[raisedbed]

A stupid question I am sure. 

I have seen some cheap cloches which are 12nches high.  Is this high enough for carrots to grow in?  Or can I get away with just laying enviromesh? over the carrots.

Desperately trying to avoid building a carrot fly screen this year - to many weeds to clear!

Thanks

raisedbed

[DavidT]

Carrots grow down, not up. the leaves will grow about 6" so the cloche would be fine.

[BostonInbred]

Im testing a new way this year.

Im growing carrots in an old glass fibre bath filled with compost. No stones, no weeds, and too high for the carrot flies.

[Tykelad]

How high does the carrot fly fly......if that makes any sense ?

[BostonInbred]

How high does the carrot fly fly......if that makes any sense ?

they cant fly any higher than 60cm.

This is the operational ceiling of a Mk 1 Carrot Fly.

[Aunt Sally]

My carrot leaves grow much taller than 6 inches    More like 12-16 inches (at a guess).

Boston I've had a 36" enviromesh screen around my carrots and you've guessed it - carrot fly 

[JayG]

Yeah, windy day, updraughts; it only needs one to make it..........(or is it two?  )

[maxie]

I grow mine in enviromesh cloches,three rows in each.not sure how wide my enviromesh is but i think the cloche will be about 12 inch high max.
The leaves touch the top and could grow higher but bend with the cloche.
Just weigh the edges and the ends down well and youll have no problems.
Five years with no carrot fly now 

[HugglescoteGrower]

so carrot flies cannot fly any higher than 2 feet. So my garden, which is on a slope, is 5 feet higher by the house than it is by the bottom fence.

So in theory as long as I grow my carrots at the top of the hill, I should be fine, but I guess not.

On the other hand, what happens to the carrot fly from the top of the garden, who flies level then realises when he gets to the bottom of the garden that he's 7 feet up?

[JayG]

so carrot flies cannot fly any higher than 2 feet. So my garden, which is on a slope, is 5 feet higher by the house than it is by the bottom fence.

So in theory as long as I grow my carrots at the top of the hill, I should be fine, but I guess not.

On the other hand, what happens to the carrot fly from the top of the garden, who flies level then realises when he gets to the bottom of the garden that he's 7 feet up?

 

Vertigo? (followed by a crash landing into your carrot bed?) 

[raisedbed]

thanks for the replies, cloches it is for me this year.  The carrot screen can wait till next year.


raisedbed

[BostonInbred]

Yes, you might need Ack-Ack or anti aircraft batteries at the corners of the bed, and blimps, to fight of raids by Mk1 Carrot Flies.  Good job they never developed a jet engined version.............