Re: [nafex] fruit bags for organic production

On 3/31/2016 10:53 PM, Ginda Fisher wrote:
> On Mar 31, 2016, at 11:41 AM, Jono Neiger wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> Im wondering what people think of bagging individual fruit as in using
>> "fruit bags" or "Japanese fruit bags"
>>
>> Ive thought of trying it but havent gotten around to it. And I have several
>> clients looking for them. Any sources?
>>
>> (sorry if this is a repeat topic- I didnt search the archives)
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> Jono
> I also used zip-lock baggies to protect apples for a couple of years. I cut off a corner of each bag, so they wouldn't fill with water. This did a good job of keeping out insects. More importantly, it did a surprisingly good job of keep out cedar apple rust. I have more problems with rust than with insects, due to my location and there not being many domestic apples around.
>
> But, the local critters learned that bags meant yummy food, and they selectively ate all the bagged fruit (but didn't notice all the unbagged fruit.) So I gave up.
>
> Mostly it was squirrels, which just chewed through the bags to get at the apples. But the funniest was when I found a an apple that had been 1/3 eaten, and then carefully re-sealed into the bag. I assume that was a raccoon. (The teeth marks were the right size for a raccoon, as well as the odd behavior.)
>
> Ginda Fisher
> eastern MA, zone 6
> __________________
> nafex mailing list
> nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> Northamerican Allied Fruit Experimenters
> subscribe/unsubscribe|user config|list info:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
>
Ginda,

I found just cutting slits in the bottom of the zip-locks allowed
for drainage and perhaps provided less of an entry point
for the insects. The problem with zip-locks is at the fruit stem
where bugs like aphids would enter. I didn't want to put
in the effort, but some people add a twist tie to complete that seal
at the fruit stem.

Your critters seem more aggressive than mine. Mine mainly went for
the fruit on the ground. The bags did slow them down
a bit. My solution for the critters was to trap and remove them. A
big job, at first, but then the population seemed to
subside with subsequent seasons.

Some of my semi-dwarfs produced a huge amount of fruit (over 200
fruits after thinning), so putting on these bags became
a chore. My solution is to go for smaller trees like on M27 as I
don't need huge crops. I also find that sticky traps are very
effective, even without lures. I will use the bags this year, but
only on my prized fruits. I may also do an occasional spray
if time and opportunity present itself.

Sherwin

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

__________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Northamerican Allied Fruit Experimenters
subscribe/unsubscribe|user config|list info:
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex