Deterring Birds From Fruit Trees
As can be seen in this photo of my figs, the birds have found them and are eating more than about half of the rippening figs. In the last few years, I tried hanging CDs from the limbs and only had limited success. Though I am getting a lot of figs, I would like to be able to get more for drying, giving away, and making preserves etc. Therefore, I tried something a little different today.
I have read that strong garlic spray acts as a deterrent to birds. I have also read on at least one website that coffee sprayed on plants will also deter birds. Of course, I am skeptical, but I figured it was at least worth a try. Therefore, I placed a couple of large garlic cloves in my blender (with water) and then strained these into my sprayer. I also added a used pot of coffee. I added a little vegetable oil in hopes that it would cause the solution to remain on the foliage a while longer. Finally, I concentrated most of the spray on the ripening clusters of the figs.
Anyhow, I will report back in the next couple of days as to the success or failure of this experiment. If this works, it will be a fairly simple method to help protect your favorite backyard fruits from birds just as they are ripening. I will certainly be applying it to my berries next year if it proves to be successful!
Here is a bag of figs that I just got through drying. This amounts to a full load which I placed in my inexpensive Nesco food dehydrator. I just basically cut them longitudinally and placed them skin side down on the screens. I also find it time saving and energy saving to use my dehydrator on a sunny day and place it right out in the sun. I have used it in the manner to dry my tomatoes, vegetables, mushrooms, berries, and figs.
These figs are very good, but I had to pick them slightly before they were optimally ripe (because very few were able to fully ripen due to the birds). I have both Brown Turkey and Celeste variety fig trees. The Brown Turkey are producing larger fruit but I would rate them equally in taste.
