gooseberry bush
Cait
Posts: 2
In previous years we have had apparently healthy gooseberry bushes until they have been completely eaten overnight - leaves and fruit - probably sawfly I am guessing - but is there anything I can do - or is it already too late to save this years apparently good crop that is developing now?
0
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Apparently, pouring boiling water over a bucket of foxglove leaves and leaving for a couple of days then spraying the result on the bushes may help. There is also Nemasys caterpillar & sawfly killer but that is expensive and needs to be used when you first spot the sawfly caterpillars. Both are organic methods. Otherwise you could check every day and pick the caterpillars off by hand, but that can be extremely painful! Effective chemical sprays include pyrethrum (organic - derived from chrysanthemums) and Provado ultimate bug killer.
One gooseberry bush is fine but the other is decimated. I try hard to be organic but in this cse I will be buying the Ultimate bug killer as mentioned above. As I am writing this my kitten is giving me lots (and I mean lots) of attention so its off tto the fridge for a tidbit for him. Good luck to everyone afflicted with Gooseberry sawfly. Maybe we will find out whose method is the most effective?