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Protecting Blueberries
Does anyone know how I can protect my blueberries from the birds?
They haven't even ripened up properly yet and the birds have already noticed them....Although they haven't started taking them yet... I have put string and bits of silver foil on them to make a little noise and flap about bit they are nolonger afraid of that.... Thanks! |
Protecting Blueberries
The message
from Rick McGreal contains these words: Does anyone know how I can protect my blueberries from the birds? They haven't even ripened up properly yet and the birds have already noticed them....Although they haven't started taking them yet... I found that wild birds didn't bother with them much, (at least, not compared to their passion for red currants and cherries) but my hens used to spend happy hours lurking under the blueberry bushes in eager anticipation; they wouldn't touch the fruit until it was completely ripe. I just kept a daily eye on the ripening and made sure I picked them as soon as. Janet. |
Protecting Blueberries
Janet Baraclough wrote in
: I found that wild birds didn't bother with them much, (at least, not compared to their passion for red currants and cherries) but my hens used to spend happy hours lurking under the blueberry bushes in eager anticipation; they wouldn't touch the fruit until it was completely ripe. I just kept a daily eye on the ripening and made sure I picked them as soon as. Ok....I'll keep an eye on them....They are not ready yet....But I have no idea how long I have to wait....They are 'full and fat' but no colour change as of yet.... I'll just wait and see whay happens.... |
Protecting Blueberries
On 17 Jun 2003 07:09:02 GMT, Rick McGreal
wrote: ~Janet Baraclough wrote in : ~ ~ I found that wild birds didn't bother with them much, (at least, not ~ compared to their passion for red currants and cherries) but my hens ~ used to spend happy hours lurking under the blueberry bushes in eager ~ anticipation; they wouldn't touch the fruit until it was completely ~ ripe. I just kept a daily eye on the ripening and made sure I picked ~ them as soon as. ~ ~Ok....I'll keep an eye on them....They are not ready yet....But I have no ~idea how long I have to wait....They are 'full and fat' but no colour ~change as of yet.... ~ ~I'll just wait and see whay happens.... I have the opposite problem - the blackbirds round here love my blueberries and since this year I've got a rather staggering crop coming :-), I'm not about to risk the birdies getting them! I've wound 1cm plastic netting around each bush and though they will still peck at the berries that are close to the net, the inner ones should be fine. They don't touch them when they're green. They are best picked a couple or three days after they go blue, at the point where they fall off in your hand. The flavour is then by far and away the best. Picking daily is recommended - I freeze mine immediately, as they thaw out perfectly. -- jane Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist but you have ceased to live. Mark Twain Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks! |
Protecting Blueberries
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Protecting Blueberries
In message , Rick McGreal
writes (jane) wrote in : I have the opposite problem - the blackbirds round here love my blueberries and since this year I've got a rather staggering crop coming :-), I'm not about to risk the birdies getting them! I've wound 1cm plastic netting around each bush and though they will still peck at the berries that are close to the net, the inner ones should be fine. They don't touch them when they're green. Thats the stage they are at now....Mainly green....Although you can see the 'blueness' underneath..... We've never had a problem with our couple of bushes and birds, if We did a few stakes or canes etc. and a bit of nylon netting over the top would be my answer. They are best picked a couple or three days after they go blue, at the point where they fall off in your hand. The flavour is then by far and away the best. Picking daily is recommended - I freeze mine immediately, as they thaw out perfectly. I was hoping I could freeze them as I don't think I'm gonna get much more than enough to make a pie with....This is a very young bush and AFAIK its its first flowering/fruiting..... Ah we just pick them and eat them - yummy. Well if we get there in time that is - Elinor rather likes Blueberries..... This year she has discovered the delights of fresh peas - she disappears into the veg patch and comes back with a couple of pods for us to open for her. We are having some success in getting her just to pick the fuller ones :-) -- Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds urg Suppliers and References FAQ: http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html |
Protecting Blueberries
Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in
: Thats the stage they are at now....Mainly green....Although you can see the 'blueness' underneath..... We've never had a problem with our couple of bushes and birds, if We did a few stakes or canes etc. and a bit of nylon netting over the top would be my answer. Nylon...Hmmm....Can I use muslin? I have a little bit of old window netting left that would go over the plant no probs...Its not very thick.....But would it rot in the weather? Ah we just pick them and eat them - yummy. I was hoping to do something with them...... Well if we get there in time that is - Elinor rather likes Blueberries..... Mara eats our strawberries.... I'll bet she will nick a few blueberries before they get to the kitchen! This year she has discovered the delights of fresh peas - she disappears into the veg patch and comes back with a couple of pods for us to open for her. We are having some success in getting her just to pick the fuller ones :-) She can't rea;lly get at our stuff as its kind of out of the way a little....And she really isn't tall enough |
Protecting Blueberries
In message , Rick McGreal
writes Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in : Thats the stage they are at now....Mainly green....Although you can see the 'blueness' underneath..... We've never had a problem with our couple of bushes and birds, if We did a few stakes or canes etc. and a bit of nylon netting over the top would be my answer. Nylon...Hmmm....Can I use muslin? I have a little bit of old window netting left that would go over the plant no probs...Its not very thick.....But would it rot in the weather? Oh use what ever you have. I have some old nylon fruit netting so would use a bit of that, I'm sure a bit of net curtain will do fine It won't rot, the UV light will probably degrade it, but that's a longer term process. Ah we just pick them and eat them - yummy. I was hoping to do something with them...... I theory so do I, in reality ............... :-) -- Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds urg Suppliers and References FAQ: http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html |
Protecting Blueberries
Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in
: Nylon...Hmmm....Can I use muslin? I have a little bit of old window netting left that would go over the plant no probs...Its not very thick.....But would it rot in the weather? Oh use what ever you have. I have some old nylon fruit netting so would use a bit of that, I'm sure a bit of net curtain will do fine I don't mind if it gets destroyed.... Its just a couple of odd ends left from when I had the nets put up.... It won't rot, the UV light will probably degrade it, but that's a longer term process. The only real problem would be the light getting through it.... I'll try it tomorrow and see how it looks... Ah we just pick them and eat them - yummy. I was hoping to do something with them...... I theory so do I, in reality ............... :-) B-D It never quiet makes it that far, eh?! |
Protecting Blueberries
In message , Rick McGreal
writes Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in : Nylon...Hmmm....Can I use muslin? I have a little bit of old window netting left that would go over the plant no probs...Its not very thick.....But would it rot in the weather? The only real problem would be the light getting through it.... I'll try it tomorrow and see how it looks... I don't think the light levels will be a problem - they don't exactly make rooms dark do they? -- Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds urg Suppliers and References FAQ: http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html |
Protecting Blueberries
Chris French and Helen Johnson wrote in
: The only real problem would be the light getting through it.... I'll try it tomorrow and see how it looks... I don't think the light levels will be a problem - they don't exactly make rooms dark do they? Good point... And if I'd have put my brain in gear I would have thought of that.... Oh well! |
Protecting Blueberries
They haven't even ripened up properly yet and the birds have already noticed them Erk! When are they supposed to flower? Mine haven't yet. Neither have my Autumn Bliss Raspberries or Ashmeads Kernal apple Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com |
Protecting Blueberries
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Protecting Blueberries
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Protecting Blueberries
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