Logan Berries & Keeping Bees Off Hummingbird Feeder

Question:

 My Loganberries are so sweet you can eat them straight off the bush, then the next year they need a bit more sugar. How to make sure my berries are always sweet every year?

Answer:

  • Regrettably, there is no solution to resolve this issue, as it is a location-specific problem. The sweetness or sugar content in berry plants originates from sunlight.
  • Due to our summer fog, varied topography, and microclimates, the annual number of sunny days decreases as one moves closer to the coast. Conversely, as one moves inland, the days become brighter and warmer.
  • This is also a primary reason for sour oranges, which is why they are best grown inland.  

NOTE: Loganberries are a hybrid fruit resulting from the crossbreeding of blackberries and raspberries. This unique combination was created in the late 19th century by James H. Logan, an attorney and horticulturist hailing from Santa Cruz. The original cultivar produced berries along thorny canes called brambles, but today they’re commonly referred to as “cane berries”. Loganberries have a raspberry aroma and a tart, slightly sweet flavor. The vibrant red berries are medium to large and have an elongated, conical shape reminiscent of a raspberry, with a solid core akin to a blackberry. Upon maturation, the berries attain a deep, wine-red hue, and if left on the vine, they darken to a deep purple. They are not produced on a large scale due to labor-intensive harvesting and a short shelf life. More recently, thornless varieties have been introduced, which may lead to greater cultivation

Question:

How can I keep the ants and bees away from my Hummingbird feeder?  

Answer:

  • Bees and ants are perpetually in pursuit of sweet nectar, a crucial component of their sustenance, necessitating their constant search for food sources.
  • To capture ants, you can utilize Pest Barrier or Tree Tanglefoot, a transparent, sticky resin. Apply it along the primary ant path in a two-inch-wide strip. Pest Barrier or Tree Tanglefoot is readily available for purchase online and at garden centers.
    • To maintain its effectiveness, it is necessary to clean the resin and reapply it approximately every two months. This is because the trapped ants can accumulate and form a bridge over the resin.
  •  Another effective strategy is to coat the areas where nectar is produced with Olive Oil, as ants are repelled by its taste. Honeybees typically pose the most significant challenge during spring and early summer, while Yellow Jackets can become a nuisance during late summer and fall.
  • The most effective method for managing bee populations is to install a Bee Guard on the feeder, thereby preventing them from accessing the nectar. Bee Guards are available at garden centers and online.
  • For Yellow Jackets, I recommend setting up a trap nearby. The sex lure attractant is more enticing than the food. If you have a Yellow Jacket trap from last year, simply rinse it out and reattach the attractant to a cotton ball. Traps and attractants are readily available.