Hobbies / Books   (Gardening, walking, books, films, theatre etc.)

dave b: I like your fruit cages. I thought that I had over 2,000 strawberry plants, and last two years, had not been able to maintain them adequately.

I gave half of them away, with the intention of easing my task.

The last week or so, set about renovating: re spacing, re-seating crowns that are coming out, etc and the runners, ah 'the runners'. Believed I had clipped most of them. but obviously had missed some. One of the previous strawberry beds, I want to re-allocate to spring bulbs, so keeping only the best plants: had a yard deep pile of plants consigned to the compost heap.

AND,I STILL HAVE MORE THAN 2,000 PLANTS!

In a good year, cropping two large colanders full per day from May to July. Intend to use excess for wine/jam. but not had time, so thus far, had to give to the neighbours.

I have been using plastic netting, pegged to ground, and supported on canes. It is not really satisfactory: difficult to un-peg for access, and net inevitably torn and tangled at end of season, so looked with envy at your serviceable devices. (Have something similar for my fruit trees)

So I shall task myself with constructing something similar, now that my strawberry beds are more orderly.

I do not think I could manage the storage requirements of rigid frames like yours, even though they are likely to be the most functional. Considering the option of flat mesh panels for easy storage, and cable ties to simply fasten then into a frame, or alternatively uprights left in situ, to which panels can be secured.