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Redcurrants beware!

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  • 31-05-2009 11:03pm
    #1
    Degsy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭


    Just noticed today that half my redcurrant bush had been devoured.
    I went to have a look thinking it was slugs and discovered thousands of little grey catapillers devouring the foliage.
    I dispatched the little bastards as many as i could find but the damage they did was amazing and it hadnt been done the day before yesterday.


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    #2
    old boy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭old boy


    dunno what breed mine are, because they are rampant, any one need slips etc.


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    #3
    sorella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 923 ✭✭✭sorella


    This will be the same as the ones that eat gooseberry leaves; saw fly I think

    Take heart; they eat leaves not fruit and the bushes will not be killed.

    Some say it affects next year;s crops but we never found that.

    Would love redcurrant slips.


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    #4
    geordief
    Registered Users Posts: 475 ✭✭geordief


    if it is the sawfly then I would try shaking them off (the big ones ).Otherwise I spray with liquid derris.
    I think they do so much damage to the leaves that they will stop the fruit from getting bigger .
    Even if it doesn't kill the plant I think it will damage the plant's growth for the following year.


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    #5
    sorella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 923 ✭✭✭sorella


    we have found otherwise. I know; it looks so dreadful

    But one year all our gooseberry bushes were stripped of leaves; the fruit was large and juicy and the next year even more abundant.

    I was ill and could not tackle it so read round and stopped panicking.

    The fruit is set now and independent of the leaves and next year's buds have not yet formed.
    geordief wrote: »
    if it is the sawfly then I would try shaking them off (the big ones ).Otherwise I spray with liquid derris.
    I think they do so much damage to the leaves that they will stop the fruit from getting bigger .
    Even if it doesn't kill the plant I think it will damage the plant's growth for the following year.


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    #6
    geordief
    Registered Users Posts: 475 ✭✭geordief


    sorella wrote: »
    we have found otherwise. I know; it looks so dreadful

    But one year all our gooseberry bushes were stripped of leaves; the fruit was large and juicy and the next year even more abundant.

    I was ill and could not tackle it so read round and stopped panicking.

    The fruit is set now and independent of the leaves and next year's buds have not yet formed.


    well I hope you are right as it will make life a little simpler.
    Actually about 2 or 3 years ago I separated the gooseberries and the redcurrants since it always seemed to spread from the redcurrants and the problem has lessened.


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