Author Topic: Fruit Cage (Read 9160 times)

Tin Shed · « **on:** June 09, 2008, 18:44:11 »

This is really a thank you to all the allotmenteers who have inspired me to make my own fruit cage using Wilko's arches and netting.
The gooseberries and red currants are safe from pigeons at last ;D
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn51/cmchis/fruitcage002.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn51/cmchis/fruitcage001.jpg

Emagggie · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2008, 19:28:33 »

Fabulous TS, that looks the bizzo, and do-able by a female person by her self ;D ;D

ceres · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2008, 19:41:25 »

TS that's brilliant! You've now inspired me. I've got the goosegogs covered with water pipe, nets and canes but it's a bit ricketty and I've been fretting about how to do the blackcurrants and blueberries. Perfect solution. Any tips on putting it together?

Tin Shed · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2008, 20:15:41 »

Mant thanks- and yes, Emaggie, all done on my own!
Ceres, I just bought loads of Wilko arches and added one section of the straight bits to elongate the 'arch' - amazingly that worked - and ended up with a cage tall enough to walk in. Netting off Ebay and tied on with cable ties and tent pegs [£1 for 10 from Poundland] to hold the netting on the ground. Bamboo canes along the side stabilise the structure - and that's it really!

ceres · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2008, 20:22:01 »

Thanks for that TS. I can feel a trip to Wilkos tomorrow morning coming on!

grawrc · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2008, 20:41:51 »

It looks great TS. How much did it cost approximately?

Hyacinth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2008, 21:01:14 »

SUCCESS!! 8)

I'm going to take one, just one, of the thanks, Shed....I think it was 3yrs ago(?) that I posted that the cheapo arches from Home Bargains were great for this use. Yesterday I was helping to clear the garden we'd erected them in - and they were still there - and so were the raspberries :))

btw....to make the structures extra-secure we cut off 12-15" lengths of piping left over from a CH job, sunk those into the ground & the arch legs slotted in, sweet as a nut.

Tin Shed · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2008, 20:39:09 »

Thanks, Alishka - I have had so much inspiration from A4A members over the years, it can be difficult to remember where all the Top Tips have come from - so thanks to you and everyone else - this beginning to sound like an acceptance speech from and award ceremony, so perhaps I had better thank my family, my agent etc!
Grawc - the Wilko's arches were in their sale so were even cheaper than usual, so I don't think that the cage cost more than £45.

ceres · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2008, 21:08:42 »

Well thanks to everyone! Been window-shopping this morning. Arches £3.97 in Woolworths. No Poundland here but tried our 99p Shop and found tent pegs, nice long ones 10 for 99p. Wilko's 6ft canes, 89p for 5 and nets £4.29 for 6m x 4m. Measured up this afternoon and off to buy the necessary tomorrow.

Emagggie · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2008, 23:06:55 »

Quote from: ceres on June 10, 2008, 21:08:42

tent pegs, nice long ones 10 for 99p.

That's good news for me, used all daughters tent pegs for securing netting on brasicas and wouldn't you know it - she's looking for them now ready for Glastonbury. ::)

GrannieAnnie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2008, 20:17:53 »

Tin Shed, you know how to make a bird grumpy!

Andy H · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2008, 21:20:28 »

Excellent fruit cage for £45

How long is it?

A person drove by the plots the other week and asked someone if he wanted a cage, he said no and said ask her(the wife) she shouted to me and I said yeah sure I can make use of it! ;D

Cost me £40 in netting but got a 6ft by 6ft by 24ft long fruit cage.

so you did really well with that!

Now after all the pain of putting it up the wife wants it moved each year as rotation for the brassicas! :o

Despite the fact that the birds have eaten all the cherries and the goosgogs from the new gooseberry bush :-X :-X :-X

Tin Shed · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2008, 21:46:56 »

I will try and remember and measure it tomorrow!
It is tall enough for me to walk down the middle and I am 5ft 7in :)

Andy H · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2008, 21:48:52 »

I did buy the more expensive netting though that is square holes cos the diamond shaped holes went all wonky and drove me nuts >:(

Tin Shed · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2008, 21:24:02 »

Measured it this morning - 6ft x6ft x20ft. It probably cost nearer £40 as I the net was cheaper than I thought.

ceres · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2008, 13:04:20 »

Just bumping this back up as Wilkos are selling their garden arches for half price now - £2.48 each.

thifasmom · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2008, 17:30:48 »

thanks for the bump Ceres i have an area for fruits measuring 3m x 10m, it has given me some ideas. i already use two of these cheap frames for my cucumbers every year. but maybe i can design a cage for my specifications using these.

ceres · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 00:13:47 »

This is my 'double decker' version that I just got finished in time. I bought the arches in Wilko's 75% off sale at the end of last season, the nets were Lidl's 2 for £4.99 offer, tent pegs 10 for 99p from 99p shop, canes and string I already had.

Mind you didn't keep the barsteward gooseberry thief out.

Thanks to Tin Shed for the inspiration.

Emagggie · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2009, 17:02:45 »

That is fabulous ceres, all you need now is a spear lined grass covered pit in front of the gooseberries and you're complete ;D

ceres · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2009, 18:10:12 »

Thanks! Yes, seriously considering the bear pit!

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Author Topic: Fruit Cage (Read 9160 times)