🍒 Is It Really Worth Spending Money On A Fruit Cage 🍓 Fruit Cage Harvest With A Surprise

I build this fruit cage partly from repurpose materials and the rest on new materials at a cost over 5 years of £220 and over the years its served me well and I have taken 14 punnets from the Summer fruiting Raspberry which equates to about £ 28 and that doesn't include all the fruit and there are some videos in my playlist on the Fruit Cage build that you may find interesting. #StartingANewAllotment #sunflowerchallenge2019 #overwinteringpotatochallenge
Join me and others on the Facebook Group Keep Calm and make Compost.
[e-mail]
♻️Happy Gardening to all my viewers and subscribers 🌞 Terry King 🌻 Gardening On A Budget 💷

[@grahamthomas6283]

Yes it worth it NO spray NO chemical NO air miles no brainier you said the word. FRESH thanks for your time 🐞🐦👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

You talking about air miles I ordered a packet of lettuce seed on line it took two weeks to arrive and it came from Singapore, off to Wilco's for seed next time Graham. Thank you my friend. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@jeffricks2640]

you're good terry....very good...amazing fruits

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Jeff, well worth the effort when I started my allotment. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@theromanticgarden5997]

Totally worth it. No worries about losing fruit to birds. You can harvest all you grow.. Cheers Jane

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

20 punnets up to yet Jane, no damage and absolutely delicious. Money in our pockets and not food in the birds stomachs. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@lindapenney5207]

Stunning update Terry

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Linda, really pleased I spent a little money on this project. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@grahamthomas6283]

Hi Terry what a GT reply. Lol 👍👍👍👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Graham.

[@user-wn9mn1be4u]

Thanks for sharing

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@kath-phlox]

I love this.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you Kath, its been very productive and by next year it will bw how I want it. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@Alternativesmallholding]

A great harvest Terry, well worth building if you like your fruits for sure.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

The new netting has made a massive difference with only one bird finding its way in so success and a bumper harvest. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

No doubt about it. Great investment. Best wishes Bob.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Had many years of lovely fruit Bob and now the new netting is on and most holes filled only one bird in this year, this was a weekly occurrence in the passed years. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@stevendowden2579]

great cage

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you Steven and its good to get it right first time. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@susankavanagh737]

I have stopped buying fruit from the supermarkets as it is usually under ripe or tasteless. I wish I had the energy for an allotment as you have such fantastic ,produce. Great videos, a joy to watch.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you Susan, yes it is a lot of effort to look after Allotments, but to me it keeps my body and mind active and everything else is a bonus. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@honeybee2356]

I love your garden! I'm looking into fruit cages once the time comes.💚🍒🌿🌱

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

We wouldn't have any fruit to pick if they were not protected my friend so well worth the effort. 🍓Happy gardening, Terry King.

[@deborahshannon2823]

I’m very envious of your fruit cage. I used pvc pipe and netting to create mini cages over individual raised beds. The problem is that it’s a pain to take off the netting to get in to weed and harvest. So much easier with a fruit cage that you can walk around inside.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

I tryed nettind the first year and made the bold decision to spend the money and I am so pleased I made it as big as it is Deborah. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@vmcougarintn5035]

I bought 1/2 a pint of blackberries and paid $2 US, yesterday. Usually, you can't get that large of a container so I was pleased. When I tried growing berries I lost so much fruit to the birds, I just gave up. Of course, this was before I even thought of using a fruit cage such as yours and it was in the late 60s early 70s. I can believe that for some folks such a structure would not be worth their while. However, for those of us who love fresh berries, it is very cost effective. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy those berries!

