Carrot fly

[Vince G]

When do these blighters come out to play? I planted 2 rows of carrots on the lottie and some are just showing their first true leaves. Have read lots of conflicting stuff on the interweb, so from everybody's experience when do I need to erect my fleece barrier?

[piskieinboots]

I didn't use fleece barriers last year, I grew mine in the black flower buckets (Morrison's) and had a really good clean crop.

This year I am growing at the lottie and hoping that the onions and garlic close by will throw the chaps off the scent.

[Two_Sheds]

I always get fly at lotty, whatever method I use (nets blow off)

the maggots feed all winter on any remaining roots in soil; pupate, they hatch April and lay eggs all summer
Carrot Root Fly

[Aberdeenplotter]

Net or fleece on from day 1. Weight down with stones or bricks

[donnakebab]

I'm going to try them on my lottie this year.I've never grown them before but I have a raised area at one end that backs on to a raiway embankment and I'm going to use fleece as a barrier.

[marchogaeth]

You could check out this thread and Shadger's link as well as 2Shed's.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eat_64203.html

I've bought some fleece but I am a) worried it will blow away/tear b) that because I'm clearing old meadow there are already CRF in the ground anyway.

I am wondering about a garlic spray as an additional help on my early crop. Does anyone know, can I use the dried stuff I buy to feed to my horses in the mix? (Helps keep the flies off them, too)

[jacob]

I had hardly any damage last year, but did it the hard way -- enviromesh from day one, with the edges buried.

I've had some success growing uncovered in raised containers, such as a half barrel.

My worry this year is that I've put the carrots in right next door to where they were last year...

[mrbadexample]

Anyone know an inexpensive source of Enviromesh? Prices are frightening...

[veggiechicken]

Have you tried Garden Netting, Bird Netting, 7mm Butterfly Netting, Veggiemesh Insect Netting, Fantastic Prices
I've no idea how prices compare.

[mrbadexample]

I've no idea how prices compare.

Reasonably well, as it happens. Better than Amazon, better than eBay. Only by £1.41, but that's another packet of seeds or sommat.

[veggiechicken]

I heard about it here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eat_64203.html
Every little helps!!

[mrbadexample]

Every little helps!!

Sure does! Thanks VC. Nice to be able to order it by the metre too, as I think I've just saved another couple of bob on postage. Should be enough to cover a bed and make a frame for those in tubs.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Every little helps...the CRF got a thing about t^*co?

Carrots are under a fleece at the mo, a very damp squidgy fleece. Plan to keep covered, with the fleece fixed over hoops. A job for a dry day.

[calloo]

i grow mine in large blue tubs at my allotment similar size to water butts and cut in half had no trouble with carrot fly .. i did want to try the enviromesh /veggiemesh method but the old guys at the allotment told me the eggs are already in the soil ?? not sure if this is true or not i didnt want to risk it

[keenbean]

I also grew mine in tubs last year and had no problem with carrot fly at all