[Flump]

Sorry if this has been asked before! I have never used enviromesh. Do you put it down when you plant the carrot seeds and leave it on until they're ready? thanks

[DD.]

You put it on as soon as the seedlings show.

Then never take it off! (Apart from weeding and harvesting).

[taytors]

Ive always heeded the advice a old boy who swore by companion planting
i plant a row of onions either side of the carrots.So far its always worked

[DD.]

Lucky you!

There are quite a few on here who could overturn that advice. I've not tried it myself, but I've seen it not work with others on our site.

We have a major carrot fly problem and the only effective prevention is a physical barrier.

[Salmo]

Carrot fly apparently emerge about the same time as the first cow parsley comes into flower and the nectar is their favorite food source. That is usually mid-May. So, in theory, there is no need to put mesh over them until probably May 1st.

Usually my early March sown carrots emerge, produce the first proper leaves and get their first hoeing before I cover them.

This year they were sown this week so I they will probably only just be emerged by the end of April. Dare I leave them uncovered much longer than that? Will the carrot flies be later this year? Who knows?

[al78]

Ive always heeded the advice a old boy who swore by companion planting
i plant a row of onions either side of the carrots.So far its always worked

I have heard that companion planting is very hit and miss.

I did wonder if inter-planting carrots and onions, surrounding the bed with a continuous border of chives and sprinkling chopped leaves from aromatic herbs like rosemary and sage over the bed would disguise the carrot scent sufficiently to put the fly off.

[solway cropper]

Companion planting is one of those ideas that looks as if it might work in theory but most of us who've tried it over the years would agree with DD that the only defence is a physical barrier.

[Paul Plots]

We have carrot fly on the plot - I don't use enviromesh mostly because I have none - it seems very dear to buy.

I have fiddled about with a half-hearted go at companion planting. The plants may have beed good friends but the fly weren't that put off at all.

This year, unless the carrot fly have long haul tickets, I think I may have out-witted the little **ds. I am putting in a couple of rows of carrots at the far end of the garden in a neighbourhood where no one else grows vegetables only flowers and not that many of those.

I thought it worth a try. 

[Salmo]

This year, unless the carrot fly have long haul tickets, I think I may have out-witted the little **ds. I am putting in a couple of rows of carrots at the far end of the garden in a neighbourhood where no one else grows vegetables only flowers and not that many of those.

I thought it worth a try. 

You have given the plot away. They log on to this forum.

[JayG]

Although the fact that carrot flies are weak fliers can be exploited to give a measure of protection by growing carrots higher than about 2'6" from the ground, it is also the reason why companion planting is hit and miss - they are easily blown off course and if they happen to find themselves in your carrot bed they'll know what to do!

Anyone who has experienced an entire sowing of promising-looking healthy green carrot foliage turning red and discovering the maggoty remains of the crop underneath probably doesn't need advising to use a secure barrier like enviromesh, much as I'm sure we'd all prefer not to have to.

(Salmo: hopefully they're not that smart!      )

[Rampant_Weasel]

this question appears time and again and i can only repeat what DD and others say:if you plant your seeds then cover with enviromesh and make sure all the edges are buried it is 100% effective.all other methods are less than 100% at best and totally ineffective at worst. the initial outlay will you pay back in your first year.
happy carroting

[Garden-shed-potter]

Hi,

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=485

may help.

GSP

[Flump]

Thanks for the advice all.Think I will buy some Enviromesh!

[Growster...]

We had 99% success with debris netting instead of Enviromesh last year.

The one percent we discovered about two months after we'd had most of them, and by then it didn't really matter!

Like everyone says though, it has to be tucked well in, but it is much cheaper!

We'll be doing the same this year too.

[Garden-shed-potter]

It was interesting to learn some males overwinter in soil....