[erainn]

Having sown carrots/parsnip directly into my plot, which have been covered with fleece since April, the plants have been doing really well,with good growth, I noticed today thaat some of them have wilted and wonder if it may simply been too hot? I ask this as we have had rain recently and have kept watered, so looking for possible reasons. I was hesitant to to remove the fleece for concerns on carrot fly (although the variety s called 'reistafly). Hoping they will be alright exposed as they now are. Any advice for a first-time grower very welcome.

[DD.]

They often wilt in the heat, that's what the cell walls of plants are designed to do, in order to keep moisture in.

I'm sure they'll pick up once it cools down.

[DD.]

One other thing - you can over-water root veg and they then won't put down a long tap root, as they don't need to in order to find what they want. If they are shallow rooted, it's not going to help.

[erainn]

Hi, thanks for that advice, will ease up on watering and hope they will revive, minus the fleece

[DD.]

Having dumped 6 wheelbarrow loads of carrots in my first year on my current plot, I'd be inclined to keep the fleece on!