carrot fly

[StrawberryMan]

what companion plants work well with carrots last year most of my carrots had carrot fly

[sewer rat]

what companion plants work well with carrots last year most of my carrots had carrot fly

Onions, spring onions, garlic, leeks - any of the allium family, including chives and garlic chives are supposed to mask the scent from the carrots . Marigolds are also supposed to help but have not tried them myself. I plant my onions alongside my carrots and seems to have always worked for me.

[Phreddy]

I read somewhere to 'earth up' carrot after thinning.

[lottie dolly]

hello strawberryman
i am going to try marrigolds with mine this year,i set some seed about 3 weeks ago,they are about ready to pick out,only done i packet for now,see how things go with the weather,and do more later on,hope we can confuse the little critters this year. lol.

[zazen999]

Coriander.
when I use it, no carrot fly
when I don't, carrot fly.

Chop the coriander down to the same height as the carrot tops every week/few days [as you can], and sprinkle the choppings around the carrots as you go.

chuck a tagetes nearby and some onions in as well, and you should be covered!!!

I never thin my carrots, I space them out from the start. Some get started from seed and some are started indoors and go out in small bundles; they push each other apart as they grow.

This year I am trying deep carrot boxes on the raised beds, filled with mainly sand and with a fleece bivouac [tent!].

[roitelet]

Huge problems with carrot fly here.

For several years now I have grown carrots under insect nets, planted the seed 1 to the inch with tweezers and never thinned and it works.

Tried companion planting with no success

[moggssue]

Last year was my first real year with carrots. While the marigolds were growing I had no carrot fly, but the marigolds finished before my last sowing of carrots and yes, I had TONS of carrot fly!!

I will be using marigolds again this year - and I like the idea of coriander as well, since I cook with it, that might be a more productive bet than the marigold, so I'm going to use both

[Cutecumber]

Just a small point...

Coriander is closely related to carrot and the fly will attack it, too. I suspect that the benefit in sprinkling the cuttings may be in preventing the flies laying next to the carrots.

[moggssue]

Oh okay, so do you reckon the carrot fly goes for the coriander instead of the carrot then? I didnt think coriander had a root for it to burrow into?

[StrawberryMan]

many thanks see you at the weekend

[The Doctor]

I must admit I've never had much luck with companion planting stopping carrot fly either.

Last year I put my early Nantes under the fleece-covered frame shown in this piccy and it did the trick - no carrot fly at all!

[Flummery]

I think the Doctor has it cracked. The only sure method is keeping them out.

[nick the grief]

Grow them in tubs - always worked for me I've tried all sorts on the plot and they always get fly eventually. Most of the old boys near me grow there's behind a barrier (shade netting buried in the ground and about 2ft in the air ... maybe that's why I get all the trouble

[rustylady]

Oh okay, so do you reckon the carrot fly goes for the coriander instead of the carrot then? I didnt think coriander had a root for it to burrow into?

Coriander does develop quite large roots, these can also be used to cook with, particularly Thai and Eastern cuisine