Powdery mildew on gooseberries: how experienced gardeners fight it
The first signs of the disease are visible at the tops of the branches, where young leaves grow. They become covered with an ashy coating.
Leaves affected by the disease turn yellow, dry up and fall off. The fungus quickly spreads to shoots and berries. As a result, the fruits turn brown and rot.
You can forget about the harvest of healthy and sweet gooseberries. There is a risk that the plant may die if you do not start taking measures to combat the disease in time.
How to deal with the problem
The bush needs to be thinned out. You can leave a maximum of 10 branches. All small shoots should also be removed.
Fertilizers should be applied in spring and autumn.
In spring and summer, you can add soda ash. You can choose an alternative in a specialized store. For example, "Topaz" will do. You can alternate it with other preparations, but it is important that 2 weeks pass between spraying the bush and the soil.
In summer, the plant should be checked for powdery mildew. If the disease has begun to manifest itself, the tops should be cut off and burned immediately. After that, the bush should be sprayed with Fitosporin.
In autumn, you can treat the gooseberry with a fungicide again.
