Carrot fly

[Alison]

The only way you can get clean carrots is to mesh from the start, weigh down with bricks / pegs round the outside and keep covered all the time. I always sow a small pinch at the spacing I eventually want the carrots and then thin once when they're a reasonable size.

[jacob]

I always sow a small pinch at the spacing I eventually want the carrots and then thin once when they're a reasonable size.

I'm the world's worst thinner... So this year that's what I'm trying -- eg for autumn carrot I've sown 4 per station 2-3 inches apart.

[WendyC]

I've tried making a "fence" around carrot with environmesh the theory being they only fly so high but I think someone forgot to tell the carrot fly that! Will go for complete coverage this year and see if that helps.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've tried making a "fence" around carrot with environmesh the theory being they only fly so high but I think someone forgot to tell the carrot fly that! Will go for complete coverage this year and see if that helps.

Wendy, the annoying thing is that gardening writers propound that theory and it has been proven to be absolute crud. We show growers use barrels almost 4 ft high and we still get damage with carrot fly.

[salome2001]

I have 1 deck plank high raised beds and have covered them in enviromesh over a low framework of canes and buildaballs. The sides reach the planks, but I think I am going to have to try to make it hug the boards, maybe a really really long circle of sewing elastic... or pantyhose??? (just thought of that, anyone given it a go?)

[salome2001]

oh, and I am going to use the "grow your own" nematodes, since I got packs on BOGOF at the edible garden show

[Spunky]

I'm growing in my garden do I still stand as much chance of attracting carrot fly as an allotment?

[Shadylane]

No. Cos there's not as many folk growing them. I've grown them at home in half an old dustbin and had no carrot fly. The allotment is riddled with em.

[marchogaeth]

I'm growing in my garden do I still stand as much chance of attracting carrot fly as an allotment?

But see this thread and this one because they do seem to live on a lot of other plants that you might have in the garden either deliberately or as weeds.

As I said, I'm seriously wondering if they aren't already in the bed I've just cleared and planted and am about to carefully mesh (waiting for 25 mph wind to drop!)

[MarkHackwell]

Im trying enviromesh this year, was thinking of putting it overtop of supports but its not big enough then was gonna put it on the ground but thought how am I going to weed because as soon as I take the net off the pests will get in soo now im going to try and put a barrier round the outside and try it

[Spunky]

Thanks shady :-).... Fingers crossed fingers crossed lol

[Alison]

Im trying enviromesh this year, was thinking of putting it overtop of supports but its not big enough then was gonna put it on the ground but thought how am I going to weed because as soon as I take the net off the pests will get in soo now im going to try and put a barrier round the outside and try it

It's fine to just lay it on top although I do put bits of canes at intervals to stop it being directly on the soil all over and allow the carrots to grow withouth pushing it up too much. Re weeding, unless you were planning on making a walk in device with an air lock then flies could still get in but you need to minimise the time you uncover and only uncover the bits you are weeding at the time - I don't weed much either which reduces the risk time and saves my sanity