carrots and carrot fly

[hawthorns]

ive just read that if you sow carrot seed you should distribute a layer of ground coffee. this not only helps to make them grow straight but helps to prevent carrot fly.

has anyone tried this?

[nick the grief]

No but it may be worth a try and the coffee will help improve the soil

[Snadger]

Put some ground up Kit Kat in as well...........we all love a Kit Kat with our coffee, unless you're a carrot fly of course!

[hawthorns]

very funny not

[roitelet]

Try a fly resistant variety like Flyaway or Resistafly both from T&M.

Had great sucess with both, much easier than growing them under nets

[Two_Sheds]

I just can't get carrots to grow, period. Nets or not. No carrots.

[moggssue]

I didnt have any problem with carrot fly - maybe I was just experiencing beginners luck? They were all either planted in buckets or in the plot near to some marigolds which maybe helped disguise the smell? Be interested to hear how the coffee goes though if anyone tries it next year?

[Janco]

Hi Two Sheds,
I also was having dreadful problems germinating carrots so this year I have grown them in guttering in the greenhouse until they were 3 inches high then slid them out into a guttering shaped trench in the veg plot, covered them with a cheap net cloche and they are great. Yum

[Flummery]

Good idea. Tried it with peas and it worked. I would think it might depend on the type of carrot. I usually grow a stump-rooted variety to avoid forking against the stones but they should be ok with this method.

[Snadger]

I have never had any joy growing carrots until I discovered enviromesh! This year grew them, and am still growing them, under cover for their full life. Foliage is lush even now, and carrots are as clean as a whistle. I am leaving the enviromesh on throughout the winter and intend pulling fresh carrots all winter long if everything goes to plan!

And NO I don't have any connection to enviromesh manufactures!

[sewer rat]

I've always grown my onions / leeks / spring onions / garlic alongside my carrots and have never been bothered with carrot fly. This year my carrots were grown in drills in between my onion drills and again no carrot fly. Carrots are still growing great guns although slugs are moving in gradually.

[JennieAtkinson]

I sow my first carrots in April in the tunnel (still pulling them now!) and the next lot in the garden in July for a winter harvest. I have never been bothered (dare I say it!) with carrot fly.

.......... and it is definately as far north as here!

[Snadger]

I sow my first carrots in April in the tunnel (still pulling them now!) and the next lot in the garden in July for a winter harvest. I have never been bothered (dare I say it!) with carrot fly.

.......... and it is definately as far north as here!

All that polythene over there heads, may have a titsy bitsy bit to do with it!

Just had a mental vision of squadrons of carrot fly kami kasying into taut polythene!

[Mrs Dobby]

We tried growing our early carrots in blocks between the onions and garlic, and they got tunnelled to bits by carrot fly, so deffo didnt work for us this year!

The late carrots have been much better, tho whether thats because we planted resistafly and autumn king together I'm not sure!

Next year we are deffo going to be using resistant varieties AND growing under fleece!

[Sebbster]

Didn't have any issues with Carrot Fly this year but had to pull all my carrots last weekend as the slugs were moving onto them.

I grew Autumn King also.

Anything that has a scent will help to put the carrot fly off, but not tried coffee.