"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:11:43 +0100
"Mary Fisher" wrote:


"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...

The powdery mildew never stopped them from making fine preserves,

Or even for stewing or pies, in my experience. It rubs off very easily.


Most of the time. Sometimes it settles into a sort of black sludge
though.

Oh, I haven't experienced that :-(

And infected berries seem to be smaller.

Perhaps - but we don't know how big they would have been if they hadn't had
the mildew :-)

I see I wasn't very careful in the previous post, and implied I pulled
mine
out because of the mildew.

Yes, I thought you had.

Mostly was because of age, I believe they
were about 20-25 years old. Also we put a low stone wall along the
drive, which they impeded somewhat. Had they been super croppers I
would have kept, though.

We moved ours last year to a site where it would get more sun but it hasn't
been any better. We're gong to move it - and the currants - back so that we
can have a dedicated site to build a proper cage. I think our gooseberry
could be thirty years old, come to think of it ... perhaps we should
consider a new one.

Mary