Green Harvest - Exclusion Products

Benefits of Exclusion Products
How to fence the pests out!
Exclusion is a delightfully simple organic strategy that relies on preventing access by fruit fly, codling moth, possums and birds to the fruit or vegetable you want to protect. In many situations it is much easier than spraying. It can mean covering:

the entire plant,
clusters of fruit, or
individual pieces of fruit.

The benefits are:

a once only application,
efficient use of time,
no sprays needed, and
'kill 2 birds with 1 stone' as it may also solve problems with birds and possums, depending on your exclusion choice.

The main choices for exclusion are either:

exclusion fabrics: PlantGuard, Vege Net, or
exclusion bags or sleeves: Fruit Protection Bags, PestGuard Bags, Paper Exclusion Bags, Cloth Fruit Bags, Mesh Sleeves or Mesh Bags

If in place early enough all of these will exclude fruit fly, codling moth and birds. Possums respond to smell and depending on the season and conditions in the local area may attempt and succeed in tearing open some of the exclusion products. It helps to remove any over-ripe fruit from the area.

Exclusion Bag Sampler
Not sure which exclusion product to choose?

Includes:

1 Mesh Sleeve (small),
10 PestGuard Bags,
1 Cloth Fruit Bag,
50 Paper Exclusion Bags (Large),
25 Fruit Protection Bags, and
Fruit Fly Information Sheet.

PE159

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which fruit bag or sleeve do I choose?
A. The short answer is that they all work and it is worth trying a few to see which suits your situation best. We often end up with several types of bags and sleeves on the one tree! All bags; Mesh Bags, PestGuard Bags, Paper Exclusion Bags and Fruit Protection Bags are an organic solution to protect fruit from fruit fly. Fruit Protection Bags are the easiest to use on fruits with either no stem or a very short stem, such as figs or some stone fruit. Mesh Sleeves are very quick and easy to apply over clumping fruit like plums, lychees or loquats. Apple Pouches are a good choice to protect against codling moth. PestGuard Bags have been specifically designed around the size of tomato bunches. Mesh Bags and Sleeves also offer protection from birds and possums. Fruit bats will suck the fruit through any bag, so additional protection such as netting may be needed. Check the size of the bag to make sure the mature fruit will fit.

Q. How do I use it?
A. Early in the season, thin any fruit that requires it. Then simply place a bag over each remaining fruit or clusters of fruit. Tie on, taking care to avoid knots that will be hard to undo later.

Q. Which bag lasts the longest?
All bags will last longer than one season if treated with care. Mesh sleeves and bags are the most durable.

Q. Will my fruit ripen when covered?
A. Yes, it may also be larger and sweeter.

Q. When do I put the bag or cover on?
A. As soon as the fruit is pollinated i.e. when the flower petals drop. Some fruits, like tomatoes and capsicums, are self-pollinated and can be covered any time.

More detail on exclusion products including shade factors

Fruit Protection Bags
An exciting new version of Exclusion Bag that is easier to use for stone fruit including peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots. Often these fruit have a very little stem or no stem at all, which can make the original Exclusion Bag more difficult to use. This horticultural waxed-paper bag is specifically designed to attach around the lateral branch rather than the fruit stem. 200 mm x 150 mm. Pack of 25.

PE150

PE151 minimum 4 per order

PE152 minimum 21 per order

Paper Exclusion Bags
These horticultural waxed-paper fruit bags with a built-in twist-tie come in 2 sizes; the smaller size is suitable for grapes, nectarines, peaches and persimmons, the larger size for mangoes.
These bags are not strong enough to cope with a hungry possum or fruit bat!
Please note: the small gap at the bottom of the exclusion bag is for drainage and does not allow fruit fly to enter or in any way affect the bag's effectiveness.

Small Paper Exclusion Bags 170mm x 245mm
PE115

PE116

PE117

PE174

Large Paper Exclusion Bags 215mm x 315mm
PE118

PE119

PE120

PE163

Our area seems to be infested with fruit flies from late September and up to last year it had been impossible to grow unaffected large-fruiting tomatoes, even when I sowed them in July! We put the Exclusion Bags over every raceme of fruit, tying them off with the covered wires around the stem. Being enclosed like that also seemed to cause them to ripen more quickly. How pleased we were to eat unmarred Peach, Pineapple, Red Colossus and Pink Queen tomatoes for the first time from our own bushes. The bags proved waterproof and reusable several times over.
Jude Fanton, Director, The Seed Savers' Foundation

Cloth Fruit Bags
Cloth bags are usually strong enough to protect fruit from marauding possums and birds. Fruit bats may manage to suck the fruit through the bag. These bags are sturdy washable calico cloth with a drawstring. Cloth bags have the disadvantage of staying moist longer after rain, so they are a better choice in less humid climates or dry seasons. Size 200mm x 300mm. Product supplied as packs of 100 bags.

PE106

PE107 minimum 3 per order

Harvest Protection Kit Save $25.00
Protect garden beds, individual or plant groupings, single or clusters of fruit from pest and temperature extremes. Includes:

2 Vege Nets,
20 PestGuard Bags,
25 Fruit Protection Bags,
1 Mesh Bag (Small),
1 Mesh Bag (Large),
1 Mesh Sleeve (Small), and
Information Sheets.

PE177

Mesh Exclusion
This innovative product is made of durable, UV resistant fly screen. It is tied closed with an attached long lasting ‘brickies string’. Complete protection from fruit fly is assured when the fruit does not rest against the material. These bags may also provide protection from birds and possums. Fruit bats may manage to suck the fruit through the bag.

Mesh Sleeve
This sleeve, open at both ends, is designed to slide along a branch and protect heavy bearing fruit that is hard to cover and tie individually, like plums and apricots. Sleeves can be overlapped and offer a cost effective option to full tree coverage.

Small Mesh Sleeves 600mm x 250mm
PE111

PE112 minimum 10 per order

PE113 minimum 50 per order

PE114 minimum 100 per order

Large Mesh Sleeves 800mm x 300mm
PE155

PE156 minimum 10 per order

PE157 minimum 30 per order

Mesh Bags
The smaller bag suits any individual or small clustering fruit while the larger size would suit fruit with several pieces closer to the end of a branch (loquat, mango, lychee etc).

Small Mesh Bags 300mm x 250mm
PE131

PE132 minimum 10 per order

PE133 minimum 30 per order

Large Mesh Bags 600mm x 500mm
PE134

PE135 minimum 10 per order

PE136 minimum 30 per order

PestGuard Bags are THE organic tomato solution!
With this unique product, designed by Green Harvest, you will be able to protect your tomato bunches from many of the major pests including fruit fly and tomato grub. PestGuard Bags are made of spun bonded polypropylene that is UV stable, however, it is still considered to have an “in-use” life of only 1-3 years. Air, water and foliar-based fertilisers will penetrate the white gauze-like fabric, which has a 20% shade factor, much lower than shadecloth. Slip the lightweight 30 cm x 30 cm bag on and close with the attached tie to protect the entire tomato bunch. Please note these bags are not strong enough to cope with a hungry possum or fruit bat! Product is supplied as a Pack of 10.

PE100

PE101 minimum 5 per order

PE102 minimum 10 per order

PE137 minimum 100 per order

Uses of Exclusion Fabrics

on a frame, protecting fruit from fruit fly,
protecting tomatoes and capsicums from fruit fly,
protecting strawberries from birds,
protecting cabbage, broccoli etc from caterpillars,
protecting seedlings in early spring from frost,
protecting lettuces from summer heat,
reducing transplant shock in seedlings, and
reducing heat stress in the summer garden.

FREE fact sheet on organic control of fruit flies is included with all fruit fly products.

More information on organic fruit fly control...

PlantGuard over arch to protect tomatoes from fruit fly

PlantGuard over arch to protect tomatoes from fruit fly

Bird Net over a polypipe arch protects vegetables from birds and possums

Photo courtesy Jan D. of Beaudesert

Covering garden beds with Vege Nets or PlantGuard will protect crops from birds, possums and fruit fly.

PlantGuard
This exclusion fabric is the best choice for attaching to a frame for longer term protection.
It is an exciting development in crop protection, giving you the ability to keep out fruit fly, fruit piercing moth, other flying insects and birds. It is made of durable, woven, white HDPE monofilament; UV stabilised (5 year manufacturer warranty) with a 27% shade factor.

PlantGuard Small 3.66m x 6m
PE103, PE104 and PE146 all have a reinforced edge with grommets for either pegging down or to help join multiple pieces together.

PE103

PE104 minimum 5 per order

PE146 minimum 10 per order

PlantGuard Medium 6m x 6m
Please note: this large square of PlantGuard has a bare edge with no edging material or grommets.

PE179

PlantGuard Large 10m x 10m
Please note: this large square of PlantGuard has a bare edge with no edging material or grommets. This size will cover a tree up to 2.5m tall, or a garden structure.

PE158

Vege Net
The newest and best netting so far! Protect your fruit and veges from fruit fly, fruit piercing moth, other flying insects, birds and extremes of cold and heat. Vege Net is made of durable, knitted, white HDPE (high density polyethylene) monofilament; UV stabilised (5 year manufacturer warranty) with a 21% shade factor.
This “throwover” net is not edged and can be cut to size as needed. As it is lighter weight than the PlantGuard most plants will push it up as they grow, thereby making a frame less necessary. Versatility, longevity and affordable price make this net a must have for frost, shade or pest protection. Hole size is approximately 2mm x 1mm.

Dimensions: 5m x 2.87m
PE161

PE167 minimum 6 per order

PE178 minimum 15 per order

VEGE NET - new larger sizes

Dimensions: 6m x 10m and 6m x 20m
PE180

PE181

Gro-Tunnel
The Gro-Tunnel is useful for providing warm, sheltered seed-raising conditions, protecting young frost-tender seedlings in spring and protecting strawberries from birds. Includes 3 arching metal frames 600mm wide x 300mm high, 3 spring clips which clamp the supplied 5 m of plastic film and allow for venting and easy access. The length can be varied from 1.5m to 4m. Easy to erect, it comes with full instructions. The plastic cover supplied is only suitable for use during cooler times of the year, for use during hotter periods a Vege Net cover is needed.

PE140

PE171 minimum 3 per order

PE162

Jumbo Peg Clamps
Specialised pegs that will hold your choice of fabric: shadecloth, PlantGuard, bird net or plastic sheeting, in place on your choice of rounded support structure: polypipe, bamboo or steel pole, 50mm max diameter. Pack of 4.

PE148

PE149 minimum 9 per order

See also:
The exclusion product 'Apple Pouches' is listed with other Codling Moth products
Information on organic fruit fly control...
Fruit fly traps and wicks...