[lord flynn]

I planted one last year and it seemed to be some sort of caterpillar magnet (same caterpillar ignored the blackcurrant). It grew more leaves afterwards and it happened again-it was in the process of growing new leaves and winter happened!


What can I do to protect it and when should I do it please?

[Fleecewife]

Were the caterpillars small, green, about 1cm long and loads of them?  If yes, then it's likely to be gooseberry sawfly larva.  I know, it's not a gooseberry, but the pests attack both, but as you say are not interested in blackcurrant.  They overwinter in the soil at the base of the bush, so if you can let your hens scratch around there that will help.  They then crawl up the stem and start chewing the leaves from the centre of the bush outwards, so the outer leaves are the last to go.  Picking them off and squishing is tedious but does work, although it's spikey.  If you have any pet wasps they will clear the lot  .

If that's not what they are, then picking off and squishing is easier with larger caterpillars.

[Q]

If it is the sawfly, I was watching a youtube video about a chap with an infestation who successfully used washing up liquid spray.