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Nice comment my friend and in my view you can't beat picking and eating while 100% fresh, after two days the fruit starts to soften so picking less, but more often and as you know most never makes it home.....lol. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@vmcougarintn5035]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening Always had that problem when picking wild blackberries. lol

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

@@vmcougarintn5035 🤗

[@AtheistEve]

It was always the wasps that did for our gooseberries. But, on the whole the birds didn’t bother much with our raspberries, strawberries or blackcurrants. But the blackbirds won’t leave the tayberries and redcurrants alone. We end up covering those with fleece and net curtains.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

We all have issues of some description with our fruit and making those financial decisions to protect or not so this blog may help others make the right decisions for them . ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@mikehurdiss226]

Totally awesome Terry! In a good year I'm sure you could come close to harvesting £200 worth of fruit. Supermarkets are charging £2 for a shallow tray of raspberries... maybe a sixth of what a standard punnit might hold. But it's clear that it's not just fruit that you're growing...but skill and knowledge born out of experience. The cage is a thing of beauty too. Well done Terry!👍👍👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Mike, 20 punnets from the one Summer fruiting Raspberry plant so your estimate is very close, but to have damage free fruit is a bonus. Some welcoming rain hopefully my friend coming soon. ♻️Happy Gardening........🌻Terry King 🌞

[@glenncasey1102]

Terry I have watched all of your videos. Always good and informative. This is almost an Attenborough documentary. Your excitement is infectious well done please keep up the great work 👍👍👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Hello Glenn, you are one of very few that have managed that ....lol. pleased you are still here though and I keep things simple and what you see is what you get, seems to work and thank you for your kind words and continued support. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@stephenjones7829]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Definitely worth the cost, if I had the room here I would definitely build one. Third year running I've lost my strawberries to Mr blackbird and family 😂😂😂😂. My own fault though too busy with work and never got around to netting them 🙈🙈🙈🙈. Have managed to get the nets on my blueberries though so that's something. Best wishes Steve

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Hello Steve, need to do something with my Strawberries as well, losing too many to the birds. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@CanadianPoormansgro]

I like it

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers my friend. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@poosmate]

Terry you have beautiful berries! Absolutely worth the money, blood, sweat and tears I think. Especially as you bided your time and picked up bits of timber to supplement the bought stuff. Imagine if you had put just 50p in a box each time you took a punnet of fruit home, the next fruit cage would be paid for, materials and labour. Well done and great update! All the best, Poo

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you Poo, when I first built it my fellow plot holders called it a monstrosity, but nothing said in the following years as the fruit bushes matured and gave me a really good harvest. What a great way of encouraging my granddaughter to eat healthy, with the odd bit of bird poo and odd grub or two in the mix.......lol. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@lorraineg8134]

I have a white variety current now three years. They are devine. Terry all looks fantastic as always. I built a small fruit cage at the side of my house. We cant have structures in our allotment so cant do a cage there so i try to cover with netting. You are getting great harvests. Great year for fruit.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

I am hooked on the white currents Lorraine and 50% have now been eaten. Not good to have no structures, but site rules are there for a reason and yes a really good year for fruits so I will water next year if we have a dry spells as this years unseasonal weather has done them good. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@lorraineg8134]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening oh i love the whote ones too. Picked the last of mine today. Yup dont mind at all really i adapt. I leave the birds have some too. Great rain here today, everything thrives after a downpour. Raspberries much better this year and i do agree its the weather.

[@giantdormouse]

Your fruit cage certainly seems to have been worth its weight in gold for you, Terry. Lovely fruit! Envious of your white currant! I got sold two white currants a few years ago and they turned out to be red!

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

I think you may have solved the problem and I got sold your white one Mike.....lol. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@giantdormouse]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening Seems that way! 😃!

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

@@giantdormouse 🤗😉

[@myallotmentlife6459]

That is a mighty fruit cage. I'll be constructing one in the near(ish) future but not on that scale. Probably 3m x 3m. Just a few bushes but this really makes me confident that it's worth it. 👍🏻

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

When you build your fruit cage just think about the design and location just in case you want to extend it. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@Mrsnufleupagus]

Very much worth it, I would say. Seems kinda like my greenhouses...worth it:))

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Definitely worth the effort and you definitely know that feeling Ryan, enjoying the fruit bird free. ♻️Happy Gardening........🍓Terry King 🍒

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

I've never seen white currants or tasted them either. They're beautiful and look highly productive to say the least!! Cheers Terry and Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

The white currants are my favourite and best eaten straight from the Bush, I took a stick cutting 2 years ago, this year I will replant it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎅Happy gardening, Terry King.

