Good enough to eat

●● Protecting gooseberries

If all the leaves disappear from your gooseberries, they have probably been eaten by the gooseberry sawfly caterpillar, which is often a problem in about the third or fourth year after planting.

They initially appear as a cluster of tiny holes in one leaf and then spread out, ruining the whole bush. If you catch them early, you may stop them in their tracks. Do this by shaking the caterpillars down on to a sheet on a dewy morning.

Alternatively, knock them off with a jet of water and spread a thick layer of ash or soot around the stems to stop them returning.

Another cause of leaves disappearing is gooseberry leaf spot, which is common in early summer when tiny blackish-brown spots appear on gooseberry leaves which then turn brown and fall early.

To deter the fungus, regularly remove the fallen leaves to decrease a recurrence next year.