New Year, New Tactics
My potted fig is thriving.
It’s just over two years since I planted it and it’s taken to the wall down the skinny side of the house like…well, like a slug takes to lettuce.
We can squeeze past to prune it because it’s pinned to the wall. Espaliered.
Branches bud in late August, leaves unfurl in September and tiny fruit appears from October onwards, gradually swelling into heavy globes – 24 this year, a bumper crop!
As the fruit begins to darken – indicating it’s almost ripe enough to eat – something eats it.
Vaseline on the trunk had no effect, so ants weren’t the culprits – although they certainly enjoyed the leftovers – and Maggie would surely have chased away any possums. It had to be birds. Netting was useless, they just pecked through it.
So in desperation I bagged some of the branches. It doesn’t look pretty.
But guess what? It works.
Unwrapping a ripe fig for breakfast is like Christmas all over again.
16 comments on “New Year, New Tactics”
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I'm a writer based in Australia with a passion for gardening, remote places and people with a story to tell.
Strawberries in the Desert 
Who cares what it looks like so long as the results are delicious? 😉
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Truly scrumptious!
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Deb bats were eating my figs. I had it covered with netting, but they got caught in the netting. So this year I will do what you have done.
Gaye
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That’s interesting I never though about bats. I see one most nights when I walk Maggie around the churchyard opposite – so I might be maligning the birds!
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Hi Deb.
Lucky you are getting something from your garden this year. We have had a very poor show with all the crops. Germination has been poor and those seeds that did come up either died or bolted. Can’t have a bumper crop every year.
Hope you and Clyde are keeping well, Happy New Year to both of you.
Thelma and Jack.
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Sorry to hear you haven’t had a good crop. I’m savouring every mouthful of whatever I manage to grow! Happy New Year to you and Thelma
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Gardening eh? I don’t mind giving 10% back to nature, or even 25%, but when it comes to 95% I get vicious. Well done for circumventing nature on this one!
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Isn’t it funny? Nothing makes me as cross as something interfering with ‘my’ plants. They’re just getting on with doing whatever they need to and I’m jumping up and down shaking my fists like Basil Fawlty. Paper bags are meant to calm you down when you’re hyperventilating aren’t they?
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I’ve never tried to calm myself with a paper bag, just continue to wave arms and shout. After all, I’ve put a lot more energy into raising the crop than the slugs or the birds have – feel entitled to ask for some ‘natural’ justice.
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Reblogged this on From Goats To Soaps.
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Hey Isabelle, happy new year and thanks for re-blogging! How’s life with you and yours? Looks like you’ve had some extraordinary weather over there
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Hey Debbie, Thanks for your wishes.Grey Dove and I wish you also all the best for this New Year! Oh, yes , this winter rocks 🙂 . Tomorrow, we are supposed to have another 10-15 cm of snow. Today is minus 24C. A true Canadian winter 🙂 That’s why we enjoyed so much seeing your figs in this time of year we wanted to share that with our readers !!
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We’ve had the best crop of figs this year. Birds do take some, but I’m leaving the top branches for them and trying to pick the lower figs as soon as they start turning purple. It’s such a joy as this year we’ve watered more consistently and the figs are far larger and really sweet. Covering them looks a really good idea, Deb, especially if you have bats.
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I imagine your fig tree as huge and laden with heavy figs, how generous of you to share any of them with the birds! Maybe one day ours will be big enough to do the same.
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Ooh, yum:). I have a recipe for roasted figs stuffed with goat cheese and these pics make me want to try it.
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Sounds gorgeous, I’m googling that right now!
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