[@waynesallotment7757]

I would say that in your case yes it is paying off to have a cage. I only have 5 raspberry plants and these are not netted the only thing I net are my strawberry's. All the best Wayne

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

The birds normally leave the Raspberries alone especially the Autumn ones, cheers Wayne. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@threethousandpercent7919]

What a fabulous haul of fruit you have there, Terry. That fruit cage works wonders. I don't have enough soft fruit growing at the moment, and intend to increase on it as time goes by. Really enjoyed this vid, thanks!

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Hello Elly, a nice little upload for growers to make there own mind up when thinking of protecting their fruit. When done properly the fruit growing space can be made reasonably maintenance free and a pleasure to walk around. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@threethousandpercent7919]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening You're so right, Terry. Anyone planning out their allotments, beginners or not, will find all these kind of uploads very helpful indeed.

[@kosmosjk]

Your fruit cage is a real asset, the birds have had all my redcurrants, they seem to get them just before they are red enough for me to pick them. I am goint to net them next year as they are in a tricky spot ( I inherited them with the garden)

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Well worth even creating a temporary structure just so you get all the fruits, having a rethink on my Strawberries for next year. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@Starlight22215]

I built one for zilch using an old gazebo frame. If I hadn't I would have no fruit at all. The magpies will try anything to get in.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Well worth doing, don't have your issues with magpies my friend. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@FruitsForLife]

I remember the old fruit cage video. I watched it few times to make one myself. Thanks for the update. Vinny

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Vinny, a great project done many years ago still standing no matter what has been thrown at it. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@mariecurrie7657]

Ahhh! White currants ~ aren't they fabulous? I'm very jealous Mr T. I've only ever eaten them in high-end restaurants (£££€€€$$$). I see a pink currant shrub on the market now (I think they're called champagne currants). Very pretty & I'm sure that the rhubarb could make way for some of those too 😉. Nice haul of soft fruit ✔🐞🌞

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

I am hooked on the white currents Marie as they are so nice and I will look out for the pink one and yes out with the Rhubarb. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@FruitPhilosopher]

Excellent video 👍🏿👍🏿 Hopefully something I can replicate when I upsize to a house with a larger garden. I assume this design affords some protection against squirrels too

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Don't have issues with squirrels, but will stop most birds. Happy gardening, Terry.

[@BackyardGardening]

Definitely it's worth to make it. Thank you for sharing the great idea with us. Have a great week

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

They can be made as big or small as you want and if maintained correctly then a bountiful crop will follow. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@woody24562530]

Hi Terry fantastic absolutely fantastic. Just love the fruit cage and how much you have produced from it. A fruit cage is a must ours has a mix but thinking of a change but we see great update cheers Jan 💐

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

An ideal time to blog this Jan so anyone who has again lost there fruit crops to the birds can make a decision whether to spend a few pennies or not. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@woody24562530]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening this is very true. I'm hoping the plot next to us comes free I would love it. I keep saying im struggling for space, I need a bigger greenhouse etc, etc lol Jan 💐

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

@@woody24562530 this is why I had the second plot Jan and it was hard work, but now its a breeze with lots of fruit and flowers.

[@ltlbnsgarden]

Absolutely worth it for sure! You got a great harvest! It all adds up to savings, health and happiness 😊

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Its been a really good year for fruit my friend and well worth protecting it. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

Nice cage Terry. We are not allowed them - no structure over 1 metre without express permission of the council and all surrounding plot holders. IE no cages. Steve

[@threethousandpercent7919]

I'm allowed 'cloches'. Stretching that interpretation, I can build one with canes or strong sticks, as I don't have that much soft fruit yet. We seem to have similar rules for our plots, Steve.

