On 11/06/2021 10:52, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Jenny M Benson wrote:

Thanks, Martin. I would have said that the garden soil was very poor,
but I will avoid enriching it in any way and see if the Josta does
better next year. Or it will have to go. I'll tell it that - it might
help! Good to be warned about the birds, too.

I had some for a few years, and got rid of them, for the same reason
as you. Black and red currants do fine, as did gooseberries when I
grew them.

My gooseberries are martyrs to American mildew and nothing seems to help
any more apart from rigorous pruning, air and lots of sunshine.
Chemicals that could possibly control it have all been banned now

It is a pity as when get a decent crop they are really good sweet red
desert gooseberries but they are mostly going to be grubbed up this
year. They were on their last chance last year and then I relented.

FWIW I'm on fairly heavy neutral clay and they all grow very well. Only
the gooseberries have problems (and they always do these days). The crop
sets OK but before it is ripe they get mildew and become inedible.

Only the bush in the sunniest spot has any crop at all this year. If it
is lucky it might just get another chance. The rest are doomed.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown