[Grubbypaws]

I am thinking of growing rasberries and am just about to buy the trellis; do I need netting? I have read that birds do not like rasberries but find it hard to believe. Is it true?

Many Thanks

[Janeymiddlewife]

I am thinking of growing rasberries and am just about to buy the trellis; do I need netting? I have read that birds do not like rasberries but find it hard to believe. Is it true?

Many Thanks

YES birds like most berries - they're not fussed!

You can drape net curtain over them, but it's a bit of a pain to take off for harvesting - if you are growing a lot of rasps then a more permanent structure that you can walk under might be easier.

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you, it didnt seem likely that my sparrows would turn their beaks up at nice juicy rasberries!

The info came from  http://www.organicgardener.com/plants-shrubs/growing-rasberries.htm

[Salmo]

Harrods have an excellent design for raspberry supports for both single and double rows. Easy to copy if you do not want to buy. The pole along the top keeps the posts from leaning inwards so you need no props.

http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/search/search.asp?txtSearch=raspberry&submitflag=true&ctgry=Harrod&serial=09070635853592868&x=13&y=5

Birds go mad for raspberries and will fly at the net to get them. Autumn varieties are often safe, maybe because there are plenty of other berries about then.

[scabs]

I have had had six raspberries of my three rows this year, the birds have enjoyed the rest! 

I'll be building a fruit cage for next year.

[Stan160]

I've grown Autumn Bliss for the last two summers, and never seen any evidence of birds eating berries despite no netting or bird scarers, but the Glen Prosen I planted last summer have been well and truly attacked since the fruit started ripening about a month ago.

Only thing I can think of is that I'm on a large allotment site and maybe by the time Autumn Bliss gets into its stride there is so much choice for the birds that they can't keep up!

Ian

[maxie]

Birds are a major problem on our site,mainly jackdaws and rooks and ive to net most things,but they dont really bother the raspberries for some reason,blackbirds take some but i can live with losing a few.

[Grubbypaws]

Stan, do you recommend Autumn Bliss? I am trying to find a good raspberry to grow. Polka sounds good on the T&M site but doesnt seem to have any awards.

[Stan160]

I haven't had great success with raspberries so far.  My parents' Autumn Bliss (where my canes came from) grow very well, yield vast quantities of berries and are constantly trying to take over the top of their garden.

Mine are a bit weedy, and some canes tend to die off during the summer before fruiting.  More canes grow but the yield is disappointing.  Each winter I dig in grow more and bone meal, and once the new canes emerge, keep them watered when the ground dries out, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong!

Having said that, the fruit I get is very tasty, and cropping season is from mid July right around to the first heavy frost.  One of my allotment neighbours recommended Polka, which is a new variety bred from Autumn Bliss with an earlier start to the fruiting season and heavier yield.

Ian

[DD.]

I'm very happy with my Autumn Bliss, they crop very well AND as had been said - the birds leave them alone!

[Trillium]

I'm in my own garden and am forever chasing out thieving robins, grackles, bluejays and starlings who love my raspberries  The little b*ggars land on the grass and walk into the patch to help themselves. Definitely throwing netting over the top now that the strawberries are finished.

[meterman]

I have very polite birds on my lotty i net none of my fruit and only seem to lose any when i'm picking they come over and help themselves from the ones i've picked but mainly wait for the ones that i throw them. Also stan160 dont dig around the roots as they are shallow rooting i only dig to thin out otherwise i just put some general fertiliser on surface then cover with 2" layer of compost or well rotted manure

[Christine]

I'm with meterman on the way I treat my raspberries. They have taken some time to settle in but it's a good year this year.

[Stan160]

All I do is rake off the old wood chipping mulch, add fertilizer and scratch in to the top couple of cm of soil with a hand fork, then apply fresh wood chippings. 

Don't remember seeing any roots, but maybe it was enough disturbance to cause a problem.