[Paul Plots]

I'm going to experiment with a row of carrots at home in the tiny veg patch. There are no other veg patches anywhere nearby.. I wonder if I might, for once, experience the joys of a completely carrot fly free crop?

Or... does the carrot fly enjoy munching a whole host of plants some of which might be found where no carrots have ever ventured?

[cadalot]

I'm surprised that the sowing with Onions has not been mentioned - It's in most books I have and that's what I intended to do this year as well as debris netting which until I read this thread thought it worked - another thought was a raised bed at about 750mm which should be higher than they can fly.

[DD.]

Or... does the carrot fly enjoy munching a whole host of plants some of which might be found where no carrots have ever ventured?

Problem is Paul, carrot fly do not just attack carrots. It also survives on  parsnips, celery, dill, angelica, fennel, ground elder, cow parsley and other umbellifers. Cow parsley is in just about every hedgerow!

[DD.]

another thought was a raised bed at about 750mm which should be higher than they can fly.

They might only be able to fly that high, but one good swirling breeze to glide them in and it's "hello (or for you-"goodbye) carrots"!

[Growster...]

We've used a very tight debris netting for two years, up on a wire frame about 1'6" high and this last season, with just one layer, we almost totally eliminated carrot fly (about 99% success). The first year we used a double thickness, but it was such a bad year anyway, they weren't much good!

I have found some very late on with fly damage, which may well have come along when we eventually took the mesh off in early autumn, but it's been the best crop ever for us!

There are several brands of debris netting, so we may just be lucky with a thick one.

[moose]

I've used debris netting for 5 years and not had any carrot fly damage. I use thick Twine (binder?) to sew up the holes, well actually I got others to sew them up for me spouse, children and grandchildren.

[surbie100]

I grow my carrots on a 3rd floor balcony, a good 7.5m off the ground. But I have hopes of growing parsnips, celery, dill and fennel, so perhaps I'd best get out the mesh for those.

Is it just me, or does it seem like most things we grow need some form of protection? Thank goodness there's nothing that attacks courgettes

[AnneB]

I grow my carrots on a 3rd floor balcony, a good 7.5m off the ground. But I have hopes of growing parsnips, celery, dill and fennel, so perhaps I'd best get out the mesh for those.

Is it just me, or does it seem like most things we grow need some form of protection? Thank goodness there's nothing that attacks courgettes

Well perhaps it's different in Bradford, but slugs certainly go for courgettes round here, particularly young plants.

[DD.]

Nope, Leicestershire slugs eat courgettes as well - not just the plants.

Maybe they can't face the thought of climbing three floors! 

[superpete]

I read somewhere recently that carrot growers will hire fields 10 miles away from last years field – maybe that was in the old days?

Some growers swear by having two varieties side by side – one being a sacrificial crop - as the fly will always prefer one type to the other?

We're growing three varieties under Enviromesh this year!

[ghost61]

I'm making my own seed tape to avoid thinning and alerting the carrot fly that tea's ready!  I have used Environmesh in the past, and I'm sure it works until you have to raise it to weed.  I found fleece was better until the wind ripped it apart.  People down the allotment have tried growing carrots in those blue water butts and still the fly gets 'em.  Just have to put up with them, or buy tasteless orange things from the supermarket.

[MickyB]

Thanks to the replies to my own questions I have took note of the advise given. 

[DD.]

I'm making my own seed tape to avoid thinning and alerting the carrot fly that tea's ready!  I have used Environmesh in the past, and I'm sure it works until you have to raise it to weed. 

I have never thinned carrots.

Even with seed tape, you're still going to have to weed.

[sunshineband]

and weed when it is eventide, as the flies are not around then 

[3 allotments]

I'm going to experiment with a row of carrots at home in the tiny veg patch. There are no other veg patches anywhere nearby.. I wonder if I might, for once, experience the joys of a completely carrot fly free crop?

Or... does the carrot fly enjoy munching a whole host of plants some of which might be found where no carrots have ever ventured?

Hi paul heres a few tips from john harrison http://video.allotment-garden.org/225/thinning-carrots/ Darrenj