#323272
Jul 1st, 2010 at 06:00 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
When I moved in there were already fox grapes and blackberries growing on the property. I've heard that the fox grapes make a great wine and jam if you add enough sugar because they are naturally very sour. The deer love them without the sugar. I've added a selection of herbs, blueberries, pears, cherries and a plum tree. They are all young plants as yet but they are working on providing me lots of canning opportunities. What fruits are in your garden?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
Last year I only got a few fruits from each plant and the birds got the only plum and all of the cherries. This year I have the netting and if I can just figure out how to get it on the tree I should be in good shape. Can anyone help me out with that?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 37,027 Likes: 9
California Queen
|
California Queen
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 37,027 Likes: 9 |
Netting is tricky without ladders or equipment to help get it over. I have only 'netted' a peach tree once without help of equipment. The tree was nearly 20 feet tall. I tied a rock onto two corners of the netting and tossed those over it at the same time. It worked the second time with a little tweaking afterward. The first time, getting the snagged netting out of the tree to try again, nearly had me in tears. After that the netting stayed until it completely fell apart a few seasons later. How tall is your tree, Tammy?
~Tina Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
These are 4 year old semi-dwarfs and reach a maximum height of 10 feet. That means about 2 feet taller than I am on the ladder. I wonder if I can borrow my neighbors ladder and get sharon to help me? Well maybe.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 46,826 Likes: 33
Frogger
|
Frogger
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 46,826 Likes: 33 |
My momma has always said it never hurts to ask, Tammy. After all if you do not ask, the answer is no--therefore it does not hurt to ask---what she gonna do,- turn you down?? & then what?? you are no worse off, right ??-
So give her a try.... Good luck
________ Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
I think I will when the time comes. I mean if your going to share in the harvest...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1 |
If it were me, and I had one (or preferably 2) friends helping, I would get a couple of 10-12' poles and put a nail in one end of each. A pole and a person on the front 2 corners, hook the corner of the net over the nail, then lift up and over. The third person is helpful for fixing tangles, mixing margaritas, etc. etc.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
That sounds like a good plan. I like that better than climbing up on a ladder. I wonder if I could make a slingshot shaped pole so I could do it by myself?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1 |
I wonder if I could make a slingshot shaped pole so I could do it by myself? I think that might give you a really bad headache, a sore back and strained muscles that you didn't even know you had!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
|
OP
Official Taste Tester
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160 |
hummmmm...I don't think I'll do that. lol.
Thanks for the advice Bill.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 37,027 Likes: 9
California Queen
|
California Queen
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 37,027 Likes: 9 |
I agree. It is tough. What I found with my netting I mentioned prior was that the birds only caused part of the damage. My biggest problem was with squirrels. And hanging a lot of flashy things helped scare both birds and squirrels away long enough for me to harvest. CD's and mylar strings I bought cheaply in the toy dept of my dollar store. Made them nervous enough to stay clear.
~Tina Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7
Member
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7 |
I like variety and like to use every spot. I can't say I like grass and it feels wasteful to water grass. Why would you water and maintain grass ? I have Apples, pears, plums, apricots, peaches, and figs. I grow squash, peppers, cucumbers, rosemary, oregano, peas, and beans.
|
|
|
Forums65
Topics14,312
Posts240,889
Average Daily Posts2
|
Members16,006
Most Online10,356 Nov 2nd, 2019
|
|
|
|