Need help? Call 021 074 5789
Short answer: net after the flowers have finished (so bees can pollinate) and before the fruit starts to colour – birds find ripening fruit fast. Take the net off after harvest. Times below are a guide for most of New Zealand; the far north is usually earlier and the south later.
| Crop | Net on | Net off |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | October – November, when the first fruit sets | After the last pick (February – March) |
| Cherries | November, as soon as the fruit sets | After harvest (December – January) |
| Blueberries | November – December, before the berries turn blue | After harvest (February – March) |
| Raspberries and other berries | November – December | After harvest |
| Apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums | December – January, before colour | After harvest (February – March) |
| Grapes | January – February, at colour change (veraison) | After harvest (March – April) |
| Figs | January – February | After harvest (March – April) |
| Apples and pears | January – March, as the fruit sizes up | After harvest |
| Feijoas | March – April | After the fruit falls (May – June) |
| Mandarins, oranges and other citrus | May – June, as the fruit colours (waxeyes feed on them in winter) | After harvest (August – October) |
| Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) | All year – use fine insect mesh over hoops; bird net does not stop white butterfly | At harvest |
Why timing matters
- Too early: netting over flowers keeps bees out and can reduce the crop.
- Too late: once birds have found the fruit they keep coming back.
- Too long: nets left on all year let branches grow through and break down faster in the sun.
Need help choosing a size? Read how to net a fruit tree or use the size finder.
Not sure what you need? Call us on 021 074 5789 or email nzbirdnetting@gmail.com – we are happy to help, whatever net you use.