| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Treacodactyl |
Fruit cagesDoes anyone have a good sized fruit cage? If so what is it made from, what type of netting does it use and what would you do differently?We'd like to grow more soft fruit but there's too much wildlife (birds, foxes, Labradors) to get a good harvest without netting. So, if we were to plan a large fruit patch, say 10m x 5m, a good fruit cage may be worth the investment. One idea, which is obvious now I've seen them, is a polytunnel frame with netting rather than polythene. Expensive but easy to get hold of and mend and available in plenty of good sizes. I'm considering growing anything from cherries to strawberries, so low sides would not necessarily be a problem. |
| Nick |
We had a huge one where we used to live. Steel plumbing pipe and chicken wire. Worked brilliantly. Probably expensive, tho. |
| mal55 |
I use a frame made of long canes gaffer taped together and covered in pond netting. It lasts a couple of years before I have to re-join it and is cheap, quick and effective |
| Tavascarow |
The netting can be bought at a reasonable price in the quantity you require.
I can recommend Lows of Dundee. I wouldn't bother with a frame, commercial orchards just use treated wooden posts with tyre rubber on the tops to stop the net from rubbing. |
| yummersetter |
We had the polytunnel frame with netting combination, but if the net wasn't very taut the birds got their feet tangled in the netting, and if it was stretched tight, it went into holes when they did kamikazi dives at it.
Eventually the cherry trees burst through the top, so we ripped the whole lot off. |
| Mistress Rose |
My parents had one years ago. The frame was treated soft wood and think the net was some sort of plastic. Dad had rasberries, gooseberries and currents in it.
Remember if you use soft wood that the bottom will need extra treatment, as the standard is not as good now as it used to be. |
| gregotyn |
I saw one made of steel electrical ducting-tube. It is good as it bends easily by hand with 2 people I was told, but not at right angles, in a curve. They put in wooden posts and used the tubing to form the top and bottom and put the netting over that on the sides and 'teed' in the tube cross pieces, quite a bit of work. I'd do it in wood, 3"x2" and brace the corners. The best tip I can give you is to make it so that you can stand up in it-walking inside a 5ft cage when you are 6ft is no joke! |
| tahir |
We had the polytunnel frame with netting combination, but if the net wasn't very taut the birds got their feet tangled in the netting, and if it was stretched tight, it went into holes when they did kamikazi dives at it.
Eventually the cherry trees burst through the top, so we ripped the whole lot off. |
Yeah, it's a bit tricky to say the least, I've rescued rabbits and birds from our cherry net.
I think we'll probably end up with something that's got permanent deer/badger/rabbit protection at the bottom with possibly a polytunnel frame (we have lots of spare poly tunnel stuff) for our soft fruit
I had hoped a good quality frame and netting would help reduce the risk of birds trying to get in. We get loads of jays round here and they're cunning and have a very nippy beak.
I have noted the use of hawk silhouettes on long flexible poles, used to scare off birds. I'm tempted to use something like them to scare them away from the netting.
The pole and tyre rubber sounds interesting, I'll give that a go this year and see how I get on.
http://www.bellewood-gardens.com/2013/Nagy%20-%20Blueberries_2013-07.html
These often turn up cheaply on ebay. We have two of them side by side covered in netting over the raspberry bed. They've lasted 5 years so far and look like they've got a few years left.
(mind you, no idea what I'll be doing next)