[Spud1970]

Went to the allotment this morning with my early spuds and onion sets. Have cleared a bit of space. They have started chitting already so I will try to get them in at the weekend. Has anyone actually tried companion planting? I am following John Seymours Self-Sufficiency book and he says plant carrots with onions to ward off respective pests...

[DD.]

This question often pops up.

This thread is worth a read:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=85185.0

[Spud1970]

Doh....romantic self-sufficiency companion planting exposed as baloney  thanks for the quick response.

[JayG]

It's not baloney, companion planting just doesn't always work as well as you might hope for - growing onions to put carrot flies off their scent sometimes works for some people, but covering with fine netting always does! 

[Spud1970]

Thanks JayG I think i will give both a whirl!! I will report back...

[ferret1988]

i have heard of this method before and have also been told it does work to a degree

[Spud1970]

Thanks mate

[LilacSandy]

I grew both together last year and every time I thinned them out or pulled some to eat I broke off an onion leaf and rubbed it between my fingers and then onto the carrott leaves.  

All the carrots were fine next to the, but the later crop on the other side of the lotty was uneatable.  However a lot of faffing about when I should have covered all the rows which I shall be doing this year.