Talkback: Garden birds, squirrels and fruit crops - Talkback

11/07/2011 at 15:06

There are eleven figs on my small fig tree in the conservatory, Adam ,and I know from experience to keep the door to the garden shut from now on, else the squirrels will have them. I suspected foxes the first year it happened as I have had a fox come in the house and go out with a satsuma in each cheek, but I heard a pot fall one day and saw the squirrel with a fig in his mouth go out the door. My Bramley apples feed many families now the tree is so huge but this morning something wild has dug a big hole beneath it. There are lots more places in my garden for a fox or badger to live too without jeopardising the Bramley. Still, we would be in a sorry state without our wildlife.

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11/07/2011 at 16:56

I have picked a large crop of blackcurrants and the vine weevils love them. At least 30 on the leaves and in the bowls of fruit. I found them in the house as well having climbed out of the fruit bowls. Just pulled apart the branches of the currant bushes and there they were sitting on the leaves. I don't think they eat the fruit just the leaves, but I have never seen so many all at once.

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11/07/2011 at 20:37

I have a small red berry and blueberry tree and just when I went to pick the fruit I saw the previous day they were gone. Its as if the wildlife knew I was coming. Being the first year I doubt I will get much fruit anyway but all going well next year I will be prepared for the invasion :)The strawberries I picked asap and ate straight away. At least there was some reward.

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12/07/2011 at 13:07

My wild life will have a feast on blackberries, top half of my garden which I have neglected has been taken over by brambles. I had a lovely show of flowers,I will pick some to eat and the wild life can have the rest.

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12/07/2011 at 22:51

Oh yes, do leave some for the wildlife. My big problem is when they take it all!

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14/07/2011 at 08:39

My tayberry growing in a pot had some fruit on yesterday morning, yesterday afternoon all gone. It is alright to grow tayberry in a pot? I didnt want it take over the garden.

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15/07/2011 at 07:47

i found this website and i like its products just waiting for my delievery now. really helped my garden http://www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk/

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16/07/2011 at 21:02

I have lots of problems with pests pinching crops (especially fruit) at my allotment. I thought I had the answer when I moved all of my strawberries to my garden. Lots of our neighbours have cats which are on patrol most of the time, keeping the birds at bay. All was well until my dog developed a taste for strawberries and the whole lot disappeared! There's more about my lottie trials and tribulations (and the antics of my naughty hound)on my blog at http://lottienews.blogspot.com/

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17/07/2011 at 08:22

Hi Adam It happened to me 3 days ago .. I have [had ] 3 peaches on my small 2nd yr tree . One was ripening beautifully and now its gone. I am really peeved ! It can only be the squirrels !! I so want to eat one of my own peaches :(

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17/07/2011 at 16:25

Blueberries and blackbirds are my problem! Each year my netting is getting more intense but this year it seems to be paying off.I pick the berries every other day and the ones that have dropped I leave on my step for the birds. That way they do get a lookin but under my controlled conditions!

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19/07/2011 at 10:35

Oh, the lengths we gardeners have to go to in order to enjoy tasty home-grown produce. I do love my resident birds, but wish they'd learn to share! If only they'd get a taste for weeds!

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20/07/2011 at 12:19

Can I take cuttings from a honeysuckle?

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20/07/2011 at 13:26

A big bowlful of lovely yellow plums this morning when i went up the garden for potatoes, beans, peas, curly lettuce, tomatoes and spring onions. The birds do not seem to notice these plums as they are very like the leaves of the tree and they are as soft and delicious as apricots. They also yield a great harvest so. all in all, one to be recommended as a boost to one's confidence. As I also came back with a huge bunch of flowers for the house the shops will not be seeing me for some time. Too busy gardening anyway.

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20/07/2011 at 22:45

I wish i only had birds to contend with, RABBITS - we have been in our house for 3yrs and trying to remove them 'naturally' but they are eating everything I try to grow and as they are under my woodshed we are having big problems of getting rid of them. DOes anyone have any 'natural' ways of remving rabbits without upsetting the kids!!

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21/07/2011 at 19:38

It would be nice if someone experienced provided detailed advice on drying and preserving herbs. We dont all have spacious houses with aga's, greenhouses or very dry areas. eg Lovage, golden majoram fennel etc Thanks P

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21/07/2011 at 20:32

Well now, i have been using my own herbs in my cooking for donkey's years, so I suppose I qualify, hortus. For what it is worth, I try to have chives, parsley and basil growing on windowsills all the year. I also pack surplus herbs into ice-cube partitions, cover with water and freeze. Thyme, marjoram,sage and mint, I tie in bunches, tie up a south facing drainpipe and leave till quite dry, then crumble into jars with lids. No need for Agas or a greenhouse. A dry spot in my garage helps in wet summers - I tie the bunches to the window latches.

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22/07/2011 at 09:09

Birds don't seem to go for whitecurrants, which are good for bulking out scarcer fruits for jam-making (scarcer because birds have helped themselves!) I also have a hybrid type of blackberry bought years ago from late-lamented Woolies. Its label said tayberry/loganberry cross, but must have been wrong as it's black. Too sharp for the birds, and makes great preserves.

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22/07/2011 at 14:27

is it possible to take cuttings from evergreen clematis?

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07/08/2011 at 15:20

So far this year the black birds have had every single redcurrant, every single gooseberry, only a few black berries, a few strawberries, and a few raspberries, the squirrels have amused me greatly pinching a few strawberries sat on the patio table enjoying them in the sun running off with bulging cheeks when disturbed; aside from the gooseberries I don't begrudge sharing, and I've never been a huge fan of red currants anyway! I've thought about netting but was worried about it's safety for wildlife that could get caught in it, Any tips or advice on this? thanks

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02/09/2011 at 15:19

Fruits in the garden is inviting the animals to come closer, our plantation house that has a sapodilla tree has made the bats come over and eat ripe sapodilla fruit or half-cooked sapodilla in a tree