[Maccbean]

I'd like to see if any of my carrots are ready, but I'm too scared to pull one up in case carrot fly comes and destroys the rest.  Can anyone reassure me?

[JayG]

If you have had them securely netted then just lift the edge, whip one out smartish, and put the net back!

If you haven't netted them plucking one out isn't going to significantly increase the risk you have already taken! 

[Maccbean]

Whaaaa, what do you mean netted? How big are these flies, bird sized?    Nooooo, my carrots will be destroyed.  What do I do now?  Should I net them or is it simply too late?  I planted them with onions, will that have protected them enough?  Now I'm definitely too scared to pull one up.

[JayG]

The flies are about housefly size but you rarely catch them up to their devilish deeds!

If the leaves look green and healthy you may well have got away with it (if they have turned reddish and are obviously struggling you probably haven't!)

Have a stiff drink first and be brave!

[Maccbean]

OK, did it, they look fine!   However, I'm going to have to get a grip next year, you can see by the photo that my fear even of thinning out has resulted in mostly small, but lots of very tiny carrots!

[JayG]

OK, did it, they look fine!   However, I'm going to have to get a grip next year, you can see by the photo that my fear even of thinning out has resulted in mostly small, but lots of very tiny carrots!

They're not tiny, they're "bijou" and "bite-sized"! Very trendy! 

Glad you've got something to show for your efforts; some people on here have all sorts of problems growing carrots but having them totally ruined by carrot fly has got to be the worst!

[Christo]

Bit worried about this carrot fly now. Didn't even know about netting carrots! Wo is me. Doom, Doom and Gloom!

[SUTTY1]

Personally dont think you can beat the taste or texture of a finger sized caroot cooked or raw and still in its skin.
Welldone Maccbean

[BADBACK]

ola
i like to grow my carrots in large tubs
i too worry about carrot fly
but just before i lift carrots i spray
disinfectant around the base of the pot
helps keep the fly away

[Maccbean]

Had them for my dinner and very nice they were too.  Since I have hundreds crammed in, I'm hoping they won't be destroyed before I get through them!

Bit worried about this carrot fly now. Didn't even know about netting carrots! Wo is me. Doom, Doom and Gloom!

Me neither, I thought this veggie lark was gonna be easy; how wrong I was.  The worry of it all!!

[hamstergbert]

It can help if you grow some carrots in the flower tubs - you may be able to keep them up off the decks ie above the local flight ceiling of the rascals.  A couple of feet above ground level usually does it.  We keep a couple of tubs on top of a 4ft high old coal bunker just outside the kitchen door of the hamstergbert hovel.  Easy to keep watered and dead convenient when ready to harvest a handful.

One other attraction of doing this is that you can position individual seeds on the top of whatever growing medium you are using and finish off dusting multi-purpose on top of them before the fine rose watering in.  That way every one has enough room and you don't have to thin them.  Possibly a bit a-retentive but actually doing it is quite a therapeutic exercise and only takes a few mins each tub.

However if you do finish up with thin 'uns, just top em, wash em and steam em.  Yum.

[Kristen]

I just pull mine up when I want some for a meal ... but if you are of particularly anxious disposition harvesting in the evening, when Mr Fly has gone to bed, may reduce the risk

[slowcompost]

Thought it was too late for carrot root fly.  Thats why late sowing, early june , is good for carrots. Or am I wrong again ?

[moose]

The worry of it all!

My Grandfather told me that worry is the best pest attractor there is. Gardening is meant to be a relaxing hobby. Relax.

[DD.]

Thought it was too late for carrot root fly.  Thats why late sowing, early june , is good for carrots. Or am I wrong again ?

You avoid the first flush that way, but still have the second in July/August to worry about.