Whats eating my strawberries

[Mrs Dobby]

We had a squirrel helping itself to the strawbs on the plot, netting should prevent it, otherwise it will be squirrel steaks on the BBQ!

[nilling]

I grow my strawbs in guttering and have it netted. The only pests I get are woodlice. I had 3 last night yum yum

[Suky]

I grow my strawbs in guttering and have it netted. The only pests I get are woodlice. I had 3 last night yum yum

I didn't know woodlice were that tasty

[murphy99]

just watched a squirrel in my garden pick himself a strawberry which wasn't even ripe. He then got onto the sun lounger and sat there in the sunshine chomping away looking very comfortable!!! I didn't have the heart to move him, it was so entertaining

Maybe I need to net them , I hadn't bothered as they are all green! Although last year I watched a squirrel lift the net and help himself!

[jackie j]

I have lost all my strawberries and couldnt understand why, they were netted but not secured enough, I found most of them half eaten or not eaten at all along side some planks I had on my path. I think it was squirrels, so have now netted the whole lot with hoops and netting and moved the planks.
I had to go and buy strawberries this morning so we could have some.

[DaveJ]

I understand hedgehogs eat fruit, not sure though if they go for strawberries.

[taff]

mice eat the onesthat survive on my feeble plants. They leave a shape like a melon baller has been in there. The celeriac too lastyear.

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Taff, mine look like theyve been scrapped with a melon baller too, have you actually seen the mice there? Do they attack at night cos Ive no seen them at my strawbs?.

nilling, what size guttering, surely the standard 4" plastic gutter is too shallow isnt it? + how high do you rig it up? Drainage holes?
Thanks for replies yall.

[quark1]

Sheikh - mine are being demolished by the evil trinity of slug, snail and woodlouse!

I doubt that even a hungry fieldmouse, rat or badger gets a look in as there is so little left - and as for us humans - forget it.

I've just taken delivery of some of those hanging upsidedown strawberry planters which another grape advised were on sale at grabitnow.com for £3.75 each (max order 5 items).

I very much hope that this will be a reasonable solution, next year, to head off the worst munching offenders as they will be off the ground and hopefully prove more of a challenge for the pests to get at.

I'm sure next time they become available someone will post in the 'recommeded' or 'tips' column - or you could sign up to the daily newsletter to notify of the various one-day-only offers - p&p included. Lots of varied stuff on that site.

[Tomatoking]

Mine get picked and munched by my Springer Spaniel!!

Must be a Springer thing, our Springer, 'Bramble', just loves them.

[Busy B]

We had 2 ripe strawberries the first ones this season HOWEVER went out this morning and something has helped themselves to one and left the stalk on the grass

[binley100]

Must be a Springer thing, our Springer, 'Bramble', just loves them.

When I had them in hanging baskets at home Jake used to jump up and pinch them (his dad is a Springer) he also jumps up and helps himself to apples off the tree

[Paulottie]

Well, i pegged the chiken wire down but Mr Badger broke in further up

There are a few white runty looking strawberries. Got the electric fence but seems a bit like stabledoors and bolting.

[nilling]

nilling, what size guttering, surely the standard 4" plastic gutter is too shallow isnt it? + how high do you rig it up? Drainage holes?

Standard guttering from B&Q. No drainage holes. Strawbs have shallow roots so 4" guttering not a problem. Mines about 4ft off the ground. Knocked little nails in the posts so I could drape netting over it as well.

Just re-read my previous post - yewk! lol

[nilling]

Pictures of my Strawbs growing in guttering