Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
I have two gooseberry bushes that put on a decent growth
spurt this year. However, the caterpillars approved of the new growth and during the course of just three days ate pretty much all of it. I picked off as many as I could but there were hundreds of the buggers most of them rather small. A blast with the hose pipe was the most effective method and finally got rid of them. Now I have two rather bare bushes, the only leaves left are those from last years growth. Assuming I can keep the caterpillars at bay next year, what are the chances of the bushes recovering? Would I be better off doing some hard pruning, leave it alone or will the new growth come back? T.I.A -- Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realise you're wrong. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
On 28 Sep, 13:16, Nitromax® wrote:
I have two gooseberry bushes that put on a decent growth spurt this year. However, the caterpillars approved of the new growth and during the course of just three days ate pretty much all of it. I picked off as many as I could but there were hundreds of the buggers most of them rather small. A blast with the hose pipe was the most effective method and finally got rid of them. Now I have two rather bare bushes, the only leaves left are those from last years growth. Assuming I can keep the caterpillars at bay next year, what are the chances of the bushes recovering? Would I be better off doing some hard pruning, leave it alone or will the new growth come back? T.I.A -- Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realise you're wrong. They'll regrow their leaves next year. No need to do anything now. But next year, keep an eye out for the caterpillars, and spray with a suitable killer as soon as they appear, targeting the underside of the leaves where they hide. If you don't like using chemicals, soapy water (ex washing-up) may also work. If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? Chris |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
wrote in message ... They'll regrow their leaves next year. No need to do anything now. But next year, keep an eye out for the caterpillars, and spray with a suitable killer as soon as they appear, targeting the underside of the leaves where they hide. If you don't like using chemicals, soapy water (ex washing-up) may also work. If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? Chris Thanks, I will leave it to nature and see what happens. -- Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realise you're wrong. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
chrisj.doran wrote ... Nitromax® wrote: I have two gooseberry bushes that put on a decent growth spurt this year. However, the caterpillars approved of the new growth and during the course of just three days ate pretty much all of it. I picked off as many as I could but there were hundreds of the buggers most of them rather small. A blast with the hose pipe was the most effective method and finally got rid of them. Now I have two rather bare bushes, the only leaves left are those from last years growth. Assuming I can keep the caterpillars at bay next year, what are the chances of the bushes recovering? Would I be better off doing some hard pruning, leave it alone or will the new growth come back? They'll regrow their leaves next year. No need to do anything now. But next year, keep an eye out for the caterpillars, and spray with a suitable killer as soon as they appear, targeting the underside of the leaves where they hide. If you don't like using chemicals, soapy water (ex washing-up) may also work. If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? Always prune ours, if only to keep them in shape and make it easier to pick the fruit. Usual stuff, removing damaged, crossed branches and old wood. I also stop them making horizontal branches near the ground so any fruit is kept off the soil. -- Regards Bob Hobden just W. of London |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
Nitromax® writes
I have two gooseberry bushes that put on a decent growth spurt this year. However, the caterpillars approved of the new growth and during the course of just three days ate pretty much all of it. Not caterpillars. Probably sawfly larvae. They look superficially like caterpillars but they don't grow up into butterflies or moths ;-) I picked off as many as I could but there were hundreds of the buggers most of them rather small. A blast with the hose pipe was the most effective method and finally got rid of them. Now I have two rather bare bushes, the only leaves left are those from last years growth. Assuming I can keep the caterpillars at bay next year, what are the chances of the bushes recovering? It won't cause them the slightest problem. Don't worry about it. -- Kay |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries
don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? From what I've read, they fruit better on younger wood, so you could try cutting out some of the old gnarly branches. -- Kay |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
"K" wrote in message ... If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? From what I've read, they fruit better on younger wood, so you could try cutting out some of the old gnarly branches. -- Kay Harvest and prune in one fell swoop. Cut off the branches with fruit and take them to the table to pick the fruit off. Both jobs done. This works with blackcurrants etc too. Steve |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Gooseberry bushes
shazzbat wrote:
If I can tag on a question of my own: My books say that gooseberries don't need pruning, but in recent years I've had a dramatic downturn in quantity of fruit, with or without caterpillars, and the bushes are straggling a bit. Does the panel thing that pruning would improve yield, or at least not reduce it any more? From what I've read, they fruit better on younger wood, so you could try cutting out some of the old gnarly branches. Harvest and prune in one fell swoop. Cut off the branches with fruit and take them to the table to pick the fruit off. Both jobs done. This works with blackcurrants etc too. I'd not recommend this for gooseberries as a wholesale procedure. Sure do a few branches to thin, but gooseberry fruits well for several years on the same wood. I mostly prune out new growth, leaving maybe one new branch per year, and remove some of the oldest wood. If your goosberry is vigorous, you'll need to prune out or reduce side shoots etc to encourage good air circulation (to keep down mildew and other diseases). I've a 22 year gooseberry that gives me more than 25lbs fruit every year - they really can be extraordinarily productive. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
red currant, black currant , gooseberry | United Kingdom | |||
got gooseberry plant, but when to pick | United Kingdom | |||
Gooseberry Sawfly | United Kingdom | |||
No flowers on gooseberry bush | United Kingdom | |||
Gooseberry problems | United Kingdom |