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Gooseberry sawfly does it come back, on cuttings etc

a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
in Fruit & veg
This is the first time I have ever had gooseberry sawfly, it’s quite devastating for the plant, and I’m picking them off and squishing which is horrible, yak. It’s been going on for a while so I did a bit of research and it says there can be 3 generations in a season, plus then they overwinter and come back next year. Oh no!
is this true, will i get them every year now? 
Problem is I took cuttings from gooseberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant, to give to several friends, (all doing very well) will I just be spreading this problem about? I’m wondering if I should throw the gooseberry and redcurrant cuttings away? Blackcurrants are unaffected. 

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    They're a common pest and easy to deal with once you know the signs to look for. The eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves and you notice small perforations occuring once they hatch. Easy then to remove the leave and get rid of 90% of the caterpillars. I've not had a problem though since I put a bird box up on the tree by the bushes.

    I wouldn't worry about spreading the problem as it's just as likely to occur naturally. Just warn anyone who takes one what to expect.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    They pupate in the soil immediately beneath the bush, so cultivating that area a couple of times between leaf fall and spring will let birds and the frost get at them.  I've had no trouble since doing that each year.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @a1154,

    Try using a spray of diluted neem oil .... it is totally organic and is derived by pressing the seed kernels of the neem tree.

    I use it for lily beetles and sawfly on gooseberries / solomons seal and aruncus. Also use it if the aphids get too bad on the roses.

    See this link for further info.

    http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil-insecticide.html

    and this one for how to make it.

    http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-insect-spray.html

    I use it as soon as growth starts in April and I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every few weeks.

    Neem is best used preventatively .... but will work on pests that have already arrived. It does not hurt beneficial insects. Only chewing and sucking insects are affected. The main reason is that insects need to ingest the neem oil to be affected, and beneficial insects don't eat your plants. However, you can still kill beneficial insects if you smother them with neem oil, so I tend to spray late evening to be safe.

    It does stink a bit ... but is easy to mix up and apply.

    I got mine off Amazon .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again within a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.

    Worth a try.

    Bee x

    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    Thanks for the advice, lots of good suggestions there. WEdges, as I had never seen them before, I noticed nothing until it was a serious infestation. I’ll be looking for the leaf damage earlier next year. 
    I have a lot of garden birds, but I think they are lazy and wait to be fed! 
    Good idea to turn the soil, and I will look at neem, thanks all.
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