Gooseberries on the bush covered in mildew

Gooseberry mildew

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 18 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

Protect your gooseberry bushes from mildew, with the help of tips from our expert guide.

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Also know as American gooseberry mildew, this greyish-white powdery growth of the fungal disease Sphaerotheca mors-uvae appears on new shoots, which can become distorted and die off. The mildew also affects the upper leaf surfaces and stems of the plant, while the skin on affected fruits turns from a white mould to a light brown. The fruits can be scraped clean and eaten, although they'll turn brown when cooked.

Symptoms

Greyish-white powdery fungal growth spreads across the upper leaf surfaces and stems of gooseberry plants, eventually affecting the fruit. It's often accompanied by dieback of new growth.

Find it on

gooseberries, blackcurrants

Organic

Space out plants and cut out congested branches to improve air circulation. Cut off any infected branches straight away. Plant resistant cultivars, such as 'Invicta' and 'Greenfinch'.

Chemical

Use an all-purpose feed, rather than one high in nitrogen, as this will only generate soft new growth that's prone to infection.

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