Author Topic: Fruit fly protection  (Read 1938 times)

sunworshiper

  • Oviedo, FL (9b)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 458
    • View Profile
Fruit fly protection
« on: March 24, 2019, 02:09:45 PM »
Trying out these giant net bags- saw them when I went looking for the small ones to put over individual fruit. Very easy to install. Hope they are effective- I've lost every peach for 4 years running to fruit fly maggots. I've tried sprays & traps - don't work. Fingers crossed for peaches this year!




Jungle Yard

  • @onlinetropicals
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 280
  • 10A, 1.3 mi. from the coast
    • USA, Florida, Sarasota
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2019, 02:16:27 PM »
Thats what I call organic peach growing! Hope it works well.
Question: where would I find smaller bags to use over individual branches or fruits?
Thanks
Zone Pusher

pineislander

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2199
    • Bokeelia, FL
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2019, 04:33:36 PM »
Thats what I call organic peach growing! Hope it works well.
Question: where would I find smaller bags to use over individual branches or fruits?
Thanks
Search Amazon for "drawstring organza gift bags". Better price for larger quantities but I got 200 6x9 inch for fifteen cents each.
they might last a few crops. Just slide over fruit & pull drawstrings.
Now my guava trees have curious purple stuff all over.  :o

Jungle Yard

  • @onlinetropicals
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 280
  • 10A, 1.3 mi. from the coast
    • USA, Florida, Sarasota
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2019, 05:10:32 PM »
Thats what I call organic peach growing! Hope it works well.
Question: where would I find smaller bags to use over individual branches or fruits?
Thanks
Search Amazon for "drawstring organza gift bags". Better price for larger quantities but I got 200 6x9 inch for fifteen cents each.
they might last a few crops. Just slide over fruit & pull drawstrings.
Now my guava trees have curious purple stuff all over.  :o

Thank you! Hope it can also stop birds and squirrels from the ripening fruits.
Zone Pusher

pineislander

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2199
    • Bokeelia, FL
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2019, 05:11:23 PM »
Thats what I call organic peach growing! Hope it works well.
Question: where would I find smaller bags to use over individual branches or fruits?
Thanks
Search Amazon for "drawstring organza gift bags". Better price for larger quantities but I got 200 6x9 inch for fifteen cents each.
they might last a few crops. Just slide over fruit & pull drawstrings.
Now my guava trees have curious purple stuff all over.  :o
Thank you! Hope it can also stop birds and squirrels from the ripening fruits.
I understand it does not help for vertebrates they will also ruin the bags for re-use.

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2019, 10:05:26 PM »
Will that big net give too much shade and maybe hamper fruit development? Curious to hear how it went when you harvest the fruits.
Jeff  :-)

Seanny

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
    • Garden Grove, Orange County, California, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2019, 10:15:57 PM »
One report showed that exclusion netting increased temperature inside the netting.
Resulted in bigger and sweeter fruits.


sunworshiper

  • Oviedo, FL (9b)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 458
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2019, 10:29:41 PM »
I'm not sure if it will add too much shade. That spot is in full sun so think it will be ok. The white trunk is painted to help prevent sunscald - maybe the netting will help with that too!

I concur - this sort of netting won't help against squirrels- my cat keeps those in check - he likes to sleep under this tree:) when they get closer to ripe I'll wrap the trunk from the ground to the first scaffolds with metal flashing- does s great job of keeping raccoons off. But I do wonder if I'll be able to gather the netting up high enough to keep racoons from tearing holes in that let in insects.

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2019, 10:22:42 AM »
Increased temps might be a good thing for CA. Not so good for FL though.

One report showed that exclusion netting increased temperature inside the netting.
Resulted in bigger and sweeter fruits.
Jeff  :-)

strkpr00

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 381
    • USA, Florida, Davie zone10b
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2019, 06:43:10 PM »
My experience with organza bags is that any place the fruit touches the netting it will get stung. Covering the branch might be the way to go.

sunworshiper

  • Oviedo, FL (9b)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 458
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2019, 08:31:51 PM »
I was wondering if the fruit touching the bag would still get stung. With these big bags most of the fruit are not touching the  bag. Might be worth just culling the few that are touching the bag so they can't introduce insects inside  big bag! Will look tomorrow when it is light to see how many are touching.

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Fruit fly protection
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2019, 08:58:12 AM »
Just use bigger organza bags to prevent through-net egg depositing. Organza bags work extremely well. Very rare for me to find a bagged guava with fruit fly larvae.
Jeff  :-)