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| The grapevine has overwhelmed the trellis my husband constructed for me last year |
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| I should have tied the vines up against the top of the trellis as they lengthened but I wasn't paying attention |
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| Still, the grapes are looking pretty happy, aren't they? |
The grapes are nowhere near ripe yet but, given the volume of fruit, I'm hoping that at least some of these will make it to our table this year. Last year, the birds and other critters got what little fruit there was. I've tied "scare tape" to the trellis in a possibly vain attempt to discourage the birds this year.
I haven't had much luck so far keeping critters away from other fruit in the garden.
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| I think this squirrel knows I've caught him in the act |
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| And he doesn't care one bit! |
This ballsy squirrel didn't run off until I came within 2 feet of him this morning. But the blueberries are producing heavily right now so there was enough for both his breakfast and mine - today, anyway.
What do you suppose will happen to the strawberries when they ripen?
Or the few plums the 'Santa Rosa' tree has managed to produce?
I've asked my engineer/scientist husband to put his creative talents to work to devise a system to protect my fruits and vegetables that isn't hideous; however, he's also been preoccupied with other concerns so I don't expect anything in the way of a solution from him in the near term. I'd like to construct a screened framework all around the vegetable garden but that's probably not practical. The former owner of our property wrapped the fruit trees in netting but, after rescuing a trapped hummingbird from that mess last year, I pulled it all out. In my view, it detracted from the beauty of the garden, as well as making it difficult to harvest anything. Any ideas? What's worked for you?
Your grapes look amazing! I want to add some to my garden, but it will have to be a very hardy northern type. I had no idea squirrels ate grapes... it is all I can do to keep the bunnies out of my yard, squirrel-proofing it would be impossible.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels eat everything and, what they can't eat immediately (like unripe guavas), they bury. I think the birds will be the bigger problem when it comes to the grapes, though.
DeleteI'd be rather upset to loose all that fruit to critters. I do hope you manage a decent harvest for yourselves.
ReplyDeleteCan't offer much in the way of advice except I used to grow strawberries in containers and fashioned a sort of frame made from timber and chicken wire to slip over the top. It was lightweight enough not to be problematic when watering or tending to the containers.
There's a new US TV series airing this week called "Under the Dome", which appears to involve the mysterious appearance of a impenetrable shell over a town. I need a smaller version of that, preferably with a door...
DeleteI'm working on a charged plasma force field myself. Either that or a bean shooter. I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer the charged plasma force field. Let me know when you have that ready.
DeleteI've been competing with the chipmunks for strawberries -- but at least they're wild strawberries rather than plants that I've paid for and carefully nurtured. Like your squirrel, they're pretty cheeky about the theft; they like to leave the hulls piled up on the steps beside the strawberry patch, which feels like a taunt! -Jean
ReplyDeleteI know they're just focused on filling their stomachs but it does feel like they're taunting us, doesn't it?
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