American gooseberry mildew: how to spot, prevent and treat it disease
How do you spot American gooseberry mildew?
On the young shoots and the fruit there is a white floury coating, which browns with age and turns felty. The fruit is edible, but the coating makes it unappetising. The shoots grow distorted.
How do you prevent American gooseberry mildew?
Prune the bush to an open shape, so that air moves between the branches. Still air inside dense growth is what suits the fungus. Avoid planting in hollows and in closed corners without a flow of air. Go easy on nitrogen, because soft growth is more susceptible. The fungus overwinters in the buds and on the shoots, so cut the tips off affected shoots at the first sign.
On a particular plant
blackcurrant: On the blackcurrant it also overwinters on fallen leaves, so clear them up in autumn.
What works against American gooseberry mildew?
Cut the tips off infected shoots as soon as they show, and keep the leaves cleared. Instead of products there are resistant varieties, both for gooseberry and for blackcurrant.
Which plants get American gooseberry mildew? 2
Berries 2
Sources: Royal Horticultural Society
Checked on 18 August 2026.