Cherry Tree

[cameo]

Hi
My neighbour has a cherry tree. It is full of lots of cherries.
They are just turning pink. If he waits till they are ripe all the birds pinch them. If he picks them now is there anyway to ripen them indoors? If you just sit them on a windowsill they dry out and don't really ripen!!

[billearly]

Hi cameo, My father in law had a cherry tree in his garden years ago and he used to cover the tree with old net curtains to keep the birds off. It was quite a big tree and the cherries were superb.

[thugulike]

He could try hanging old CDs from strings on the tree. It works for me. They spin around in the slightest breeze and reflect light. Looks weird though. Also useful for stopping birds pecking off the blossom from other fruit trees

[terambulan]

The starlings are ready to pounce once the fruit ripens. No point picking fruit till then as it wont ripen well off the tree.

Climb to the highest point of the tree and fit a fake kestrel/owl/eagle with flappable wings. This will frighten off all birds.

Use a wire coat hanger for shape; feather duster for wings and some likewise sound of distressed birds, like airports use, should evade the greedy birds, and leave some cherries for me!