carrot root fly

[Flobalob]

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.

carrots+002.jpg (image)
Had carrots been grown before in the walled garden. I ask this because they can overwinter as larvae or pupae.

[zazen999]

carrots+002.jpg (image)
Had carrots been grown before in the walled garden. I ask this because they can overwinter as larvae or pupae.

No, I made the garden when we moved here.

They were decimated. Never again.

I have had success with growing them with coriander - but you need to chop the coriander back every few days to keep the fragrance going - but once it dies back at the end of the summer - carrot fly mayhem.

[helanuels]

I'm starting to panic now. I was told (by some man in a shop who I hope worked there) that I shouldn't cover my carrots untill they start to form carrots... Untill they are nearly ready in fact because they only go for them when there is a nice big juicy root to go for.
So.. my carrots are not covered. will they all be deaded? Is it too late if I cover them now? I can't remember when they were sown... EEK!!!! Oh no! I was so excited about purple carrot soup! Hmm... The leaves are about 15cm on the tallest and that one has 3 stalks, If I put mesh over now will they cope? Can I use normal fly mesh? How small are these little evil things? The site says the mesh is 0.8 x 0.8 mm I'm going to go and measure the window mesh! Oh I hope they are ok! Hx

[Paulottie]

Piffle I'm afraid. There are a couple of generations of fly in a season so at sometimes it is worse than others Although the damage may not show at first they seem to lay eggs by carrots at any stage seedlings or not....they get em in the end!!!!

[helanuels]

Piffle I'm afraid. There are a couple of generations of fly in a season so at sometimes it is worse than others Although the damage may not show at first they seem to lay eggs by carrots at any stage seedlings or not....they get em in the end!!!!

Firstly, I love that word. Piffle.
Secondly, As I dont even know if I have it yet, I'm going to cover the pots and hope and pray. I'll know for next time though.

So are we saying that if we find a poorly carrot, we whip em all out? Can we reuse the soil or do we chuck it out? Thanks everybody... I'm sorry of I stole this thread, had a panic you see. Hx

[TEB]

Firstly, I love that word. Piffle.
Secondly, As I dont even know if I have it yet, I'm going to cover the pots and hope and pray. I'll know for next time though.

So are we saying that if we find a poorly carrot, we whip em all out? Can we reuse the soil or do we chuck it out? Thanks everybody... I'm sorry of I stole this thread, had a panic you see. Hx

There are some things you can do to minimize the problem, cover already mentioned, dont disturb the plants over much as this causes the scent to be wafted around, do any weeding on windy days if possible because they are supposedly weak flyer's, try and rotate your planting because grubs are left in the soil, the damage is done to the root first so you may not see any foilage problems, lastly I wouldn't worry over much because one day you will find a carrot that has been attacked but it doesnt mean that all your carrots will the have the problem, this year out of a 27' row of carrots I have had less than 5% predation.

[helanuels]

Ok, thanks. I'll try and remember those things. I'll be quiet now and give this thread back to pepper. Hope you got some good carrots in amongst the no good ones. Hx

[Flobalob]

Well I just had to look. carrots+006.jpg (image)
And on that note I shall leave them for a week or so.

[gingerlover]

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

Sounds like the garden centre I go to,lol.