Protecting Blueberries

[Molalla1]

View attachment 638361
You can see it on the right of the greenhouse.

Nice job of both . . .

 

[jgedmond]

View attachment 638361
You can see it on the right of the greenhouse.

Looks good! I just laid the bird netting over miscellaneous height T-posts that I had on hand. That made it difficult to navigate under the netting to harvest the berries. That little button on my ball cap was always catching on the netting. :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

Looks good! I just laid the bird netting over miscellaneous height T-posts that I had on hand. That made it difficult to navigate under the netting to harvest the berries. That little button on my ball cap was always catching on the netting. :laughing:

That's too funny as it is true... I know EXACTLY what you mean, I always have a cap on around the house and this was an actual problem. :drink:

I had to zip tie wood dowel extenders on the T posts to raise up the 'roof' so I could navigate my 6'2" and shrinking body inside. Wife couldn't understand my frustration. She is 5'5" so she says.

 

[forgeblast]

Thanks, it was a needed project. The greenhouse plans are from johnny seed co. We bought the bender and did the movable gothic style. I really like how easy it was to put together using top bar from chain link fencing and emt.
I am 6'2 and didn't want to be ducking under fencing that is why the blueberry cage is high. I figured if I'm building it I want to enjoy it too.

 

[dj1701]

I have 12 highbush blueberry bushes in western NY.

My biggest problem is deer. I have set up automatic sprinkler heads in the past and it has worked well
at keeping all animals out. It sucks though when you forget about them and get soaked. LOL

Now I spray with Plantskydd and tie little net bags of German Shepard hair to the bushes
for a little more protection. it works really good. I was giving away berries last year.

 

[DarkBlack]

In a given amount of time, one gray squirrel will knock off and destroy more berries than 10 birds. Send gray squirrels to squirrel heaven ASAP.
Netting: netting is a pain when you have as many bushes as I do. Birds get stuck underneath, the plants grow through the nets during the duration, along with crawling vines, you end up damaging the bushes in the fall.
Birds.: Grow large berry varieties like patriot. Grow a wild variety or 2 nearby as a sacrifice. Birds do not like dealing with the large berries. The prefer small wild sized.
Lastly: bushes are pretty inexpensive. Plant enough for losses and what you want, and kick back and enjoy.