[jennyb]

my carrots are being munched slowly but surely

 (i didn't put a net or barrier round them,  only second year of growing,  am learing each time - will barrier them in next year!)

anyway,  so there are little white mites which i presume are the carrot fly/root fly things but also i seem to be getting a lot of red ants around them wehn i pull them up - now are the ants my friends -  are they eating the little fly mite things?  or are they also munching on my carrots?

also as i seem to have this infestation,  which i don't think is that bad - but only being the second year and last year i didn't sow thinly enough,  so the carrot didn't really grow!,  i don't really have anything to compare my infestation with.

so do i pull the rest of them up now and if so will they keep?

i've got pics of some of the last lot i pulled up on my blog alread,  but will add todays pictures on tonight (haven't finished taking all the photos yet!)

thanks in advance for any advice!!  

[DD.]

It's not going to be carrot fly. The carrot fly problem is actually caused by the grub of the fly tunnelling into the carrot. This can manifest itself as threads in the carrot & distorted root growth.

Sounds like some sort of aphid to me, especially in view of the ants, who 'milk' aphids. Whilst the ants are probably going no harm to your crop, they'e actually encouraging the aphids.

[jennyb]

no this isn't threads throught the carrot it's holes through the carrot!!!

i'm going away for a week - so do i pull them all up (only one short row left now) before i go?  i just fear if i leave them there will be nothing left when i come back.

i added the pictures to my journal so you can see why i am so proud of them seen as this is only my second year of attempting them.

so any ideas for next year how to prevent the little white mites? and for that matter by the sounds of it the ants!!

[DD.]

As you've only got a few left, I'd be inclined to dig them up, wash the nasties off, and then bury them under a small mound of soil so they don't go floppy whilst you're away.

[jennyb]

small mound of soil?  sorry - it must be frustrating explaining to us novices!!

i have a bag of compst in the shed - would that do - i just don't want to burry them and for the nasties to find them again!!

[DD.]

This is how you do it long term:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1101/storing_root_veg.asp

Seeing as you've only a few left, I'd have thought you'd have got away with burying them under a heap of soil, after washing them, just for a week or two.

Your compost should be OK for a short while.

[jennyb]

hmm don't think i have enough left worth going to those lengths!!  (plus not enough time!)

thanks for the link tho,

i shall lift them tomorrow morning see what i've got and the decide what do do with what i have.