I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I
had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I had
sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

Possible deer problem. If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a bird
problem when I had peach trees.

On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I had
sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a bird
problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach.
Other neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff

"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I had
sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a bird
problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach. Other
neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged varmint. With
squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit (skins and bits of
pits), only two legged varmints carry away everything.
Steve

On 7/7/2011 1:36 PM, Steve Peek wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I had
sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a bird
problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach. Other
neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged varmint. With
squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit (skins and bits of
pits), only two legged varmints carry away everything.
Steve


Guess I'd suspect 2 legged too. I have problems with deer, squirrels,
groundhogs etc but they never put a big dent in my peach crop. OP might
consider buying a game camera such as sold by Cabela's for getting
pictures of whatever is attacking the tree.

j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I
had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Jeff

If we knew where you are and your proximity to wildlife habitat it would be
easier to guess what kind peach eater your have and so what to do about it
and when to do it.

D

Steve Peek wrote:
"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though
I had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the
assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the
extras?

Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a
bird problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach.
Other neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged varmint.
With squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit (skins and
bits of pits), only two legged varmints carry away everything.
Steve

Here possums will take away everything.

D

On 7/7/2011 6:22 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Steve Peek wrote:
"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though
I had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the
assault?
Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the
extras?
Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a
bird problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach.
Other neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged varmint.
With squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit (skins and
bits of pits), only two legged varmints carry away everything.
Steve

Here possums will take away everything.

There was nothing left last year, it was like they never had fruit.

Possums are not uncommon here. I had several that used the cat door
and were perfectly at home with the cats. Took a while to trap and
remove. Used to also see racoons, very clever critters. The cats were
not friendly to them, but did not pick fights.

I'm on the edge of woodlands here in Atlanta. No deer though.

I do see mass migrations of blackbirds, among others, but I would
have thought they were messy eaters and would leave a lot of damaged
fruit. Here, nothing.

j


D

"j" wrote in message
...
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I had
sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Do you use brooms to help you get it over them? We net several trees of
this size and by using brooms have foudn them quite easy to do. I really
don't like netting our big trees where we have to get up on ladders to get
near the tops.

"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 6:22 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Steve Peek wrote:
"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though
I had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the
assault?
Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the
extras?
Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a
bird problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a peach.
Other neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug rats...

Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged varmint.
With squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit (skins and
bits of pits), only two legged varmints carry away everything.
Steve

Here possums will take away everything.

Possums are not uncommon here.

Are talking about a different species of animal.

j wrote:
On 7/7/2011 6:22 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Steve Peek wrote:
"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though
I had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the
assault?
Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the
extras?
Jeff

Possible deer problem.

Not here.

If so, netting will work used as a fence around
the tree. You want space between net and tree.

I've also seen fallen peaches eaten by groundhogs but never had a
bird problem when I had peach trees.

Squirrels? The grounds are patrolled by guard cats though.

My neighbor claims it is birds, and she has never harvested a
peach. Other neighbor has a dwarf that has no problems.` Maybe rug
rats... Jeff


I would suspect either squirrels of some variety of 2 legged
varmint. With squirrels you would find some evidence of the fruit
(skins and bits of pits), only two legged varmints carry away
everything. Steve

Here possums will take away everything.

There was nothing left last year, it was like they never had fruit.

Possums are not uncommon here. I had several that used the cat door
and were perfectly at home with the cats. Took a while to trap and
remove. Used to also see racoons, very clever critters. The cats were
not friendly to them, but did not pick fights.

I think you have opossums, how different their behaviour is I am not sure.
As for racoons I have no idea.


I'm on the edge of woodlands here in Atlanta. No deer though.


Here the possums would live in the woods and sneak into the orchard at
night.

I do see mass migrations of blackbirds, among others, but I would
have thought they were messy eaters and would leave a lot of damaged
fruit. Here, nothing.

Birds are messy, they leave damaged fruit on the tree and drop bits all
over, so do fruit bats. You would see the birds in the day time. Rats will
also attack fruit if hungry enough, they are not neat eaters either.

If you have more fruit ripening on the trees you may have to go out with a
light at night and catch the rascals in the act to find out what they are.

David.

On 7/7/2011 11:21 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
j wrote:
On 7/7/2011 6:22 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
Steve Peek wrote:
"j" wrote in message
...
On 7/7/2011 9:01 AM, Frank wrote:
On 7/7/2011 8:38 AM, j wrote:
I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though
I had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the
assault?

I think you have opossums, how different their behaviour is I am not
sure. As for racoons I have no idea.

I had no idea we might be talking two different species. Our (o)possums
are marsupials, the only ones we have here.


I'm on the edge of woodlands here in Atlanta. No deer though.


Here the possums would live in the woods and sneak into the orchard at
night.

I do see mass migrations of blackbirds, among others, but I would
have thought they were messy eaters and would leave a lot of damaged
fruit. Here, nothing.

Birds are messy, they leave damaged fruit on the tree and drop bits all
over, so do fruit bats. You would see the birds in the day time. Rats
will also attack fruit if hungry enough, they are not neat eaters either.

If you have more fruit ripening on the trees you may have to go out with
a light at night and catch the rascals in the act to find out what they
are.

Fruit is about half size, so still ripening. I haven't lost any this
year, but last year I lost it all, and all at once. Went out to check on
the peaches, and there weren't any! Nor any on the ground... Came as a
shock!

Jeff


David.

j said:


I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I
had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

OK, here's what worked for me (before I moved to the sandpit, where
peach trees come to die).

I made a bunch of panels using 48" wide 1" hex netting (aka, chicken wire)
stapled onto 1x2 x 8 foot wood strips. The hex net extended about 1 foot
beyond each end of the wood.

Make enough panels to circle the tree. Tied the panels together to surround
the tree, with the loose hex net extending outward top and bottom. (It might
help to have a couple of stakes or fence posts to help get you started.)

Animals that can push through (or tear through) draped bird netting won't
get through wire mesh.

You can roll the panels up to store for next year.

And the panels will also work to protect small block plantings of sweet corn.

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?

Yes.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

email valid but not regularly monitored

On 7/8/2011 8:01 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
j said:


I've got about a 4 year old peach, and a few blueberries.

Last year, the peaches mysteriously vanished one day, even though I
had sorta draped netting over them.

Is there an alternative, and when should I be ready for the assault?

Netting an 11' tree is no easy matter!

OK, here's what worked for me (before I moved to the sandpit, where
peach trees come to die).

I made a bunch of panels using 48" wide 1" hex netting (aka, chicken wire)
stapled onto 1x2 x 8 foot wood strips. The hex net extended about 1 foot
beyond each end of the wood.

Make enough panels to circle the tree. Tied the panels together to surround
the tree, with the loose hex net extending outward top and bottom. (It might
help to have a couple of stakes or fence posts to help get you started.)

Animals that can push through (or tear through) draped bird netting won't
get through wire mesh.

I like this. I have a good bit of cypress I can rip into 1x2's, they are
8' long. I've got a few anchor post already, it seems like some tent
stakes (or rebar) might help too.

You can roll the panels up to store for next year.

Got it. Like it. Thanks. I was thinking of some framed structure, but
this is it and it fits any shape or lay of the land.


And the panels will also work to protect small block plantings of sweet corn.

Also, I have some clusters of peaches, should I thin out the extras?



Yes.

Will do. It'll be my only real harvest this year, except for my
neighbor's tomato factory.

Jeff