Grow Your Own Magazine

I have 3 hanging baskets with Temptation strawbs (bred for hanging baskets) and quite a few large strawberries on each - had a look today, some of the berries have had it to be honest, prob all the rain, but the ones that are growing fine...are covered in wasps and bluebottles and have made berries inedible! Any clues on this?

Thanks, D

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"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."

I'm afraid wasps will be attracted to any sweet/lush smelling fruit and dine freely on the bounty so generously grown by yourself. I expect the B/Bottles are just coming down to get to the juice after the wasps have broken through the skin. If they had been on the ground you'd likely have had slug damage by now as well.

Its possible they were left a little too long on the plants - you don't say what stage of ripening those remaining are in. If there any worth salvaging perhaps it might be best to bring them inside to ripen on a windowsill? That way you'll at last get a taste for all your efforts.

Seems your choice of strawberry if certainly living up to its name - a tempation to man and beasty.

What a shame DeezyB. I know what you mean about all the rain the last few days. I think Quark has the rights of it. The fruit has maybe been a bit ripe, the wasps have been in and the bluebottles have followed. Is there anything you can salvage.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Normally (for me) strawberries are over (June) before the wasps come along (August).
You must have some late ripening ones.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Mine have been attacked too!!!! As soon as there is any sign of ripening the wasps start to attack them. As they are remontant I am just hoping that they will produce more fruit a bit later. At the moment I have cut all the fruit off which were not going to come to much anyway as the weather has been so dry.

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Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

Just picked a few today and I have the same problem,Wasps are a definate hazard when picking this year.With regards to the season,I've noticed since moving north of the border lots of plants are up to 3 weeks later than in the midlands.I dare say Jennie has an even more pronounced difference in the northern isles.

thanks for advice all - this year is the first time I've tried to make a real go of strawberries so I'm sure you can understand my frustration - however it seems I'm not alone by the sounds of it! Will pick what I can and bring inside to ripen! A lesson learned for next year I guess...!

D

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"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."

I was told by one of the commercial growers near Blairgowrie that once enough fruit is set you can put fleece over them to keep the bugs away,never bothered to try it mind.

And the berry farmers around Blair would def know...next year I will def pay more attention to this! Have had a look, not much fruit left to pick, so will leave for the wasps...at least they'll leave me alone when I sit outside!

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"A cat sees no good reason why it should obey another animal, even if it does stand on two legs."