Fruit netting???

[The Griff]

I have a few strawberries and raspberries in a little plot in my veg part of my garden, the raspberries never get bothered by the birds and neither do my veg but the strawberries do. A local cat is also mouching around and I am worried about putting my leaks in so was thinking of covering the lot with a big net like one big cage.

Down one side I have some plastic panels to keep our dogs out but they have 2 and a half inch squares in them, this is ideal for letting bees and suchlike through, but will they be too big to keep ALL strawberry eating birds out??

[WendyC]

I find the main strawberry munchers are blackbirds. They will exploit any crack in your defences ( no pun intended) to get to strawberries. Could you add some more netting over the top just while they are fruiting. I don't think the larger squares will keep them out. Harrodhorticultural do a nice one which drapes well and doesn't make me too cross with it! Netting often seems to have a life of it's own.

[The Griff]

I suppose I can run a net down the side but most crop nets are only 15mm mesh, I was hoping by leaving the larger gaps it would encourage more bees to pollinate my fruit. Do you think a 1" square mesh net would be the best size if I can find one?

[Bigmallly]

Cheap as chips & perfect for strawberries.
Wilko Crop and Pond Net 4mx2m at wilko.com

[Valleyman]

They "might" be put off by the screening, but I wouldn't put it passed them.

Yesterday I watched a blackbird walk up to my carefully netted strawberries, push the netting down onto one of the outer plants, and then tuck into a strawberry. They are crafty beggars when strawberries are involved. It turns out I need a more sturdy structure than cheap netting on short canes, or at least more height between the net and plants.

[Bigmallly]

Good point Valleyman, my Strawberry beds' netting has a height gap of around 2-3ft.

[Martin H]

I haven't netted my strawberries. Will I regret it?

[KevinM67]

Would suspending blank cd's over the fruit work.?

I've never tried this method - it's just netting is a bit of a pain in the backside when you want to weed, pick, propagate, etc.

Edit: I forgot you also have problems with a cat - nevermind the cd idea.

[Bigmallly]

I haven't netted my strawberries. Will I regret it?

It's your call whether you want to be safe or sorry Martin. I guess it's a personal choice.

[Gilberd]

I haven't netted my strawberries. Will I regret it?

I netted last year with very good net and posts but a blackbird found a way in through a small gap where the net had come loose. As i only go up every few days it, I found it had got stuck and died. I felt so guilty as obviously I did not make it as secure as I thought it was. I am therefore going to take my chances this year and leaving the strawberries unnetted. I may forsake a few strawberries but happy to share a handful with he birdies

[Martin H]

I may forsake a few strawberries but happy to share a handful with he birdies

It's whether they take a handful or take the whole lot...

Still, my bed is perpetuals so if I don't get any from the first flush I'll know to sort out some netting later on.

I'm encouraged that the plot next to mine has lots of strawberries and they don't net either.

[Alison]

I've not netted mine yet, a couple of weeks off needing to round here. They are pretty much the only fruit I do net though, wouldn't mind if the birds ate a whole one but they just peck a bit out of them all