robin yoshida

Hi there banana people!
Does anyone know where to purchase the blue bags mentioned for protecting the fruit on the banana tree?

Any other good ideas? I live in the beach area of Southern California and the main pests would be rats, opossum and the occasional raccoon.

I've had vector control out here so the rats are no longer a big threat, but I would like to protect the young fruit as best as I can.

Thank you for your help!

Robin

brod

I just use garbage bags which can be blue or black in my country. Fruit bats are the biggest problem here and the bags fix that. I cut the bottom out so the fruit can breath and it doesn't get to hot in there.

sunfish

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Tony,Thanks

venturabananas

In my neighborhood in So Cal, bunches don't need to be protected -- nothing really bothers them. But different places have different pest pressure. I know that Jon in SD sometimes has rats get at his bunches.

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sunfish

I have rats,opossum and racoon none have touched banana fruit.

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Tony,Thanks

bananimal

Those bags are purely for cosmetic reasons. To market fruit commercially the skins have to be blemish free. They were never designed to repel 4 legged pests.

An apathetic, sympathetic, diabetic, old blind mouse on roller skates with a marked propensity towards procrastination and sloth could chew his way thru one.

Get some traps and attack the problem -- the critts.

momoese

Same here but also squirrels. All these years I've only had a few un-ripe fruits damaged. We do have dogs and cats and a water hose though!

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Mitchel

RandyGHO

Squirrels seem to be more aggressive during dry periods best I can figure.

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Thinking outside the peel always.

robin yoshida

Thank you all, Bananarama, for your kind input. It's been helpful and interesting to tap into such varied and sympathetic replies....and funny, too!
I will give your combined hints and advice to hubby and let him take care of his very first crop of bananas. He's waited for a couple of years for the trees to fruit and would go outside and stare at them, nurture them and wonder if they'd "make it." Maybe waiting and staring at them has helped him grow some patience, too, which would be a good thing!
It's my hope that your replies about something as silly as protective blue plastic bags, allows me to put my husband's busy mind at ease because of your combined experience around the subject....bananas, bags and varmints.
This is a great board and once again, I am grateful for your help.
Best wishes for a cornucopia of tasty, healthy, beautiful garden/orchard riches!
Over and Out,
Robin

servatusprime

LOL!!!