[gobs]

You need 2 feet clearance from ground level, min.

[mashauk]

You need 2 feet clearance from ground level, min.

Oh, so it's a bit of an urban myth then that they'll do better in the old bath, sigh, so I'll have to find something else to grow in the bath

[gobs]

You need 2 feet clearance from ground level, min.

Oh, so it's a bit of an urban myth then that they'll do better in the old bath, sigh, so I'll have to find something else to grow in the bath

They will do better, as they like drainage, but to stay clear of the fly you need your soil level above that hight.

[mashauk]

You need 2 feet clearance from ground level, min.

Oh, so it's a bit of an urban myth then that they'll do better in the old bath, sigh, so I'll have to find something else to grow in the bath

They will do better, as they like drainage, but to stay clear of the fly you need your soil level above that hight.

I'll give it a go then, put the bath on some bricks and see how I get on, ta.

[Sally A]

or try putting netting above the bath sides..

[Rob the rake]

Aren't carrot fly meant to have finished their worst by the end of the summer? I took my barriers down in October to get in and hand-weed and a fortnight later the carrots were riddled.

[gobs]

You get two populations a year(in a normal one by weather), one spring laying and another laying end of summer time. But with this weather, hard to say when that actually happens. :?

And the milder the weather the more likely you get a third one in the autumn, judging by the same experience you describe.

[splodger]

how did you store them mash?

i keep mine in boxes of dry compost (as with parsnips and beetroot) - some have been in boxes for 5 or 6 months and are still nice and firm - as an experiment - i froze some too - not a patch on the boxed ones as far as taste and crunch goes

[Rampant_Weasel]

is that ordinary compost u get from anywhere?
and do u keep ur boxes (with the carrots in) in the house or shed/garage ?
also, are the carrots ok to eat if they have the black lines in or should they be binned straight away?

[splodger]

is that ordinary compost u get from anywhere?
and do u keep ur boxes (with the carrots in) in the house or shed/garage ?

ordinary compost (normally left overs from the cheap bags - that you can get 4 for £10)

i put a layer of compost - then layer of veg - layer of compost layer of veg etc

i use becks beer boxes - as i seem to have lots of those for some reason  :roll:

and i keep them in my shed - until i want that box - then i keep it in my larder - so that it's near to hand

although i don't have mice or rats in the shed - as a precaution - all boxes (including my precious dahlias) are protected in wire cage that i made from scraps

[brucesgirl]

I just left mine in the ground and pulled enough for a week every weekend. I also had these black lines, didn't know what they were, but cut it out and eat them anyway.

Love carrots so thinking of doing a whole bed next year, with successional sowings.

[mashauk]

how did you store them mash?

i keep mine in boxes of dry compost (as with parsnips and beetroot) - some have been in boxes for 5 or 6 months and are still nice and firm - as an experiment - i froze some too - not a patch on the boxed ones as far as taste and crunch goes

I'd have to store them at the lottie then, as haven't got room in the garden or house to do that.  I stored some in the fridge but they went soft, blanched and froze some, they're fine, and made soup out of the rest or just ate them (I must admit a lot of them got eaten at the lottie!), I didn't exactly have a glut so it wasn't too much of a problem, storage space is my problem so I tend to pick things as I need them.

[splodger]

you can get alot of carrots in an empty beer box   and it doesn't take up alot of room and can be stacked - are easy to move etc etc

[mashauk]

you can get alot of carrots in an empty beer box   and it doesn't take up alot of room and can be stacked - are easy to move etc etc

Thanks, you'd have to see the size of my garden and house to understand why there's no more storage space!  We're trying to declutter at the moment as I can't cope with it anymore, some days it looks like Steptoe's yard (the problem of going out with a "scavenger")

[splodger]

i know what you mean - i can't throw anything away - my back yard is a real tip at the mo - i just call it work in progress  :roll:

i will always find room for my veggies and my flowers