Q What’s the whitish-brown covering on my gooseberries? MR MFA POOLE, POWYS

A American gooseberry mildew is a white, fluffy fungal growth that can appear on the leaves, stems and fruit and later turns brown. There’s no fungicide to protect plants, but you can reduce the problem by pruning the bushes so the centre is kept open to improve airflow. Disease-resistant cultivars include ‘Greenfinch’, ‘Hinnomaki Red’ and ‘Rokula’.