Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Eblana on January 07, 2018, 18:20

Title: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: Eblana on January 07, 2018, 18:20
I have had good success with parsnips for the past couple of years but Carrots have been an absolute disaster with Carrot Root Fly.  I am going to build up one of my raised beds to three or four planks high and use this for carrots and parsnips.  I have enough soil available to half fill this new bed and I am wondering what I should use to fill it up the rest of the way.  I have six bags of multi purpose compost available and can get my hands on some builders sharp sand.  If I need more soil I suppose I could take soil out of some of the other beds.  Also should I fill the bed right to the top or should I leave a couple of inches of board above the soil level.
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: DD. on January 07, 2018, 18:40
Whilst carrot fly are very poor at flying under their own steam, they are very good at getting blown into places. In the past I have tried a polythene fence to keep them out, whilst this reduce the numbers, I have found that the only way is complete coverage. I think you've have to go very high with a raised bed to keep them out purely by virtue of the height of the bed.
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: Eblana on January 07, 2018, 18:43
I will be putting an enironmesh tent on top as well😉😉
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: Potterer on January 07, 2018, 18:53
Yes I grew carrots at home in a small garden enclosed with 6 foot fencing and still got carrot root fly so now just cover the bed with enviromesh every time!
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: Dev on January 07, 2018, 19:20
I've found that raised beds have succeeded for me in East Yorkshire. Maybe we get less rain and therefore the flies have less vigour than the Irish variety! Mind you - you can have our brassica white fly if you like.
Using the compost sounds like a good idea to me. I sow into bought compost on top of soil and get good germination with no forking. The only problem then, or course, is slugs.
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: rowlandwells on January 08, 2018, 18:08
we had very good results sowing our carrots in a raised bed did the same idea as your suggesting and my O/H sowed the seed we used pelleted seed took a little longer to germinate but had good sized carrots we put spent compost and sharp sand in the mix before sowing and covered with enviromesh hoops

its just a pity I didn't grow my parsnips like that if I had I might have got some decent parsnips  :mad: never mind you live and learn that's on the agenda for this year good luck with your parsnips and carrots in your  raised beds
Title: Re: Carrots and parsnips in raised bed
Post by: Christine on January 09, 2018, 08:40
Carrot root fly may not fly but they glide and once in motion will find your carrots unless these are protected. Also if you have hedges as we do on our old allotment site they have places to "roost". Not good.