Ripe for the pecking

Do you have a backyard vegetable garden? Of course I am sure that you produce nothing less than prime produce. However, if you ever had the experience of insects and birds reaping the fruits of your labour, I have compiled a list of options tried and tested by home gardeners.

1.       Fruit sleeves. My stock is reused sleeves. However, they are not available locally. They are available on the internet-they are sold in wholesale quantities at wholesale prices and recommended  for commercial use.

2.       Halved dry coconuts and mounted on stakes in your garden. The expected outcome is that the birds will feed on this food source provided.

3.       Mounted clothes coat on a wooden frame to create a 'scarecrow'.

'Scarecrow' in cabbage plot

4.       Coloured Christmas tree ornaments placed on plants before the fruit gets ripe. The expected outcome is that the birds will tire from pecking these “false ripe fruit” and won’t return to peck at the real fruit when ripe.

Many backyard gardeners have opted for the use of netting of varying degrees of shade. The primary use of the netting is to reduce the impact of the sun on the plants. However, it also functions as a safeguard from birds. This material is costly as one square meter can be sold for approximately $70.00. Therefore before making this purchase decision one should seek expert advice as different crops favour different types of shade.

PPlease share your tried and tested tips for bringing more of the fruits of your labour to the dinner table.