How to protect strawberries from "predators"

Question

I'm starting to prepare my gardening year and I'm wondering what the most efficient and organic way is to protect strawberries from birds and slugs.

I'm not at all against sharing a part of my fruit with the wild-life in my garden, but last year it was more like they have shared some 20 per cent with me.

For birds I was thinking about some meshed-cover but I'm worried that this will stop insects from doing their job because they won't be able to see the flowers.

For slugs I had the impression that wood-ash was blocking them. I sprinkled some ash over the bed in April and the first slugs only appeared in June.

EDIT: It worked. I built a wooden frame over which I stretched a 1.5x1.5cm meshed net in a way that a bird should be able rebound - insect could get inside doing their job.

Regarding the slugs I tried to put large garden snails inside because I was told they are eating the eggs of slugs. Maybe works a little bit... Also I planted shallots between the - which seemed to have no effect.

EDIT 2: The shallots have an impact which is that the slugs seems to prefer their leaves instead of the strawberry fruits.

Answer 1

Soft fruit can be protected with taut mesh nets. By stretching them over a wooden frame one can lift the whole contraption off the fruit and get to it for weeding or picking. The taut net can be big enough for any insect to get through as caterpillars from butterflies are not a problem here, but I found that birds would often get caught up in loose ones (draped over wire poles) and be found dead the next morning, which is quite disappointing for some young child to find. The net should be able to support a domestic cat in weight and allow birds that don't see the net to bounce off without getting tangled up.

As for slugs I use organic pellets based on ferric phosphate which is promoted by the organic farmers and the suggestions on the label. A few years ago I poisoned my cat with ordinary slug pellets when he ate a frog in the back garden. He did survive but it did make him very ill, so think what they do to wildlife. I've been told that one ordinary pellet can kill an elephant! I'm not sure if it's true but I wouldn't like to try it.

Commercial growers have been trying with off the ground techniques and grow them in an open drain pipe laid on its side, making it easier to pick and apparently water too. The added bonus is that the fruit is off the ground and no need for straw or chemicals for slugs etc. as they can't reach them! They also grow them in polytunnels so birds are not a problem either. That's the way the farmers grow them anyway.

Answer 2

Once the fruit appears the insects are no longer required. Since losing a few berries to birds, I've wrapped the fruiting region in some floating row cover which I cut out, and tied it. Dunno if this will work as I'm not sure if full sunshine is required on the fruit, or is sufficient to land on the leaves. I'm guessing the latter as that's where the photosynthetic machinery is.

Answer 3

Grow your strawberries in hanging baskets, you still need to cover with net to stop birds eating the fruit but slugs cannot get at them. The fruits do not rot as quickly as they are hanging down instead of laying on damp ground. The only draw back is you have to water them more often.