[Kleftiwallah]

  (1). Something is nibbling my cherries?  My fruit cage is like Fort Knox (bird proof) and the nibbled bits look like a knife has sliced off a side, rather than pecking marks, could it be ants?

 (2) Strawberries.  Rooted runners in their 1st year.  Do I remove the runners until I want more plants or leave them on?

 (3)Strawberries.  How do I treat the plants to ensure an equally good crop next year?

Over to you the knowledgeable members.   Cheers,  Tony.

[sunshineband]

Cherries -- sorry, can't help you there but not likely to be ants.

But strawberries I have an offering:

- You can root as many runners as you need new plants and cut off any that are surplus. I usually cut them all off in the first year as I am a bit of a softie like that and I think it helps build a stronger plant for the coming year

- In addition to that, cut off the leaves after fruiting is finished and feed with potassium sulphate to help develop flower buds for the next year. The plants need a period of cold so keep them outside until late March when you can bring in any you want to fruit early (might have to hand pollinate). feed again in the Spring too.

Well that's what I do anyway. Vine weevils love them and so keep an eye for any plants that flag and investigate pronto

Hope that helps a bit!

[Kleftiwallah]

 IT'S £$%&*&^%$£" BLACKBIRDS!

I saw two of the beggars in there this morning.  No idea where they are getting in. I'll have to re-Fort Knox my Fort Knox ! ! !

Cheers and thanks for the reply sunshineband.   Tony.

[honeymelon]

the cherry damage due to the wet weather, too much rain make the fruit crack.

[sunshineband]

 IT'S £$%&*&^%$£" BLACKBIRDS!

I saw two of the beggars in there this morning.  No idea where they are getting in. I'll have to re-Fort Knox my Fort Knox ! ! !

Cheers and thanks for the reply sunshineband.   Tony.

At least the mystery is solved!

[Kleftiwallah]

Thanks for all your intersting and informative replies...I've been around and found a small tear in a cage corner, now stiched up with bright yellow fishing line.  I'll keep an eye on it!

Cheers,  Tony.

[sunshineband]

I found that the two pieces of netting carefully joined together had been forced apart by a rogue raspberry cane pushing against it, allowing access to a cheeky robin. Luckily

a) he didn't like berries

b) I spotted it before the blackbirds

The gap is now carefully sealed with cable ties

[Trikidiki]

Having had to replace my fruit cage net with one with a smaller mesh as the blackbirds were going through it, I sat the other day watching a hedge sparrow going through the new net and picking red currants. I have also had the two local robins coming through the net to visit me. I don't mind the smaller birds, they have a much smaller appetite and I work on the basis that if they are used to going through the net they may continue to do so and munch any insects throughout the year.

[Kleftiwallah]

I've just 'donated' quite a few cherries that were cracked and attracting mould to the birds in a tray on our lawn.  Thinking ahead...I hope they don't get hooked on the taste too much.

Cheers,  Tony.