carrot root fly

[pepper]

I have carrot root fly, should i just remove all the carrots now and give up

[vicky]

I think once they're there you can't do anything to stop them - sorry!
You can only prevent it (environmesh/fleece) before it appears.
The damage will get worse as the grubs eat more so I would dig up all the carrots and cut off the bad bits so you can salvage something. If you have a lot carrot and corriander soup is lovely.
Next christmas put environmesh on your list - it's very effective!

[pepper]

I should have covered them but i thought i would try planting onions with them, but this has be no good. I will make sure I cover them next year

[TEB]

I have planted Onions along with carrots and it has never deterred the Carrot Fly, I just fleece them now

[Flobalob]

Mine are in pots a couple of foot off the ground. Second sowing and not covered.

[SarzWix]

They still get in pots Flobalob - I just pulled some Sugarsnax out of a pot in my garden, no other carrots in the garden or anyone else's on my street, and every single one has the little maggotty holes in!

[Flobalob]

I'm hoping Since carrot flies do not fly more than 2 feet above the ground, ( read this somewhere) I might be able to beat the problem.
They should be ready to pull in a week or two maybe. I will get back to this thread to let you know.

[Rocketron]

I'm hoping Since carrot flies do not fly more than 2 feet above the ground, ( read this somewhere) I might be able to beat the problem.
They should be ready to pull in a week or two maybe. I will get back to this thread to let you know.

I am reliably informed that this a "Gardener's Myth". Carrot flies can fly the same as any other fly. When looking to lay their eggs they obviously fly close to the ground as this is where they lay.

[Snadger]

I'm hoping Since carrot flies do not fly more than 2 feet above the ground, ( read this somewhere) I might be able to beat the problem.
They should be ready to pull in a week or two maybe. I will get back to this thread to let you know.

They also nest in the top of tall trees........apparently!

[Maximillian]

Many of my leaves had turned red but today I pulled half a dozen out to check them and they were lovely. No holes at all

[Gwyndy]

After many years of trying to grow carrots that are not decimated by the carrot root fly I have succeeded this year. All grown under Enviromesh. (Expensive but worth it I think.)

[Paulottie]

They also nest in the top of tall trees........apparently!

.....Well, I put up a 2' barrier and that hasn't completely worked either. Onion and garlic thing definitely doesn't work. Fleece is a nightmare, last year I had a beautiful dustbin full of clean ones that were had by either rats or a squirrel..... and frankly it is cheaper to buy carrots than enviromesh...but I suppose it at least lasts a few years so I guess that's it.

[Flobalob]

I am reliably informed that this a "Gardener's Myth". Carrot flies can fly the same as any other fly. When looking to lay their eggs they obviously fly close to the ground as this is where they lay.

I would like to inform the RHS of this reliably informed myth. Can you give me the source please.

[zazen999]

I would like to inform the RHS of this reliably informed myth. Can you give me the source please.

The fact that barriers don't stop it....I grew some in a walled garden with no access less than 6ft and they got in there.....

The only way to grow clean carrots is under mesh.

[Rocketron]

Flobalob, I can't give you a link as it's someone who told me in person. When you think about it, it's obvious.
I note the RHS website talks about a 2ft barrier for the females. As I stated that is when they fly low.
HTH