North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <doreenh@ticon.net>]

I have a large strawberry patch filled with everbearers and day
neutrals--all planted in April.  I removed all the flowers from the first
flush in late May and have snapped off runners, too, forcing multiple crown
production.  The technique worked great, and now I am being rewarded with a
full bed of huge plants that are flowering like crazy and setting fruit.  I
have wire hoops spanning the bed, too, so I can drape bird netting over if
needed.  Here is the problem.  The first berries are starting to ripen.  I
saw two yesterday that I figured I'd pick today.  Wrong!  This morning they
were gone.  The flower stems on which they were, and that also contain other
developing berries, were tossed aside.  I found them on the concrete block
path next to the bed.  Obviously, Chip and Dale, the local chipmunks, have
been busy.

What are my options?  Do you think the bird netting will keep them out?  If
I put it up, though, the bees can't get to the flowers.  Any suggestions?
Doreen Howard


 

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