Canterbury
November
Q.
Hi, I am having trouble with my raspberries as they are getting grubs inside the fruit. I have a nice berry, then look where it has been attached to plant and find a grub. How do I control this problem?
Lyn van den Bosch
A.
Hi Lyn, this sounds like raspberry bud moth. It is a tiny caterpillar that gets into the fruit through the flower stalk.
Prune canes in early autumn, tip any canes that show caterpillar damage, this will stop the caterpillar moving down the stem to the flower buds. Remove debris, fallen leaves, canes and prunings from autumn and burn or throw out in the rubbish to prevent any overwintering caterpillars surviving. It is hard to control when it burrows into the fruit buds. You can check at your local garden centre for a suitable caterpillar spray, however it will need to come into contact with the caterpillar to control it.
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How can I control grubs in my raspberries? Comments
How and when is it a good time to take cuttings from my fuchsias?
Helene van Rooy
Fuchsia cuttings can be taken from spring through to autumn. Make the cutting about 10cm long with three to four leaf nodes, pinch out the soft tip, you can reduce the leaf size by cutting in half to reduce transpiration. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone although this isn’t essential. Place the cuttings in a free draining damp medium such as peat moss, pumice, perlite or vermiculite. Cover with a plastic bag and place in a warm location out of direct sunlight. They should root within 4-6 weeks.