By Alanbarwick
Clwyd,
United Kingdom 
Hi, My gooseberry bush didn't have a single fruit this year. It has put on good growth. I am guessing I pruned it all wrong. Any suggestions for next year.
The first season it had a good crop but in the autumn it developed quite heavy mildew. I pruned this away in the late autumn. Obviously the wrong thing to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
3 Sep, 2014
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Prune it in late winter/early spring before growth starts. Tip back the leaders , cut away any weak or crossing branches and shorten the spurs back to abut five buds.
(These are the parts that will flower and fruit) Give it a feed of potash at the same time.
Once you have had American Blight it will probably recur but there is no need to prune it out. If you have a slight attack there is no need to discard the fruit as it rubs off.
You may find it worthwhile to invest in one of the mildew resistant varieties. You probably cut off all the fruiting spurs last autumn!
It is permissible to do a very light prune in midsummer, simply tipping back the leaders a bit, but I never find this necessary.
3 Sep, 2014