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Cornucopia - Australia

Tomatoes attacked by Birds!

20 years ago

I had to net over all our outside tomatoes because of blackbirds or starlings that are feasting on half ripe fruit. They get up at sparrows fart and have a good brekkie before I am awake! This is the first time I've had a problem with them on tomatoes. Are there any easier solutions than yards of netting to tussle with when I want to pick the ripe ones. Can't let the Beagle in to chase them because he's become addicted to nicking the apples off the trees. The goldfish are behaving themselves though.

Cheers

Cosmic

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Comments (5)

The_Grub
20 years ago
I, too, have lost soome half ripe gems to birds. Yet to try a New Big Dwarf. Here's an idea...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/hpgal0110145125499.html
Darwin_NT
20 years ago
This might sound silly but it seems to work for me in the early to mid growing season. I simply move novelty rubber snakes that look real enough around the tomatoe patch moving them to differant locations daily.
But I suppose the birds in your area must have a natural dislike for snakes for this to work. Keith
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Spatzbear
20 years ago
Who was it that put rubber snakes in their fruit trees?

I'd get a heartattack every time I checked on the fruit trees, or the tomatoes.
cosmicgardener
Original Author
20 years ago
I think I would die on the spot too. We have some big black buggers that are real and I am very snake cautious. My grandies left an obviously rubber one here one day and I had to throw it out as every time I saw it, my heart jumped. So thanks for the idea Keith, I've ended up netting them, struggle to get in to pick them but it's saving the fruit.

Cosmic
halinka
20 years ago
I must admit it was me! I kept a snake in my pear tree and sometimes the almond tree and moved it around spasmodically. It seemed to work in the lower branches but the birds still attacked the top canopy. We have all had heart-stopping experiences with the blasted snake as I kept forgetting about it. I stored it on an overhead shelf in the laundry and every family member has been scared out of their skins at one time or another. At present it is in a drawer in the shed - I know it's there and it's not real but I feel quite shaken at the thought of opening the drawer. Think I'll get my husband to retrieve it for next season!
Halina

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