It happened again

[NOG]

Last year I planted 3 Gooseberry plants all was growing well till one day....no fruit...all gone...every single one.

This year I put up a frame round them....loads of fruit....tonight went up there....no fruit on any of them all and I mean all gone....

any Ideas.

[TPeers]

Two options - thieving neighbours on the plot or thieving squirrels and jays

Was the frame moved? Squirrels and Jays are probably the most likely.

Happened on my old plot one year - when it was 'neighbours' unfortunately.

[pigletwillie]

Ours mysteriously vanished last year, as did our strawberries and we then caught the theiving toebags nicking strawberries on a different plot.

[Flummery]

A case for bringing back man-traps?

[TPeers]

Yes please!

[moggssue]

So is this common then, losing your produce to 'neighbours'? My OH is worried that this will happen when (IF) we get our lottie but I keep saying fellow growers wouldn't be so low - tell me I'm not wrong?! And NOG, how frustrating for you, hope you catch the blighters (she says politely!). Sue

[TPeers]

It's not really common - but like bad dogs only the bad news gets reported!

On some sites it never seems to happen, on others it never stops, some years it's bad some not so bad. From experience poorly secured lotties tend to suffer more that secure sites, and active sites, where there is someone there most of the time are less hit than quite sites, for obvious reasons. Leading me to think that a certain amount of 'lads on spree' is the cause - although Gooseberries? I don't think so!

Strawberries, carrots and spuds were more likely prospects!

Don't let news like this put you off getting a plot, just be aware that the problem exists at some level and be prepared if it happens to you - it may not.

Terry

[moggssue]

Thanks Terry. I do still desparately want an allotment and keep 'hassling' the secretary, but maybe I'll stop assuring OH that our crops will automatically be safe! The location of the lotties isn't in a built up area so there shouldnt be that much passing trade, just a cricket club next door (or will that make it easier to pinch from, no houses around to witness). Still, this itch wont go away until i have my own lottie!

[pigletwillie]

We are a very secure site and the culprits were from a different culture to ours so were allowed a second chance. It has since stopped altogether.

[NOG]

Its strange and stanger cos the fruit is at the back of the plot so they would have to have walked past 100 strewberry plants and onions and peas.

The only other time I lost fruit was when a family of Eastern European's got a plot and decided to have a picnic on their plot and a pick your own on my Plum trees.

I wasn't there but the Ground Steward was and threw them off the site and they lost the plot there and then. I got a call to come a collect two bags of plums. great I tought free plums till I was told they were off my trees.