubarb jam delicious.

[savbo]

my gooseberry jelly looks beautiful but didn't set... ah well

[Madame Cholet]

Re boil it.

[sunshineband]

John you may be right, quick search and the images on the ladybird survey site do not seem to match, however the search engine, Bing in this case, then puts up images of ladybird larvae and they look much more like the one I have. More orange/yellow marking are indicated.

I wondered why the gooseberry had attracted so many which is why I suspected something more along the lines of a pest or infestation.

A lot of greenfly at the time I suspect