NET MANDARIN TREES AGAINST STICKY BEAKS

Easy-peel Satsuma mandarins are ripening en masse now, so cover your trees with fine mesh netting to stop opportunistic birds pecking holes in the individual fruit. A single peck is enough to cause the whole fruit to start perishing and pecked fruit won’t keep once picked. When harvesting, always cut with secateurs – don’t pull – so their ‘‘belly button’’ stem stays intact. This helps them last in your fruit bowl much longer.