Strawberry field question - suburbuan situation

[Life is Good!]

Anyone tried to keep a strawberry field in the same range as wild bunnies?

For whatever reason, our area has a fairly large rabbit population. My fenced garden has thus far discouraged the bunnies from eating what I'm growing. But I'd like to put a strawberry field underneath some pear trees in a side-garden bed on our lot. I'm not planning on fencing this area off, but theoretically could if needed.

Anyone know if bunnies devour your harvest before you do? In the 20yrs we've tended this lot, the bunnies mainly have kept to the dandelions - although the spinach one year was irresistible and that's when we put in a fence! LOL

Thanks for any tips or help....

 

[Rosa moschata]

I'm going to start some strawberries here in the suburbs, but not in the ground. I have some large resin barrel planters, each with a Hybrid Tea rose growing in the center, and I'm putting strawberries in there. I don't have rabbits in my neighborhood, but I'd rather be able to pick them from pots than from the ground. If you go to the Home Depot website and search for "resin barrel planter" you'll see what I have.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve never had a problem with rabbits in my strawberries but I would not be surprised if it happened. Other critters will eat them too. My biggest problems have been a black beetle that likes to chew on them and birds pecking holes in them. Some people never have these problems but some of us do.

I made a frame out of 2x6’s and covered it with a fairly fine mesh chicken wire to keep the birds away from the berries. Each frame is 4’ wide and 8’ long so I can just lift it up out of the way when I need to pick berries or work in there. That should stop birds, rabbits, deer, raccoons, and most other things, but not those darn beetles. You might try it to see what happens and do something like this if you have a problem.

 

[Life is Good!]

I made a frame out of 2x6’s and covered it with a fairly fine mesh chicken wire to keep the birds away from the berries. Each frame is 4’ wide and 8’ long so I can just lift it up out of the way when I need to pick berries or work in there. That should stop birds, rabbits, deer, raccoons, and most other things, but not those darn beetles.

Fabulous idea! Thank you for sharing. Heavens knows I've got enough salvage bits and pieces 'round here to make these up quick. The benefit is that I can plant with this in mind. Thanks!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I had starlings getting into my strawberries so I made the strawberries a hoop coop cover with pvc and bird netting. I zip tied the mesh so I can just slide it up to get in to tend them.

 

[Rosa moschata]

I haven't yet tried it myself, but I heard that sticking pinwheels amongst the edibles helps to scare away the birds. Has anyone tried that?