[Yana]

Apologies if this has been discussed before ....
I have been waiting weeks to plant a new strawberry bed and it looks like there will be a break in the weather early next week to do this, but I am not sure if I have to wait for the fruit to form (if I get any this year) before netting or do I net straight away? I've made covers out of debris netting.

[maxyboo]

I net mine once the fruits are forming and turning red. If you net before the flowers have set then the bees won't be able to polinate them.

[catweazle]

depends how big the mesh is...

big hole mesh (2cm square is perfect) can stop on year round

fine mesh wont let polonators through

[green_fingered_ash]

I read that if you paint rocks bright red, birds will come and try to eat them and eventually give up. I suppose most of your strawberries will be left well alone after the year of all types of birds attempting to eat it. I have not tried it myself (yet), however it sounds like its a feasible avenue to pursue.

[DD.]

Reading about it is one thing, recommending it personally is another.

Please report back when you've tried it.

Personally, I'll continue netting as I don't think our birds are that daft. 

I'll leave it to you to sacrifice a year's crop!

[parttimer]

I read that if you paint rocks bright red, birds will come and try to eat them and eventually give up. I suppose most of your strawberries will be left well alone after the year of all types of birds attempting to eat it. I have not tried it myself (yet), however it sounds like its a feasible avenue to pursue.

I now have a mental picture of sparrows with broken beaks and headaches! 

[green_fingered_ash]

I did read about it, correct, however I did not suggest he go out and try it possible risking his whole crop. I merely stated it sounds like it would work  because the birds will eventually tire of trying to eat a rock . On the other hand I'm fairly new to allotmentering so don't take my workd for it 

[Yorkie]

I've heard that tip before, GFA 

[Yana]

The rocks sound plausible but surely they will peck the paint off in their attempts to eat the pseudo-strawberries?

[toasted]

using painted stones would be no different to using golf balls to stop chickens eating there eggs so should work

[monkeygee]

ive built a raised edge around my bed and put hinged lids on covered with 2cm pond netting , all pollinators can get in but birds cant , with the hinges you can easily open them up to pick and tend to the plants and its left on all year round

[angelavdavis]

using painted stones would be no different to using golf balls to stop chickens eating there eggs so should work

Tried that one, and ended up with a broody hen who thought she would sit on the golf balls hoping they would hatch!