What's eating my whinham's industry gooseberry?

Whinham's Industry Gooseberry, a heavy-cropping Victorian variety, is susceptible to American gooseberry mildew and gooseberry sawfly. Its dense habit traps humidity, encouraging mildew. Aphids curl new growth, birds take the large ripe berries, and gooseberry fruit fly may lay eggs in developing fruits in warmer areas.

Larvae skeletonise leaves rapidly; the dense bush interior makes early detection difficult. Open up the centre with winter pruning; inspect and hand-pick in spring; spray pyrethrin if needed.

White felt-like coating on shoot tips and developing fruit; affected shoots distort and die back. Improve airflow by pruning; spray with sulphur or potassium bicarbonate; avoid high-nitrogen feeding.

New shoot tips curl and pucker with dense aphid colonies in spring. Remove infested shoot tips; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap promptly.

Large sweet berries taken as they ripen in mid-summer. Net bushes before fruits reach full size; remove netting after harvest.