[@Montyzoomer]

Use a greenhouse without any glass.

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@Montyzoomer No structures, inc greenhouses, sheds, gazebos etc etc

[@threethousandpercent7919]

@@DigwellGreenfingers Same, but I snuck up a cheap gazebo to dry my veg under ; )

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

@@threethousandpercent7919 Not worth the hassle here. We have some that will report you for using a hosepipe and yet they will bring dogs on to the plot (not allowed). I just bimble along and keep my nose clean 😎

[@ThedawnchorusPlot]

Excellent harvest there Terry, your fruit cage will pay back in one season, always learning from you Terry, many thanks for sharing kind regards alan🌿 THE DAWN CHORUS PLOT

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Though it would be a good share this year and having a playlist that I can keep referring to helps me and others. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@bethanskitchengarden]

That is a cracking fruit harvest Terry and well worth making a fruit cage. 😊

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Betha, wouldn't be without it now. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@allotmentuk1303]

Terry, to me you are talking to the converted. If you grow just fruit and nothing else it pays for any layout rent etc for once the plants are established they produce every year with an ever increase in weight each year. my family has asked for another fruit cage bigger and better. I don't know how much it cost as, like you, I made it from recycling existing material but £150.00 feels about right I have Figs, Red, White, Black currants strawberries two varieties looking for a third. Not forgetting rhubarb all sell for min £5,99 a kilo but what we grow are organic. Having said that we would not buy organic. Got rid of the raspberries as they were inherited and not so good but the new cage will have them. To sum up I have, say, six varieties this year and 3 kilo per variety so over a six-year period a gain of £540.00 and this is a conservative estimate its a no brainer. Iiked your upload, Mike

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Excellent comment Mike B and isn't it nice to know that they are as organic as we can get them. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@myhillsidegarden3998]

Terry, I appreciate you doing this video very much. Loved the tip about the raspberry canes and cutting them. Thanks for showing your technique on the currants. Enjoy the day! Catherine

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Catherine, I watch alot of gardeners talking about fruit cages and its all down to money so this upload will help anyone searching KZbin for advice on this subject, pleased you enjoyed this. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@idahogardengirl942]

Wow! You show how protecting your fruit bushes can really pay off!

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

This blog will help gardeners decide if they want to create a structure and how much to pay. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@williamcolemansgardenandal9017]

That's steal at the price Terry, keep it patched up and it should last you a good while yet :-) 🍺

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

20 punnets of Raspberries off that one plant William and if the birds could get to them there would be nothing and I absolutely love the white currents. Cheers my friend. ♻️Happy Gardening........🌻Terry King 🌞

[@cumbrianhomestead]

Hello Terry, I think your fruit cage is superb my friend and well worth every penny spent on it. You easily get back the money spent with high value soft fruits. it's something I want to do myself, but I've noticed even just using scaffold netting has given me a lot more protection from hungry birds than just not bothering trying to cover the fruit. All the best 👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Everything that we blog Woody helps people make their own decisions depending upon there own issues. The Cage has been a great asset to my growing space. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@trollforge]

I can tell you why the Rhubarb isn't happy in the fruit cage... It is a vegetable! ;)

[@williamcolemansgardenandal9017]

Hmm, maybe so, but in the U.S.A. it is legally a fruit for taxation, import and customs reasons. Oddly enough a supreme court ruling declares a tomato to be a vegetable for those very same reasons. 🍺

[@trollforge]

@@williamcolemansgardenandal9017 and pizza legally declared a vegetable too didn't they?

