What to do with infected carrots?

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Sideways

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What to do with infected carrots?
« on: October 05, 2011, 15:30 »
I have a batch of carrots that have been infected with root fly, it was an experiment that failed, I didn’t cover them and I've lost the lot. Fortunately I have another batch which is covered and are fine.

I was wondering, can I simply throw the infected carrots in the compost bin or should I destroy / keep them separate?

Thanks.
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Trillium

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2011, 16:07 »
If they were my carrots, I'd bin them so that the flies can't find an alternative host to overwinter in and return in numbers next year.

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sonnycbr

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2011, 17:41 »
Totally agree with Trillium, it's not worth taking the risk of reinfecting future crops for a little extra compost.

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strangerachael

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2011, 18:22 »
It depends how many you've got to get rid of. If it's not  too many I sometimes microwave them in a little water for a couple of minutes and then compost. You should be able to compost the leaves in any case.
Rachael

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Growster...

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2011, 19:43 »
Hmmmm.

There's a lot to get rid of here too, and I'd bet that a good compost heap might just turf the dreaded flies out with the heat etc...

But I may be wrong, in which case, I've got to go and dig out a load from my rising heap...

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Salmo

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2011, 23:49 »
Most of the carrot fly maggots will have pupated by now. Many of them will be in the soil but some will have stayed within the carrots. There will be some maggots still in the roots.

If you compost them a few may survive to hatch  but I doubt very much whether a few extra flies next Spring is going to affect your crop, especially if you are going to cover them.

What you must avoid is growing the new crop near this years crop or spreading the compost on that area. It would be a disaster to cover your carrots with mesh only to find there were carrot fly lavae already in the soil underneath and waiting to hatch.




« Last Edit: October 06, 2011, 08:23 by Salmo »

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sunshineband

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2011, 07:03 »
I also hadd some failed 'experiments' but decided to put all the carrots in the council green recycling, as their compost maker reaches very high temperatures, so that'll be th end of the little wrigglers
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Sideways

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2011, 09:23 »
Thanks all.

I think I will dipose of them away from the plot, better safe than sorry.

Carrot fly are merciless, not a single carrot was spared. Little flying f.f.f..fiends.

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Growster...

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2011, 20:15 »
I also hadd some failed 'experiments' but decided to put all the carrots in the council green recycling, as their compost maker reaches very high temperatures, so that'll be th end of the little wrigglers

KC, I'm going to do another post on this, and mention you of course! ;0)

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Trillium

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2011, 20:29 »
Composting is the problem for many people. They simply don't get hot enough heaps going which would kill any flies, maggots, eggs, whatever.  Most council composts will reach very high temperatures, so they're the better alternative along with binning.

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Rampant_Weasel

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2011, 10:12 »
i would compost them personaly, if u use enviromesh it doesnt matter how many survive into next year surely?

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DD.

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2011, 10:43 »
You really want to dig carrot fly into your ground?  :ohmy:
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

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Salmo

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Re: What to do with infected carrots?
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2011, 11:00 »
I see no problem with composting as long as the compost is not used on the carrot bed. The majority of pupae will not survive and the few that do will surely add little to the numbers that are already at large and living in weeds such as cow parsley.

The biggest source of carrot fly infection is probably from carrots and parsnips left in the ground until late Spring. We see them every year going rapidly up to flower when we are sowing the new crop. Often these have been left because they are infected and not worth harvesting.

If they are out of the ground it is a big step forward.



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