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Have I been wasting my time?

Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663
in Fruit & veg

I have always placed netting over those fruits I consider likely to be taken by birds [Strawberries, blueberries, red currants etc]. This year due to having to deal with some educational issues for my youngest that took up loads of time, I only managed to net the Strawberries. I fully expected fruit to disappear. No, strings of red currants like bright jewels hung down untouched, I have had my biggest harvest ever. Blueberries are ripening untouched. Is this because there are no birds? No, within 10 feet of the red currants and 6 feet from the blueberries  is a Fuchsia Riccartonii. This frequently has five or si Wood pigeons on it tearing at the flowers. When the Pigeons are absent smaller birds come for the flowers all of them ignoring luscious fruit within a few feet.  Have I been lucky? Are my local birds stupid? I don't know, but when I think of the time spent netting and removing nets I almost resent the failure to go for my fruit.

Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093

    I find it varies a lot, year to year.

    I do net the blueberries though. They eat them when they are still pink, so I wasn't getting any at all.

    Are you growing blueberries in pots? My guess would be the blackbirds (and it seems to be the blackbirds that are the chief fruit-pickers here - the pigeons eat other stuff - like brassica seedlings image) wouldn't be so keen on things growing in pots - too exposed for them. 

    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 30
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    pansyface says:

    THIS YEAR, THEY RATHER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY GENEROSITY. 10% TO ME, 90% TO THEM. BUT I CAN GO TO THE SHOPS, THEY CAN'T.image


     At the farm shop where OH works  the blackbirds help themselves to cherries from the stall outside the front of the shop ... OH has to chase them off image

    But in the garden  I don't net gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries or black currants and the birds seem to ignore them ... I do net brassicas in the winter.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813

    Cherry Tree on Monday all covered in cherries................Wednesday all gone

    Its the Demon Cherry Monster  image

    I dont net strawberries or Raspberries

    My neighboring Allotmenteers dont net red currants  or black currants

    It may be that your neighbours are supplying the birds with a closer source of food

    Simple suggestion next season only net half of ALL fruit bearing plants and see if their is a difference

    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • Fiona DukeFiona Duke Posts: 21

    I had to net my blueberries in my back yard for the first time this year.  The birds hadn't realised they were there the year before.  They soon learn!

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