Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi all,
My Victoria Plum had a load of fruit on it in July, but just as it was ready to harvest all the fruit disapeared and it looked as though something had been trying to climb the tree (broken branches).
There was no sign of the stones either.

Today all but two pears had gone off my Conference tree. The highest were about 3' off the ground. About a month ago, when the fruit was realy hard, I noticed teeth marks in some of the lower fruit. Whatever it was has obviously come back now. I noticed a small piece of pear on the ground this afternoon and when I looked the pears had gone.

Has anyone any idea who the fanthom harvester is?
I'm pretty sure it's not human. There's pleanty of evidence of badgers in the garden.
Regards, Gerry.

Was it the Little People!


John

Hi John,
That thought crossed my mind but they wouldn't be able to reach the top ones. Anyway they were back again last night and started on the apples. There was one off on the lawn with teeth marks in it but it must not have been to their liking.
Regards, Gerry.

Grey squirrels?

Dear Jerry, exactly the same thing has happened to somebody i know, and no evidence of broken branches or any sign of the stones.

sounds familiar - I would agree with Monika and say squirrels.

Beryl.

Hi Monika,
Thanks for the reply but we don't have any squirrels in the area. The bite mark on the apple indicated that the culprit could open it's mouth at least 4" wide. This afternoon I noticed the blighter had pulled up a beetroot and tried it for taste. We do have one deer in the locality (it escaped from a heritage site about 6 miles away). The pears, by the way were weighing in at around 10 oz. each so something substantial took them away, or ate them on site.
Regards, Gerry.