North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["eric" <plumhillfarm@gmavt.net>]

We use "monofilament" netting extensively in our orchard, and hate it because it catches on everything. It however, increases our fruit harvest by 50-100% (depending on how well the birds like the particular fruit tree).

 

We bought a 5000' roll 17' wide (~$1200), pull off ~ 50-60' sections fold it in half then sew up the top with plastic baling twine. These last for years (3-5 yr depending on how badly you get them stuck taking them off). To put them over the trees, we use 10' 1-1/4" white PVC pipe (doesn't catch the net), Fold the net in half so the "closed end" and the "open end" are together (open end on top) and away from the tree and with one person on each side using the poles, lift up and place the netting to the middle of the tree, then pull the top folded part the rest of the way over the tree. We  then close the netting using clothes pins. It takes ~ 10-15 min to put on a 10 -12' tree, and less time to get it off. Larger trees take more work, and we use scraps as "skirts" on larger trees. We catch a few birds, most get chased out when we see them.

 

We have ~ 300 trees which ripen from early July to late Sept (90 varities) so cannot depend on the "mass effect" (ie to much fruit for the birds to eat it all), and  move the nets tree to tree as they ripen. I wish they made netting for Japanese Beetles.

 

The rules are PVC poles, no buttons, sneakers not boots, and lift, don't pull.

 

 

Eric White

Plum Hill Farm

Vermont