carrot query

[goddess]

Hi,couple of questions regarding carrot growing.Firstly is there any evidence that growing carrot in raised bed provide some protection from carrot fly(they can't fly high apparently)?
secondly has anyone tried growing it mixed with onion to protect from carrot fly
and was it successful?thanks

[Bigmallly]

Hi,couple of questions regarding carrot growing.Firstly is there any evidence that growing carrot in raised bed provide some protection from carrot fly(they can't fly high apparently)?

I would imagine it all depends how high your soil comes up the boards. If level then you will need to protect with fleece or similar.

[northepaul]

I am going to mix with onions and garlic, (alternative lines) I have heard it is supposed to protect them, and its easier for me, as I dont have much room for dedicated spaces.

I have heard lots of contradictory stuff about carrot fly...some say they can fly high others say they cant...I think its probably common sense, ie not pulling them up during the day or breaking the leaves etc to attract them...or netting could be the answer?

[TEB]

Hi,couple of questions regarding carrot growing.Firstly is there any evidence that growing carrot in raised bed provide some protection from carrot fly(they can't fly high apparently)?
secondly has anyone tried growing it mixed with onion to protect from carrot fly
and was it successful?thanks

Yes I have to both questions and the answer is no to both, its a bit of an urban myth that they cannot fly high, they aren't strong fliers, so the best time to do any work around carrots is on a windy day.

[Snadger]

Enviromesh, enviromesh, enviromesh, enviromesh....oh....and did I mention enviromesh.

Tried all these urban myths and for me they are bunkum........I think carrot flies nest in trees, throwing small resistafly carrots at onlookers whilst munching on an onion!!

The only certain way to get a decent crop of carrots in a carrot fly infested area is by using............now what the heck do they call that stuff again???????

[Florence Fennel]

Definitely with Snadger on this one, grow them under cover so the flies can't get at them!

[nerdgas]

Enviromesh, enviromesh, enviromesh, enviromesh....oh....and did I mention enviromesh.

Tried all these urban myths and for me they are bunkum........I think carrot flies nest in trees, throwing small resistafly carrots at onlookers whilst munching on an onion!!

The only certain way to get a decent crop of carrots in a carrot fly infested area is by using............now what the heck do they call that stuff again???????

Scaffold debris netting?

[Jeanied]

The time to watch out for is when the Queen Anne's Lace is flowering (wild carrot) - that's the peak time for carrot fly. You can get covering then.

[elsie-scot]

If you can't afford the "now what was that thing Snadger was talking about - oh yeh enviromesh " last year I used a cheap polythene tunnel cloche and had no problems with the beasties. - but also stuck to the not thinning during the day etc

[SarzWix]

The only decent crop of carrots I've had was in a bed covered with enviromesh. I tried them in a big trough that was raised up on a pallet - they were all ruined. I tried them in a bed surrounded with spring onions, garlic and marigolds - they were all ruined.

I've had a 'quick' crop of the little round ones (Paris Market?) in pots that escaped unharmed, but that's it.

The Enviromesh may seem expensive, but you can buy it by the metre from the likes of Harrod Horticultural which is cheaper, and, it lasts for many years. Alternatively, if you already have fleece for spring/autumn use, you could use that over the carrot bed in summer.

[Terryr]

Hi there

I have had terrible trouble with c fly. I have not had a crop for about ten + years.
I tried 2 foot plastic barriers 3 years ago and it was, to me, quite successful. Some carrots to eat. The last 2 years, this did not work too well. Fleece would seem to be the only answer.

Be good to gardeners

Terryr

[Two_Sheds]

The only decent crop of carrots I've had was in a bed covered with enviromesh.

Same here, except I use debris netting. However, last year the wind kept blowing the net off so the carrot flies had a party, and I got almost no nice carrots.

This year, I am sewing together several voile net curtains and pegging down the edges with soil and bricks.

I've tried all the other methods, including growing fly-resistant carrots (which aren't)

[Rabidbun]

Might be a daft question, but how tight can you fasten fleece over a crop and do you need to take it off to let light and air in now and again? Presumably you have to take it off to water?

[Two_Sheds]

I don't like fleece (it tears) I use mesh/net.
It has holes to let air and water in.

[goddess]

Thanks alot for that.I have tried Enviromesh and know it works.I am growing the carrot in my own garden and was trying to make the bed ornamental as well as functional,i thought (may be foolishly) that carrot fly is resident on allottments sites and that i might have less of a problem as no one grows veg near where i live!after reading the comments iam now going to buy Enviromesh.Better safe than sorry.thanks again