This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Gooseberries
Pinkheart
Posts: 70
AGAIN.......my gooseberry bush is being stripped bare. Found one caterpillar the other day......which was removed. Cannot find ANY others on it but it's still being eaten. HELP! It's only a little plant & I've checked under all the leaves.
0
Posts
Been out twice today.....looked at every bloody leaf......nothing! Just don't get it....it's only a little plant so not too many leaves to check. Tried spraying with soapy water. Oh, & I have a gooseberry! Never saw any flowers so wasn't expecting fruit yet. Is it the right time of year?
Hi Pinkheart,
Try using a spray of diluted Neem oil ... it is totally organic.
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 make up a spray of neem oil and as soon as the bushes 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 of weeks.
Neem is best used preventatively ... but should help with your current attack.
It is totally organic and although it stinks a bit is easy to mix up and apply.
I got mine off ebay .... 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.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Cheers pansyface! I'll live in hope!
cheers also bee witched! I haven't got any neem oil so can't do that now, sadly. I will, however, look at getting some for next year & drench as suggested! Ta for the links too. Have to say, I might struggle as we have no central heating in our house.....& no regular hot water......so no warm airing cupboard. This might make it iffy to keep the neem oil useable. Do you think it'd be ok warming in font of a gas fire......it's what we have to do with our olive oil!
Hiya,
Should be Ok by the gas fire ... or pop the bottle in a container of hot water for a bit before you want to use it so it pours easily.
Neem is really good stuff in the garden ... seems to keep roses clear of aphids and the sawfly off the solomons seal. Also seems to prevent lily beetles.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Cool! Wish it'd kill vine weevil too!
is it safe on food crops?
Hi,
Yes it is fine for food crops.
If only it saw off the slugs!!
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Oh do not get me started on slugs! Bane of my life. 24 marigolds totally gone over night. Can't put anything out til it's big enough to take them on.......which means a lot of potting on of plug plants. Wish I had the money for fully grown plants!!
My Gooseberry bushes are full of fruit but are also covered in mould is there a spray safe enough to use at this present time.
Try looking up neem oil, as suggested by bee witched.....I looked up on various sites & it says it's safe.....
Thank you for your help I have ordered some online.