I'm sure you are joking about shooting them, since it is a federal crime and all that, but I know it can be very annoying to have them get your fruit before you do. My solution has always been to grow more than I need, and to pick the tomatoes a day or two before they are really ripe. I let them finish ripening inside, and voila. No more problems.

Marcia

Hope this helps.

I have learned that once Mockers see the plants are netted, you can looses and even remove netting. this year I am much less bothered by them because I had my plants netted most of last year. Toward the end of the season I loosened and even removed the nets and they didn't bother trying to get to the plants.

I searched this forum and it was suggested CD's on a string and/or holographic tape. I put up some CD's, hope it works. Marcia, who said it was federal crime to shoot mockingbirds, not that I am going to test your theory :>)

bernie

Bernie, it is a federal crime to shoot any native song bird. They are all protected by federal law. You can shoot starlings, house sparrows and a few other exotic nuisance birds, and you can of course, shoot game birds in season. But you can't shoot passerines (song birds) legally, according to federal law. (I learned this when I worked for Florida Audubon and did bird rehab.) And, of course, you can't shoot anything legally in some types of neighborhoods, etc.

But I never thought you were REALLy gonna shot them, anyway. Were ya? *grin*

Marcia

Bernie,

I use/used (never figured that one out) to have the same problem with mocking birds, now I just pick the fruit once it breaks (orange, not red)...takes 5-6 days to ripen but absolutely NO loss in taste! Alternatively, you can grow a few cherries just for the wildlife...but be assured all those other methods won't work other than netting or death, and we all know how Marcia feels about the second option ;-) Live and let live, except rats and squirrels! (Just kidding Marcia :-)

Tom

Hey...I have been known to stomp a few things here and there, Tom...mostly exotics, of course. (Note to Cuban Treefrogs and Lubber grasshoppers...be afraid. Be VERY afraid!)

But it's not MY law about the mockers, honest. They aren't endangered, by any means, but anyone who kills one can be reported and the fine is stiff (and CAN include jail time, though that isn't likely).

As for the tomato problem, I think your plan is the best. Beat 'em to it, I say. Let 'em grow their OWN tomatoes if they want 'em so bad!

Marcia

Marcia and Tom,

OK , I'm running the test. I have netting over beefsteaks and heatwave. Am going to eat vine ripened and counter ripened to see if I can tell a difference. My first brandywine was pecked after just turning pink, it will still be eaten here! I put a couple of CD's on string in them and hope to get a vine ripened one.

Marcia , crap you can go to jail for not leaving some ripe ones for the mockingbirds if PETA gets on your case :>)

Tom , picked up the 4 ft3 bag at perlite yesterday at ProsourceOne, thanks for the tip.

bernie

Oooooh, PETA!!! *shiver* I'm sorry, I love animals and nature more than most probably do, but those folks scare me! And you are probably right, Bernie. (Don't tell them about me stomping the CTR's and whackin' the lubbers!!!!!)

Personally, I would eat any ripe tomato that was only slightly pecked on. That part can be cut off. I wouldn't serve them to my guests...honest, I wouldn't...but I would operate on them a bit and eat them myself, I'm sure!

Marcia (who occasionally still follows the 3-Second Rule when a food item hits the floor)

Not to worry Marcia, the pecked brandywine is not going to waste. Heck, remember I've eaten squirrels,rabbits, possum, and tasted racoon, don't think a little mockingbird is going to keep me from tasting my first brandywine :>>

We are getting lots of beefsteaks and a few heatwaves now. Had tomatoes, grits , and sausage for breakfast. Turnip greens, tomatoes and homemade cornbread for lunch. I'm sure it's maters and something for supper (dinner to you yanks!>

bernie

Oooh, man! Tomatoes, grits and sausage??? I'm soooo hungry just thinking about it!!! And I love turnip greens (with lots of pot likker) just about as much as anything in the world! With cornbread to sop it up? Oh, boy! Good thing I don't live close to you, or I would have followed my nose straight to your door!! Good for you! A menu like that would be worth the headache of trying to grow tomatoes, even though I swore I wouldn't mess with them again.

The heck with those mockers...full speed ahead, straight to grits and 'maters!

Marcia

Bernie, dang you're making me hungry, sure wish you were coming to Willy's party with us, and bringing some of your vittles!

When you pick those maters DON'T put them in direct sunlight in the kitchen or where ever you'll be storing them in the house, that just dehydrates them and ruins the flavor...store them in a shaded or dark area out of the sun.

Tom

Tom - as to your dilemma -
" I use/used (never figured that one out) to have the same problem ... "
The correct choice is " used " since you are referring to the past tense in the entire sentence .
" Use" is present tense and is not correct in the sentence you used .
Remember that nouns and verbs must agree in their tenses - a very common mistake these days !
Mary - former English as a second language teacher

Mary, guess you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can't take the teaching out of a teacher. Glad you ain't had to correct mine english yet. I have 2 sisters, both teachers so I'm very experienced at being corrected even tho I graduated with honors from one of the best engineering schools :>)

bernie

Bernie, ur 2 funny! I still take doctoral candidates but that doesn't mean I can spell or that my grammar is good. Just because we're good in the math and sciences doesn't necessarily equate to adequacy at the other end of the spectrum ;-)

Thanks Mary, I threw that out hoping somebody would provide the info for future reference, glad you did :-)

Tom

A loosely tied Publix bag over the tomatoes will hide them from the birds.

Free, easy and reusable.

Some people use ball-caps to do the same thing.

I have issues with Catbirds who do exactly as you described.
The bags foiled them.

Lisa

Bernie and Lisa, we sure missed you both at Willy's shindig, I'm sure it was too far but it sure would have been nice to meet you both.

Lisa - thanks for the mulberry, I've been wanting one for quite a while.

Tom

Hi Tom, yep it was little far but after reading the thank you's ;looks like it would have been worth the 2 hour drive each way.

Have an experiment in 5 gal bucket SWC's underway with Ed S mix and Al mix. Will keep you posted on the results.

Of the 3 tomatoes we have grown this winter, think the brandywine best, beefsteak next, and heatwave least. Have you grown these 3 and how do they compare to your favorites in taste. Have 2 big beef's that I bought plants from in SWC's with Ed Smith mix, have promised one of those to a friend. Also have one from your seeds in the intermediate pot.

bernie

#*m birds! Look at my Brandywines. I tried CD's and they look good, but like Tom said they get used to it and ignore it. Did not think these were ripe enough for them to eat,WRONG :>(
Am going to try the women's hose trick. If that does not work, guess netting is in my future. We have an old piece on Jo's Beefsteaks and it has worked fine, but I hate it. I fastened the top against the hangar wall and a piece of 3in PVC pipe at the bottom, can roll it up to pick etc under the net.
{{gwi:795259}}

Anymore Suggestions, I am down to one left to try yet.: * Posted by gcmastiffs z10 Florida (My Page) on
Sat, Feb 21, 09 at 21:20

A loosely tied Publix bag over the tomatoes will hide them from the birds.
================================
Both the idea of CD and woman's stocking failed with my persistent birds.

Will try the Publix bag and unless someone else has an idea, guess it is net time even though I hate them where we have them. Nets do work.

bernie

Sorry buddy, I see netting in your future.... :-(

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

I'm guessing Miss Maudie Atkinson did not grow tomatoes.