[Jim T]

Hi Gang,
I dug deep for my carrots, having read lots of advice, and mixed sand with the soil and manure etc, to avoid clay lumps making the roots bend.
When I told a friend this, he said that sand was bad for carrots because of "carrot fly".

Any info or advice for me about this  :?:
Jim

[muntjac]

When I told a friend this, he said that sand was bad for carrots because of "carrot fly".


must be because the cartots might bring along thier buckets n spades and build sand castles  

" cartots " = baby carrots  

[Aidy]

Yep to a point he is correct but carrots will grow better in sand, you can either cover them in enviromesh or fleece or put a barrier of at least 2 foot high around them and that will see them off, manure is not a good idea because if the root hits a piece they will fork.

[WG.]

When I told a friend this, he said that sand was bad for carrots because of "carrot fly".

I'd say that carrots attract carrot fly regardless of what soil type they are grown in.  I'll second everything Aidy mentioned.

[muntjac]

Yep to a point he is correct but carrots will grow better in sand, you can either cover them in enviromesh or fleece or put a barrier of at least 2 foot high around them and that will see them off, manure is not a good idea because if the root hits a piece they will fork.

erm wot point? carrot fly will fly to carrots where ever ya plant em whether its sand soil or cornflakes me thinks . i think its another one them old womens ( not being sexist and insisting the tales are made by ladies who are wives or cohabitating wives ) tales aidy matey  

[jack russell]

( not being sexist and insisting the tales are made by ladies who are wives or cohabitating wives )

Munty oh Munty

ROFLMAO      

Cheers

jr

[mkhenry]

Far better to find out what carrots do well in your soil and area. Sand will soon sink in clay,which can be good to get the air in,but not help the carrots very much.As to carrot fly they now sell seed that is carrot fly resistant. I grow carrots in black plastic dustbins Planting the seed in a spiral.Carrot fly cannot get higher than 18 to 20 inches.so I always get a good clean grop.Which is ok in a garden but not so easy on a lottie. Muntjak is correct as usual,carrots can be grown in most soils successfully,but again if you want to be a carrot grower study what does well in your area and you will be ok.

[Jamie Butterworth]

What type of sand do you use for growing the carrots with?

[galen]

Resurrected an old one here !

No expert on this but from what I've read etc "sharp sand" is the one to use for horticultural uses. Don't know why, someone will most probably be along to explain 

[nickthegreek]

My first year on my allotment so no expert but I am growing my carrots in folding pallet bottoms if you know what i mean they are like hinged raised beds stacked these 2 high filled with compost sand and vermiculite I sowed the seed 2 weeks ago and covered in clear thick plastic sheet and they have started to germinate already will keep the plastic on until it warms up a bit then I intend on wrapping a clear plastic wall around the bed !!

With regards to carrot fly I have heard of people having carrot fly in there gardens that have 12ft walls around them I think they might get blown in there by the wind but I am not sure !

[Trillium]

Sharp sand is a bit more coarse and won't bind with heavier soil like clay. Soft sand, like play sand, will bind and turn clay into concrete.

And like everyone else, I agree that any soil with carrots will attract carrot fly, so best to cover the whole season as suggested.

[moose]

My resistant type still got carrot fly damage last year.

[Trillium]

I don't believe there really is a carrot fly resistant variety that works. Sounds more like a marketing ploy than reality.

[galen]

Sharp sand is a bit more coarse and won't bind with heavier soil like clay. Soft sand, like play sand, will bind and turn clay into concrete.

Thanks for that Trillium, not knowing a thing about construction materials etc I did wonder what difference the sands made, just always heard that you use sharp sand in the garden 

[Howard]

Strictly speaking you want to be using horticultural (washed) sand - with builders sharp sand you run the risk of changing the acidity of your soil.

I made a small raised bed last year and filled it with a 1 part sieved topsoil, 1 part sieved compost, 1 part sand mix (Medwyn Williams' standard carrot mix) and the results I had were fantastic.

It was a lot of work though...