Topic: Carrots and companions

[SueM]

I've always grown carrots under fleece to keep off the dreaded fly,but it doesn't look very pretty, so next year I thought I'd try alternate rows of onions and carrots, which is supposed to fool the fly.

I'm a bit sceptical about claims re companion planting. So my question is - has anyone tried this, and does it actually work?

Sue

[Wicker]

Didn't work for us so we use enviromesh and still keep our fingers firmly crossed, Sue.

[gavin]

Yes, tried it; and no, it didn't work --- not for me at any rate.  :(  

All best - Gavin

[tim]

 Environmesh, Wicker ? - you are talking about the fine variety?? Otherwise, I would have thought fleece more effective? = Tim

[Wicker]

Yes, Tim, very very fine and recommended by suppliers for protect from carrot fly - only decent results we have had have been since we started using it.  Oops that'll be tempting fate then - wheres an emoticon for fingers crossed!  More people on our site are using it now for other crops too - it's not so cheap but with looking after will last for years  :) whilst fleece (even washed in a pillowslip!) is fragile  :(

[SueM]

Thanks for the replies, people. Seems like 100% no-no! Perhaps enviromesh would be better-looking than fleece.

Sue

[legless]

they say you need 3 rows of onions to each row of carrots for it to be effective.

i am trying to plant mine outside the main carrot fly season and use garlic spray, while surrounding them with chives and shallots.

dunno if it'll work - never grown a carrot before  ;D

[Multiveg]

As well as onions & other alliums, scorzonera may also deter carrot root fly.