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Now you both have confused me......lol.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Tim and now William has put a spanner in the works......lol. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@dreamytangerine8413]

Really fantastic Terry! I’ll be heading over to check out your other fruit cage videos next. We are planning to build next spring. Wonderful harvest you’re getting. 👏🏻🌱💚

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Always good to share our experiences so we learn from others mistakes and successes. Hope yours goes well. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@GardeningforBeginners]

The birds on my plot make holes in netting and eaten our raspberry’s

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

I found a bird in my cage today and for the life of me can't find the hole. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@MeandYouHello]

I always watch your videos first, thank you for sharing them! The fruit cage definitely worth it in my say. I haven't had two raspberries this year with my 30 gallon container raspberry plant. I'm cutting and potting most of the suckers for more plants though 👍

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you my friend, try to keep my uploads at the same time, but not on the same days at the moment. Well worth building some sort of structure to protect your at risk fruit. Propagating is a great way of increasing our plants. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

I agree on a fruit cage, my fig is getting one this year

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Well worth it Babette to protect our crops. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@BenniLkitchengarden]

Nice fruit harvest, Terry. I would have liked to have a fruit cage for my cherry trees, but the cherry trees are 4 meters high, so it can't be done. I do not use my red and black currants, so I gladly offer them to the birds, but they are spoiled and would rather have my cherries☹️. I have to say it's exceptionally good quality on your red and white currants. Really excellent👍 Happy gardening until next time ...

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Thank you Benni, need to rethink my protection for my cherries and at 6 foot high its possible to get some sort of structure to help. Cheers my friend. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@OldGardenerGuy]

Fantastic raspberries what is the variety. I have heard that Blueberries require ericaceous earth for them to grow in an acid environment. Did you do anything to the soil?

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Sorry Rob label lost and I made the mistake of not realising that I had got the soil wrong so now I mulch with ericaceous compost and they zre still doing well. Apparently they do better in pots, more productive. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@poosmate]

First

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Your on a roll Poo. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@SteveRichards27]

It’s definitely not worth it on our site, we get much more soft fruit than we can eat and preserve with no protection at all. It’s the same in the fruit garden at home. Also cages get in the way, they reduce growing space and make harvesting more difficult. Our losses to birds are about 10% but like you we harvest hundreds of litres of fruit, so we don’t care. That said every location is different : all the best - Steve

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Excellent comment Steve and like you have said its all about the location we would loose 100% before it was ready. Most of it would end up the floor not fit to eat, thank you for your comment as it may help others decide if spending money is really worth it. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@richardfromcornwall5492]

Hiya! I have two gooseberry bushes in my fruit cage - one red and one green - planted side by side. Last year both cropped fairly well. However, this year I'm getting really good crops of red but, to date, no green? Can you think of any reason for this?

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

My green Gooseberries are very sparse compared with last year Richard so I am just putting it down to the weather or pollination. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@TOMMY-yp6wn]

how do you get the netting onto the top of the fruit cage?

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

With help from my wife, very difficult to do on your own. Happy gardening, Terry King.

[@graemejohnson2388]

What variety of raspberry is that ?

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Lost the label Graeme so not sure of the variety, very productive. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@Pete.Ty1]

Hello Terry. Just out of interest what are the dimensions of the fruit cage. Best wishes Pete.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

10m x 4m Pete and a good size must be 8 foot high. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@Pete.Ty1]

@@terrykingsallotmentgardening Thank you.

[@GordonjSmith1]

The money you have invested has paid off rather well, but I rather think it is the 'love and care' that you 'add' that is generating the 'profit'! Outstanding! I am currently discussing with 'memsahib' about renting/buying an allotment. She correctly points out that I will use more time on it, than on her, hmm now there is an 'investment decision'! ;-)

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

My wife calls herself an Allotment Widow........lol. we don't fall out because we don't see each other now Gordon.......lol. ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@pamstout]

It seems to me that you are using common sense. It is not how much it costs, but how much it saves.

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers Pam, originally had my Autumn Raspberries in there so I moved them to plot one and got extra black currants given me to replace them, pleased I did. ♻️Happy Gardening........Terry.

[@GardeningforBeginners]

The birds on my plot make holes in netting and eaten our raspberry’s

[@terrykingsallotmentgardening]

Cheers ♻️ Happy Gardening........Terry.