The raspberries I planted last year have really taken off this spring in their 8×4 raised bed. I may have made a mistake by putting three plants in a single box as those three plants have completely consumed the box – and then some. Time will tell… But one thing I know for sure: with the emerging flowers on my plants, I will soon be competing with birds for my raspberries, and I want to win that competition! So I decided to put up a crop cage.
I found a very cool cage in Gardener’s Supply that has the exact dimensions of my raised bed, so I thought it was worth a try. When I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised to find simple instructions and well-labeled, quality parts for assembly.
It took me about 15 minutes to assemble the rods and then I required my husband’s help to secure the netting around the frame due to its height. Once we positioned it, I spent another 10 minutes tying the individual ribbons at the bottom of the netting to secure the netting to the base of the frame. It couldn’t have been simpler to assemble.
I placed the frame on the lip of my 8×4 box, which fits perfectly, and the frame is held in place by the center base of the frame which runs through the heart of one of my raspberry plants and its multiple stems. So it’s solidly in place.
At $99, I think this is a a really reasonable and easy solution to fighting off the critters who threaten to take off with our delicious berries!
