[lazza]

Now, here's the problem then.... we don't have an allotment, so everything I grow is grown in our not-exactly-large family garden at home. Mostly it's in pots or out-of-the-way corners, and part of my aim is to keep the garden looking nice. So, pots with fleece or fine mesh over them, IMHO, don't look that great. OK, OK, I know - I need to choose between edible carrots or nice attractive green fluffy carrot foliage...

[Lady Rosemary]

So just out of interest, how high can the darn fly fly?  :blink:

[DD.]

Allegedly no more than 24", but they glide on thermals very well!

[Yorkie]

Allegedly no more than 24", but they glide on thermals very well!

Just to clarify DD's post, he means thermal air currents, not thermal undies 

[sunshineband]

Allegedly no more than 24", but they glide on thermals very well!

Just to clarify DD's post, he means thermal air currents, not thermal undies 

 

I'm sure he did 

[fatbelly]

I have got my Autumn King 2 under Enviromesh, when can I remove it?
I have heard that the fly goes away mid September and by that time its safe but I am really not sure.

[Growster...]

Just read that a layer of sand along the row discourages the fly from laying eggs.

Where this comes from, I don't know, (yes, I know it was in a book), and the info included a few drops of parafin along the row as well.

Also, there was mention of growing onions in the next row, as the onion/leek smell turns the fly away, and also, the smell of the carrots deters the onion fly...

So why not grow all these in sand, drench the lot with parafin, and zap the lot...?

[fatbelly]

I would encourage anyone who has had problems growing carrots because of the fly to buy as big a piece of Enviromesh you can afford and use that year after year.

I did this and I now grow carrots totally fly free and before the Enviromesh I was myself thinking of giving up on Carrots because of the fly.

[DD.]

I've heard so many preventative measures that I've lost count.

Fatbelly has nailed the only one that really works, in my opinion, not neccessarily Enviromesh, (although that is what I use), but some form of fine mesh cover.

As regards the season of them, according to this you should be safe:

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/pc17.php

Personally I don't trust these seasons any more and am loath to remove the mesh at all!

[Ian_A]

fine mesh all the time. It is 100% successful and although aesthetically it is nowhere near as pleasing to the eye as seeing rows of stunning green carrot tops swaying freely on a plot, I would always opt for the "safe than sorry" approach.

[Lady Rosemary]

Allegedly no more than 24", but they glide on thermals very well!

Just to clarify DD's post, he means thermal air currents, not thermal undies 

Now that would be a very interesting thing to see. Carrot fly wearing thermals!

[brown thumb]

    :ohmy:at least then you could catch them hold  by the leg of their pants

[DD.]

Allegedly no more than 24", but they glide on thermals very well!

Just to clarify DD's post, he means thermal air currents, not thermal undies 

Do I? 

[brokenglass]

I read that the carrot fly mates at circa 10 ft high!     I have no faith in the height barrier theory as on an allotment they will find any carrots that are exposed regardless of the height.      Enviromesh works

[DD.]

I find the first bit hard to believe, but do agree about Enviromesh, or at least some sort of full mesh/fleece barrier.