The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: pgkevet on July 12, 2015, 04:55:10 pm

Title: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: pgkevet on July 12, 2015, 04:55:10 pm

Easy...
the birds just ate it.

I did work out the cost of a cage system for my many bushes and it's be cheaper to buy seasonal stuff for the rest of my life than build one for my (large) patches.

I'm half seriously thinking about adding 20 cherry trees to my collection...in the hope I get a cherry or two

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: Greenerlife on July 12, 2015, 06:06:08 pm

Not true!  The birds ate my cherries long before they were ripe!   >:(   :roflanim:  The pigeons that were being shot in the next field down, came into my garden and ate all my broad beans, mice ate my strawberries, and some low tomatoes.  It's a constant battle - nothing worse than having your lovely produce eaten by anyone other than yourself.

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: Q on July 12, 2015, 06:50:27 pm

I have to say I sometimes feel like I am stealing bird food when I eat my own cherries.

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: Louise Gaunt on July 12, 2015, 07:44:33 pm

I have rabbits and pigeons eating my peas, deer eating the beetroot and Swiss chard, and squirrels snacking on hen food! Don't you just love wildlife! Nothing is touching the courgettes, there are only so many times you can smuggle courgette into a meal!

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on July 14, 2015, 07:12:47 am

To tell when fruit or veg is ready for harvesting, not only will it look fantastic but when you twist the stalk the fruit should come off easily. If you have to pull hardely then its not quite there.

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: Sudanpan on July 15, 2015, 09:30:19 pm

I watched one of my chickens reaching up to grab a raspberry - so figured they were ripe  :roflanim:

Title: Re: How to tell if your soft fruit is ripe
Post by: Q on July 15, 2015, 09:32:53 pm

Quote from: Sudanpan on July 15, 2015, 09:30:19 pm

I watched one of my chickens reaching up to grab a raspberry - so figured they were ripe  :roflanim:

There is something insanely funny watching chickens jump up at something juuuust out of reach above their head.
It just looks like someone trying to bite an apple on a tree with their hands behind their back