Re: [gardeners] Apricot thieves!
Ron Hay (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:00:11 -0700
Thanks for the advice, Margaret
margaret lauterbach wrote:
> At 07:41 AM 6/19/2000 -0700, you wrote:
> >Help! This is the first year we have had any signifucant number of
> >apricots on our tree, and all of a sudden, as they ripen, predators
> >strike at the crack of dawn. They may be birds, although I rather
> >suspect they are squirrels, since some of the pits are gnawed a bit, and
> >there are no real peck marks on the interior of the fruits.
> >
> >Any suggestions?
> >
> >I am about to go out with my fruit picking pole to harvest whatever I
> >can, to let the fruit ripen in the house.
> >
> >Ron
> >
> Ron, I don't think the apricots will ripen, once picked. Throw some old
> wigs into the tree (if you don't have any, go to a thrift store and buy
> some cheapos), or get an inflatable bird scarer or pseudo snake. Or get one
> of the water-blasting scarecrows that react to movement. We have the same
> squirrel assault, but we do have a dog. Squirrels unfortunately have
> discoverd they can get to the apricot tree entirely by off-ground
> transport, jumping from limb to limb. I hope we'll have enough when they
> ripen. Margaret L