North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Donna &/or Kieran" <holycow@cookeville.com>]

Actually, nylon net is cheaper than tulle.  I used to buy 4-5 yards of nylon 
net every couple of years to cover my summer squash.  I'd plant seeds in a 
row instead of hills, putting the netting flat on the ground at planting 
time.  The plants tend to lift the netting as they grow, and by the time 
they get so big the netting is lifted off the ground, it's time to take it 
off and let the bees pollinate the flowers and the borer proceed to try 
their worst.  We have actually had summer squash till we were sick of it. 
Normally the borers kill the plants about the time people are really 
beginning to enjoy it.
   After my son's wedding we folded up and brought home all the tulle used 
for decoration.  Mostly I use it draped over peas and crowder peas to keep 
cardinals from eating them.  I clothespin it to the tops of the fence that 
supports the plants.  I don't have enough to use on the blueberries.  One 
inch bird netting helped keep birds from the middle of the row, but around 
the outside they simply picked the berries through the netting.
   Since the price of nylon net went up, I've checked fabric stores now and 
then to see if they ever mark down weird colors or remnants.  So far it 
seems they do not.  I always check yard sales for nylon curtains, which 
serve to cover my greens in winter.  Occasionally the older curtains appear 
that are a fine netting instead of the very sheer nylon usually sold today. 
Old volleyball nets would also be useful for bird damage control.  I'm not 
sure that any of these fabrics will stop squirrels.  From what I have heard, 
squirrrel populations are totally out of control in many towns and cities, 
and the neighbors might not mind if the population were to mysteriously go 
down.  I think Lucky's bonbons sound like the best way to acheive that. 
Donna