where do i start???

[Alison C]

Originally posted by veg4681
Thanks I might try these root veggies direct sown just to see how it goes. I get too paranoid about slugs eating the seedlings but with leafy stuffs, I tend to use slug pellets as soon as they get planted to the ground. I start almost everything off in pots. Did you have to protect your root vegetables from root fly etc?

I grow all my veg in pots and growbags so I dont have a problem with root fly. Root flies are ground fliers and dont fly higher that twenty five centimetres approx so they simply don't make it into my pots. The thing to remember with root fly is they are driven by smell and are attracted to veg when thinning. The key is therefore to thin at night when they are not about or to sow thinly so that thinning is not necessary. Companion planting is also useful, Ive not needed to but apparently and other grapeviners will have to help me out here but if you plant certain species of flowers they attract hover flies which eat root fly and other pests.

[Paulottie]

Hoverflies like aphids and poached egg plant,(limoant-somting) attracts hoverflies.

Traditionally you plant onions alongside carrots to distract carrot root fly, i found it didn't really work. You're right that they have no head for heights tho, you can put up a 18" barrier, use fleece or grow in dustbins as you suggest

[veg4681]

I grow all my veg in pots and growbags so I dont have a problem with root fly. Root flies are ground fliers and dont fly higher that twenty five centimetres approx so they simply don't make it into my pots. The thing to remember with root fly is they are driven by smell and are attracted to veg when thinning. The key is therefore to thin at night when they are not about or to sow thinly so that thinning is not necessary.

Thanks for the very useful info, sure clarifies things for me. I'd be less paranoid of direct sowing that way too. I'll see if I can fit the pot option into my growing plan.