[janeheritage]

My carrots are getting going nicely on our allotment, now coming into its second year (just paid the rent - £17 - bargain!). But my neighbour warns me that the carrot fly on our plots is virulent and we have to protect the carrots in May and July if we want a crop.

I've got some Enviromesh I could use, but the neighbour recommended fleece. Does anyone have any experience of either of these as carrot protection, and which would you recommend?

[strangerachael]

I used enviromesh last year and my carrots were fine (they got carrot fly the year before without any protection). I've never used fleece but I think you probably get better ventilation with mesh.
This year I've got them mainly under enviromesh again, but I've done a few amongst the onions and garlic, and I'm going to try spraying them with garlic tea. No idea if this will work but it will be an interesting experiment.

[DD.]

Has anyone used debris netting as a defence?

[janeheritage]

I've got onions and garlic around and about also. I'll be really interested to hear whether you find it works, or whether we have to use a barrier.

What sort of soil are you on?

[strangerachael]

My soil is quite sandy - supposedly ideal for carrots - but mine were all a bit skinny last year 

[janeheritage]

We sandy too. At least you got some last year, ours all failed completely! Doing better so far this year  :blink:

[Ropster]

answering the original question, both will protect the carrots but enviromesh is very expensive.

That said if you already have it I would use that as it is a lot more durable, flece tends to split

[janeheritage]

I bought Enviromesh last year before the credit crunch really started to bite. I'm hoping it will be very durable as if things go on as they are I won't be buying anything at all this year! 

[harrymac]

Has anyone used debris netting as a defence?

I'm using it for the first time this year - 4 x 2 by 2's into the corners of the carrot bed with the netting wrapped around (open at the top).

Would be good to get feedback from anyone who's tried it before.