Soft Fruit under threat again .

14 comments

Well , I have ordered the nematodes that Loosestrife suggested , plus some for slugs , and they are in transit .
Whilst researching the dread sawfly , OH found that it is also partial to blackcurrants , and guess what is next to the gooseberry bush which is now bereft of foliage ? Yes two large , healthy blackcurrant bushes , and two redcurrant .
Well , not any more , the blackcurrants have been stripped , leaving the fruit (so far) , I suppose that red ones are next , and then there are raspberries and the strawberries just next to those .
I have sprayed with garlic , but am not hopeful .
Just look at the damage !

The Gooseberry

The Blackcurrant

The Fruit “Patch”

28 May, 2015
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Comments

Hywel

Such a worry when this happens. I hope the nematodes arrive soon.

28 May, 2015

Steragram

Devastating - what a horrible thing to happen. Seems like that sort of year. My redcurrants have got dead branches and the gooseberries have had a bad aphid attack and now have some yellowing leaves with black spots - and with all the fruit set you don't want to spray do you? None of these things had happened here before.
I wonder if we have the mild winter to thank?

28 May, 2015

Driad

Thanks Hywel , so do I .
It must be the unusual conditions ,Stera , the temperature is so "up and downs" isn't it ?
Sorry to hear about yours too .

29 May, 2015

Waddy

It seems to be the right conditions for all sorts of bugs and blights. Per has Stera' has a point. I do hope you manage to rescue your fruit.

29 May, 2015

Driad

Thanks Waddy , the nematodes arrived at lunch-time , so it's war !!

29 May, 2015

Thrupennybit

I had swird fly a few year ago on my gooseberrys I thinned it back but the following year they returned so I had it dug out, lets hope you win the war. They did say we are going to have a wet summer, even my Rhododendendron have drooped its been dry now rained and they have perked up.

29 May, 2015

Driad

It has rained for most of the day now , so I'll get out and "fight" the good fight first thing tomorrow , 3d .
We can't do much about the weather , can we ?
India is far hotter than normal at present , 47C I believe !

29 May, 2015

Steragram

Whatever is swirl fly 3d? I couldn't find it on google.
Good luck with the nematodes Driad!

29 May, 2015

Waddy

Not heard of Swirl Fly, Stera? I'm surprised, they're almost as bad as Flues.
Good luck with the battle Dried :)

30 May, 2015

Steragram

Sorry, you've lost me - am I being thick? I really want to know now...

30 May, 2015

Driad

Perhaps a misprint ?
I thought that it sounded rather exotic !
Ofening areas now treated ...... Stand by for progress report .