Every autumn, I have the same problem with my apple tree. By
the time I get out into the garden in the morning, a dozen or more of the crop have fallen to
the ground, got bruised, and the birds, squirrels and slugs have been
nibbling away. So when, a couple of
weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a preview of some new garden products for
2020, this handy fruit catcher caught my eye. It’s a Finnish invention, suitable
for all fruit trees and is designed to collect the windfalls safely and make
harvesting easier.
The tarpaulin encircles
the tree, catching fruit as it comes down, and because this is raised off the
ground, bruising is avoided and hopefully the wildlife is kept away. A plus point is that the polyester fabric
lets the wind and rain through, so the grass or plants beneath should be safe
if you leave it for any length of time. It can be used year after year - the metal parts
are rust proof and the fabric is machine washable. I’m looking forward to trying it out, and will
be reporting back.
Right now the apple tree is budding and the plum tree is in
full blossom. So good to have something
to look forward to in these difficult times.
The Original Fruit Collector is available by mail order in
various sizes, from 38.90 euros.
Details at https://fruitcollector.net/?lang=en#osa-2
