[NAFEX] covering cherries, fruit bags questions
Mark Dorogi
mddorogi at comcast.net
Sun May 11 22:21:10 EDT 2008
Do the Maggot Barriers work reliably for codling moth? Plum curculio? We
have lots of those around here, but I havent had much problem with apple
maggots.
_____
From: nafex-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Judi Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:37 PM
To: nafex at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] covering cherries, fruit bags questions
Im loaded with cherry blossoms this year. Been taking a tube of orchard
mason bees from the refrigerator every day now for the past three weeks.
Plenty of wild pollinators are working the blossoms with the mason bees, but
few bumble or honey bees are out. Has anyone used the product bee scent or
purchased bags of pollen?
We bought bird netting for the cherries in a 30 wide roll and cut lengths
to fit each tree. Nice stretchy material - has ¾ holes. Two of us worked
together to cover each tree. We wrapped two ends of the netting to 10 long
PVC pipes, stood far apart from each other, raised the pipes up and walked
the netting over the trees. Then we tied the netting around the tree trunk.
This worked great to save the crop from the birds, though one bird did get
caught.
To remove the netting, we simply tied the netting to the poles again and
raised it over and off the trees. The problem I had was that the netting
resting directly on the tree, bent some of the limbs, especially those up
high. This disfigured the limb placement. I imagine row cover, especially
when wet, might have the same effect.
This year were planning on putting together PVC frames for the netting in
order to hold it off the tree. If we get carried away, well paint the PVC
green, which should also make it last longer. Instead of tying netting
around the trunk, itll drape on the ground. A few 2 x 4s around the
perimeter will hold it down, also making it easier to get under the netting
to pick the fruit. Long-time fruit club member Buddy Brock gets credit for
this one.
I bought the netting from American Nettings. Ask them about the other sizes
they carry. Heres their site:
http://americannettings.com/packaged_products/bird_netting/bird_netting.htm
As for bagging, were using our clubs Maggot Barriers on apples and pears.
Doesnt look like well have many peaches to bag here because of the frosts.
Judi Stewart
zone 8
North Olympic Peninsula
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