Why Should You Use A Fruit Cage?

Why use fruit cages? Anybody who has invested time and effort into fruit-growing will know the answer. The bumper harvest that is the reward for all that effort can be lost garden birds. Food from the bird table is all very well – but your strawberries?

There’s no doubt that soft fruit is an irresistible attraction for birds. Some growers even plant redcurrants just for the birds so that they will leave the rest alone!

No. If you are serious about preserving your fruit for the table where it belongs, a fruit cage is the only answer. While it’s possible of course to make your own, the most usual solution is to buy. Most cages on the market are either aluminium or plastic coated steel. The aluminium cages generally last longer. There is not a great difference in price.

The design usually consists of standard length tubes, joined together at the corners with either plastic or aluminium pieces. Most times the uprights will be just pushed into the ground. For a more long-lasting installation they can be set into concrete.

There are basically two grades of fruit cage on the market, Standard and Heavy Duty. The choice depends to a great extent on how exposed your site is and how much you want to invest for the long term.

A Standard grade cage is generally of light construction. It can even be re-sited if the need arises. It’s ideal for most domestic gardens and allotments. A Heavy Duty cage will be more permanent and will stand up to more severe conditions.

Both types are built in a modular design, which means that you can buy just the size and shape you want. You could even add extra kits in due course to extend your cage if you want. Door kits are also available as an option, although they are really essential of course.

The netting should be hard-wearing, usually 25mm grade. It is clipped onto the frame and it is important to fix it carefully to the ground to keep out the birds. One thing to be careful of is snow – a heavy covering of snow can break the frame. The solution is either to take the netting off the roof before winter, or replace it with a wider mesh, which will at least keep the pigeons out.

Most gardeners who take growing seriously will find that a fruit cage is a worthwhile investment. All the effort put into growing will not go to waste. Carefully chosen and installed it should give years of service.