[sharky]

Hello,

My veg plot in the garden is limited to 14 foot by 8 so I have to be selective of what I grow. I am pondering if it is worth designating a row to carrots or having another row of onions there. I seem to get the impression that carrots are a lot of hassle esp with the dreaded root fly, what should I do, row of onion or carrot? Also how difficult are they to grow? Would it be a better idea to plant some carrot seed in a grow bag instead?

Questions questions.. sorry.  :oops:  :?

[Clampit]

You can grow carrots in a tub if you are limited for space in the garden. I love the taste of homegrown carrots so i'd definately try and grow some.

[Lee1978]

I grow my carrots in water butts that have no bottom. I fill the containers leaving about 10 inches at the top and then sow my carrots, had no bother with carrot fly so far as they can't fly that high

[SnooziSuzi]

if you've never tasted 'proper' carrots before and space is limited then perhaps use the space for something else... However....  home grown carrots just don't compare with the bland, evenly shaped things you get in the shops and haven't done all of the airmiles that the shop ones have so it's up to you really.  

It is recommended that you grow carrots and onions together so that each confuses the others flies - ie carrot fly get confused by the onion smell and onion fly is put off by the carrots!

[gobs]

Where are you please, Sharky? And where are you growing?

You might not have a carrot fly problem around at all, hard to help with little info. If there is likely to be a problem and no space, might be reasonable to go for something else, but you only need a fleece over, though.

[dangolding]

IMHO, home grown carrots taste nicer than home grown onions

Also, for us, we tend to cook onions in other dishes, but carrots tend to be a veg on their own, so we'd get more "benefit" so to speak

[richyrich7]

Home grown carrots take a lot of beating, sow your carrots thinly in between the rows of onions to confuse the fly, Thinly sown they need less thinning so the smell when you thin won't attract the fly, also just been told by a friend his dad puts blue plastic down between his carrot rows to confuse the fly. The idea is that it sees blue and thinks its the sky 'n goes straight by the carrots :?  anyone tried it?

[gobs]

Is he on drugs? :shock:  I don't know if carrot fly sees colours, but that's not really how they seem to orientate themselves.

[beki]

I've just sown mine today in an old , unuseable, water butt. Left about 5" at the top. Drilled some holes around the base for drainage... fingers crossed!  

[richyrich7]

Is he on drugs? :shock:  I don't know if carrot fly sees colours, but that's not really how they seem to orientate themselves.

   nope his dad swears by it, I'd imagine they don't see the spectrum like we do, perhaps that's why it works. it's possible they may think it's wet ground no good for laying eggs ??

[mkhenry]

Hello,

My veg plot in the garden is limited to 14 foot by 8 so I have to be selective of what I grow. I am pondering if it is worth designating a row to carrots or having another row of onions there. I seem to get the impression that carrots are a lot of hassle esp with the dreaded root fly, what should I do, row of onion or carrot? Also how difficult are they to grow? Would it be a better idea to plant some carrot seed in a grow bag instead?

Questions questions.. sorry.  :oops:  :?

If you like carrots then its worth the trouble. The taste makes it all worthwhile plus they are good for you.  If space is a prob then do what others have advised you to do.  Grow in containers. Carrots seem to like containers more then some veg.

I grow mine in a spiral,  the outer ones grow better because the have more sun, but when I harvest them the inner ones get the golden rays.   It werks for me , but remember to water every day in the very hot weather, and don't forget the drainage holes.  

[Clampit]

just been told by a friend his dad puts blue plastic down between his carrot rows to confuse the fly. The idea is that it sees blue and thinks its the sky 'n goes straight by the carrots :?  anyone tried it?

Wouldn't grey plastic be more appropriate???

[mkhenry]

Is he on drugs? :shock:  I don't know if carrot fly sees colours, but that's not really how they seem to orientate themselves.

   nope his dad swears by it, I'd imagine they don't see the spectrum like we do, perhaps that's why it works. it's possible they may think it's wet ground no good for laying eggs ??

Richie there are dafter ways of successfuly dealing with the carrot fly. I once posted that if you lay pieces of mirror in and around your carrots that the carrot fly would think it was a rival and swoop to attack her own refection thus knocking herself out.  AND its true ,so a bit of blue seems likely to me.  They seem to be very single minded and stupid by result.  

[sharky]

They seem to be very single minded and stupid by result.  

And anything over a few feet is a physical barrier?
Surely the carrot fly is a contender for the worlds worst fly?    

===============

Thanks for the replies, I will be sowing some seeds now, in containers instead.  

[babe]

yes sharkey, you have to grow a carrot