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Gooseberry Bush drops its fruit when

Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
in Fruit & veg
can anyone please shed any light on why my 3 year old gooseberry bush drops it fruit when small, it has done this every year.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is the bush getting plenty of water?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    most likely lack of pollination
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    It has had as much water ie rain as the nearby blackcurrant bush which produces plenty of fruit each year.
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    The fruits are there but fall off before maturing, would they form and fall off if lacking pollination? If so can I help it along next year somehow?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Does it drop all the fruit or just some?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    edited May 2023
    Unfortunately all of it. Last year I was rotovating at least a couple of feet away and they just all fell off or what was left of them.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    How big are the fruit when dropped?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This earlier thread might give some clues
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/339261/gooseberry-blackcurrant-berries-dropped-off/p1

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    This is interesting. We put a new bush in, after losing two - they were nearly 20 years old. 
    However, because we are planning to move house, (if we can sell), we put the new one in a large container, and closer to the house. It gets more sun, but is also less sheltered.
    Some of the new berries have been falling off, and it's not down to a lack of pollinators. We have had some colder nights recently, but nothing I assumed the plant couldn't cope with. Maybe I'm wrong.
    Thank you for the heads up on this one. 
  • Willow99Willow99 Posts: 43
    Thanks for the link Dovefromabove. I can only think that last Friday we had an horrendous storm including hail and cold nights so could be the reason this time but still a mystery regarding previous years. I will if I remember to water next year early only. 
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