OK I GIVE IN

after many of your comments regarding  using enviromesh i have decided take your advise when i grow my carrots i am going to use enviromesh i ordered it's on its way to me as we speak 

i'me going to put it round the carrot plot on some post's and hopefully keep the carrot fly at bay 

Hi rowlandwells I used it last year and in my opinion you have made a very wise move. I have just washed all mine in the washing machine ready for this year and its come up as good as new.  I know its quite expensive but they reckon it lasts for 10 years so well worth it. Enjoy your carrots yum.

ive always found http://www.gardening-naturally.com/ the best value and cheap delivery.

last year i put it over the whole row and buried all the edges and had a perfect crop

rowland, it's not like you're giving in altogether. You're simply adapting 

hi this is our second year at lotty we grew uncovered carrots last year. The first ones we picked were lovely raw and cooked    and then the dreaded carrot fly got them and my daughters rabbits had a supply of fresh carrots for weeks.   SO this year i have invested in enviromesh bought online from Gardening Naturally on ebay( fast delivery would reccomend them) you can by it by the metre so purchase as much as you need

I've never used enviromesh and grow about three 30' rows of carrots every year.

I do get some damage but perhaps because there are so many of them the carrot fly gets fed up and leaves most of them alone?

This year I'm going to try a row of "resistafly" to see if these are worth growing. Normally I stick mainly to Autumn King. Still have half a row to lift and so far the little pesky fly has not been too much bother. (fingers crossed)

Last year i grew my carrots in tall barrels to avoid the carrot fly and i got a good crop, though the carrot fly did get some.

I've always found carrots impossible to germinate in my heavy clay soil, so this year i am trying something different...i have made a raised bed which i will fill with 'council compost' that usually gets delivered free to our allotment in May (i used this last year in my barrels) and i will cover with environmesh which i already have.

One day I will have good carrots!