[Yana]

I've got quite few raspberries that are starting to go red and soon ready for picking. Is it ok now to put some old net curtains over them or some other form of netting? There are flowers and green ones as well (obviously) so don't want to exclude pollinators and sunlight.

[RichardA]

in my opinion it is fine, I use debris netting if I see a problem with birds but would admit my priority is always to net my strawberries as birds go for them all the time and very rarely, in my case , go for the rasps.

[Yana]

in my opinion it is fine, I use debris netting if I see a problem with birds but would admit my priority is always to net my strawberries as birds go for them all the time and very rarely, in my case , go for the rasps.

I already covered the strawbs with debris netting but it didn't stop the ants getting at them!!!!
There is an ever increasing number of birds (pigeons, magpies, rooks) and foxes so I dont think I will get away without netting them with something.

[compostqueen]

Whatever you net them with make sure it's not going to trap the birds. Net curtain is fine and cheap as chips from the charity shop 

[Trillium]

Like Yana, I must net my raspberries because the thieving birds won't stop and last year they got 90% of my crop  This year we're enclosing the whole patch, along with other berries, in a big fruit cage and it won't be soon enough - the plants are all flowering and have small berries.

As for strawberries, it used to be just robins that stole it but now I see the mourning doves have also discovered the fine taste 

[Yana]

Like Yana, I must net my raspberries because the thieving birds won't stop and last year they got 90% of my crop  This year we're enclosing the whole patch, along with other berries, in a big fruit cage and it won't be soon enough - the plants are all flowering and have small berries.

As for strawberries, it used to be just robins that stole it but now I see the mourning doves have also discovered the fine taste 

The other 'thieves' I forgot to mention are the two-legged variety! 
The ottie site is an open-one (has a public footpath right through it) and every year there are thefts of fruit and veg so the netting may persuade the aforementioned people to look to another plot where the fruit isn't covered for easier pickings.

[Rosehip]

Can I ask a question please    if you net with fine net are you not keeping the bees out, keeping them from pollinating the berries,I have lots of raspberries at different stages so I was thinking of using a large hole net to cover up?

[Yana]

Can I ask a question please    if you net with fine net are you not keeping the bees out, keeping them from pollinating the berries,I have lots of raspberries at different stages so I was thinking of using a large hole net to cover up?

Hi Rosehip
The plan I have is to cover the tops, not a complete enclosure. Sorry, I didn't say this. A bit like a tablecloth over the canes so that bees can still get in.
A smart bird will work out that they can go underneath .......... But still get out.

[compostqueen]

Yes, they are cheeky little wotsits    You can festoon them in all manner of protections and the birds will nip under it and up into the fruit. The only thing that can't get to them will be you 

[Mrs Bee]

you are dead right about them being cheeky wotsits and I take great umbrage at them stealing my fruit as we put out loads of bird food for them all year.