[Aunt Sally]

Hi,
Thanks for the responses TBH I didn't think about effect of the wind. As its so disappointing when they look good but horrid when pulled that I'll probably use mesh. Thanks for the reminder to cover when sewn Snowdrops
I haven't grown them often as previous plot had lots of stones but on new plot I've seived the soil in the raised beds as we eat lots of carrots and parsnips😁

Enviro mesh is the type you need. Carrot flies are quite small.

[amiman]

We have raised beds around 200mm tall 2 lots of carrots this year, no netting no carrot fly.
we used

Carrot Seeds - Resistafly F1 Hybrid

from Marshalls https://marshallsgarden.com/products/carrot-seeds-resistafly-f1-hybrid-10202408

[AnneB]

Carrot fly is endemic on our allotment.   Carrots have to be netted with enviromesh to avoid it.  Planting carrots in tall tubs or beds just doesn't work.

[Growster...]

Carrot fly is endemic on our allotment.   Carrots have to be netted with enviromesh to avoid it.  Planting carrots in tall tubs or beds just doesn't work.

Enviromesh is very expensive, Anne, so we used two layers of debris netting over hoops which worked OK!

It was at the edge of one of the beds where I watched a fly trying to get in, luckily there were enough pegs holding the stuff down...

[AnneB]

I think Enviromesh is worth the investment.  I have had mine for several years now and it shows no sign of wear or deterioration. 
I found debris netting difficult to get big enough to cover my beds and it all got a bit Heath Robinson trying to sew up the eyelets and use 2 lengths to get the required width

[Growster...]

I think you're right here, Anne. Over the years, we would have kept the stuff in good nick, and made sure we could use it again the following season, but, on one occasion, we were driving to Tunbridge Wells, past a layby, and I spotted a huge heap of debris netting, which had been dumped by a lazy builder!

We took a quick 'U' turn, and there was a boot-full of the stuff, perfectly clean, and clearly a new arrival in the layby that day, as it was still wet from the night rain!

Well, what would you have done! I still have some left, but most of it went to the new tenants, as their need was greater than ours!

As it was used as a double layer, we managed to keep the black seam-holes apart, to keep a continuous cover, but it worked for many years!

[amiman]

In my last post I mentioned fly resistant seeds our crop today, no nets 200mm raised beds.

Seeds here https://marshallsgarden.com/products/carrot-seeds-resistafly-f1-hybrid-10202408

[rowlandwells]

its so maddening when you drive by fields of carrots not a mesh in sight and you say to yourself how do they do it well its obviously a chemical spray not available for the home gardener as they say

[snowdrops]

In my last post I mentioned fly resistant seeds our crop today, no nets 200mm raised beds.

Seeds here https://marshallsgarden.com/products/carrot-seeds-resistafly-f1-hybrid-10202408

I’m sorry to say amimam but some of those look to have carrot fly when I enlarged the photo .  I hope I’m wrong!
I tried a fly resistant seed one year but thought the taste was lacking, might have been something like flyaway or something

[amiman]

In my last post I mentioned fly resistant seeds our crop today, no nets 200mm raised beds.

Seeds here https://marshallsgarden.com/products/carrot-seeds-resistafly-f1-hybrid-10202408

I’m sorry to say amimam but some of those look to have carrot fly when I enlarged the photo .  I hope I’m wrong!
I tried a fly resistant seed one year but thought the taste was lacking, might have been something like flyaway or something

Yep on closer inspection I think you ar right.

[Eric44]

I also have had my enviromesh for several years to cover my onions. At the end of the season I put it in the washing machine on a delicate wash, fold it up and put it away for next year.

[Yorkie]

I also have had my enviromesh for several years to cover my onions. At the end of the season I put it in the washing machine on a delicate wash, fold it up and put it away for next year.

Do you add detergent, or not?  And do you do a clean cycle afterwards without anything in, to wash away residues of dirt?

I've never quite dared put my manky e'mesh through the wash and it's a little green in places now ...

[snowdrops]

I wash mine with soap powder on a 60d wash, I’ve usuall hung it on the line first & hosed off the worst of the muck, then let it dry a bit then in the machine. I’ve had some of mine over 20 years so although pricey it’s worth the investment. I’ve repaired it a few times, & the last time after I washed it I reinforced the edges & made button type holes every 6” so I could put membrane pegs through it with the sewing machine, it’s worked well but I bought new earlier this year & it’s still sat in the sewing room waiting to be joined up to suit my bed sizes & hoops that I drape it over. A job for after Christmas now I think lol as hopefully I’m having a poly tunnel & need to rejig a fair bit.

[jambop]

I have grown some decent Chatneny and Torchon this year in my beds which are 30cm high and not seen any damage  yet but I do not know of anybody at all near me who grows carrots could this be a factor? My biggest problem was keeping enough water on the beds to get then to grow as we had a very hot dry summer one reason why they are not a popular crop here. The other thing I have noticed in the past is that when they have been in the ground into the winter the have shown signs of wear and tear  but those were in open ground.

[Eric44]

Yorkie, I do use detergent capsules to wash it but I also put it on the line and hose it first. I wash at 30 degrees and I have been known on rainy days to pop it in the tumble drier on low. Still almost as good as new.