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Carrot fly prevention ?

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  • #1

    Carrot fly prevention ?

    I was speaking to an elderly neighbour of mine today who used to be "in service" and who grew loads of fruit, veg and cut flowers for the "big house".
    She says she always had a fantastic crop of carrots and her advice was as follows.
    Grow them in the same ground every year (similar I suppose to an onion bed) and do not add manure or fertiliser ever ( )
    After picking the thinnings in the evening, she then advises that you use your feet to tramp down the ground on either side of the drill til it is nice and firm.
    She swears that this stops the carrot fly.
    Any of you grapes out there got any comments on her methods ?
    Rat

    British by birth
    Scottish by the Grace of God

    http://scotsburngarden.blogspot.com/
    http://davethegardener.blogspot.com/
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  • #2
    Rat, I've heard this too - or to water the crops.

    Apparently it's the scent of freshly picked carrots that attracts the carrot fly and watering after thinning (or I supposed squashing the earth) 'dampens down' the cscent given off and therefore the attraction to the fly. Also, they are less active in the evening so there's less of them to notice the scent

    And don't add manure etc as it causes the roots to 'split' in an attempt to find the nutrients
    Last edited by Shortie; 23-04-2006, 12:24 PM.
    Shortie

    "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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    • #3
      I always firm down the ground around carrots to stop the light getting through.
      [

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      • #4
        I was watching the Monty Don special allotment programme earlier this year and an allotment holder who has been growing carrots for years earths them up like potatoes and swears it keeps the carrot fly off.

        And when your back stops aching,
        And your hands begin to harden.
        You will find yourself a partner,
        In the glory of the garden.

        Rudyard Kipling.sigpic

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        • #5
          I think by far the easiest option is to erect a 3' barrier of enviromesh around them. That's what I'll be trying anyway.

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          • #6
            I am always worried about one getting blown over the mesh so I always cover mine making sure that it is well pegged down at the edges to stop them from geting under. This works very well indeed.

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            • #7
              I had heard about thinning them in the evening & making sure you throw away the thinnings straight away so the flies can't smell them, I've also tried enviromesh, growing in between onions etc. but am now growing some in a pot indoors hoping that will foil the little blighters!
              Into every life a little rain must fall.

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