[Quetzal]

I've covered my parsnips and carrots in order to protect them from the carrot fly. However, they've grown much more in the last couple of weeks than i expected, and now the covering is looking a bit too small:


This first photo is the parsnips, but the carrots are kinda similar:



Will this check their growth, or be a problem in some other way? And if so, should i replace it with a more spacious bit of netting, or is the risk of carrot fly over?

Thx in advance.

[Salmo]

The risk of carrot fly is with us until late September.

I have just taken the nets off my parsnips but will leave the carrots sealed up.

I am sure the carrots will be fine even if they are pushing against the net like mine.

Not sure about parsnips as they have a different leaf. They do not suffer from carrot fly to the same extent as carrots and the only symptoms are usually cancer in the shoulders of the roots.

I may be wrong and would like to hear others opinions.

[Cheshire Phill]

I learned this year to keep 'em covered!
Didn't bother covering parsnips, and lost almost all of them to carrot fly, who decimated the entire roots (when small).

In contrast, no problems with carrot fly on the carrots, have taken the fleece off a while back, and they seem fine now they are quite large.

Don't feel qualified to say when the risk of carrot fly diminishes really....

Good luck! -will be covering my parsnips next year until they are HUGE!

Phill

[DD.]

I'd get that fleece back on.

Per organicgardening.com (and others)...

"The first attack comes in late May or early June and the second in August and September."

One battle may be over, but the war is not won!

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, i've kept mine covered with that debris netting from the start and when i lifted some of my earlies they had it, i just wonder if that netting is too large or can they stay in the ground.

[peapod]

Carrot fly needs really fine netting such as enviromesh..they can get through debris netting

[DD.]

I've used enviromesh this year instead of a barrier. Whilst the barrier was OKish, I still have one or two with fly, but that was better than binning 3 wheelbarrows full of carrots.

Not found one this year - and it's staying put!