Topic: fleece frame for carrots

[rdak]

was thinking of making a frame so that I can surround carrots with fleece. Anyone made one of these- any tips? I know that fleece can tear easily if nailed to wood.

also, do parsnips get affected by carrot fly?

[aquilegia]

I haven't made one yet as this is my first carrot year, but I was thinking of poking short bits of cane into the ground (where they won't damage the carrots) and then wrapping the fleece round and attaching with clothes pegs. Then it's easier to move and reuse as necessary. Not sure if it'll work, but that's my thoughts!

[rdak]

I did that for my broad beans and found that the pegs got pulled off and the fleece torn by the wind...but it is quite an exposed site.

[tim]

Why bother? - just  spread it, leaving slack at the edges - use the T pegs to anchor it. OK, there'll be holes here & there, but no matter. The broccoli & cauli under here grew to maturity with out moving anything. = Tim

[gavin]

Our plot's a bit too exposed to certain winds to just drape the fleece over the bed - but, some flytipper kindly chucked a length of yellow flexible tubing (like very tough hose) over the fence - great stuff.

Stick a cane in each end of the pipe/hose, bend it into a u, and stick the canes in the ground.  Make two or three hoops, drape the fleece over and peg it down.

Lengths of ordinary garden hose isn't firm enough to make hoops - though I suppose you could use higher canes, and garden hose as "horizontals"?

All best - Gavin

[The gardener]

I drape my fleece over 'hoopiron' bent to required shape.

Look under carrots on my website and you will see a picture f it.

[tim]

Jolly good stuff, Gavin, but I'm not quite with you.
I reckon that well pegged fleece which is only the height of the plants is less likely to be carried away than something over formers?
We're 650', and it stove in the greenhouse in the photo . Windy!= Tim

[rdak]

thanks for the replies. what I was thinking of though is something that only surrounds the carrots in a rectangle, about 1 metre tall, without the top being covered. This way, I can weed and water without having to take the fleece off. I thought this would be enough to keep the low-flying carrot fly out.

[tim]

I do know!
BUT - I don't believe that that is guaranteed to protect them - and, if not, it's a lot of wasted effort. And money? And the covers would have to be 'made to measure'?

Weeding? Point taken - but no more than twice in the season - less if you mulch? End result? Guaranteed carrots! = Tim

[Ceri]

if its not over the top of the carrots - does it have to be fleece - would heavy heavy duty clear polythene or that strong green mesh nail better if you get direct sunlight from above?

I'm thinking of making one of these frames by just banging in four posts (my limit for DIY!), but with mesh - back to my question in top tips re: net curtains - how big is the carrot fly - would it get through say two layers of net curtain?

[colinandyvonne]

We just wrapped a length of heavy duty plastic around the raised bed, about 12 inches high.

Not a single attack of carrot fly  ;D



C.

[gavin]

Re Tim and mine on wind - it's just that when the vandals trashed my hoop tunnel last year over my brassica seedlings, I resowed and laid the fleece over the bed, with a good bit of slack to let the plants come up, but well-pegged round the outside.

The middle flapped and danced!  ------> very few seedlings!  

Is there a trick to it that I've missed?

All best - Gavin

[Steve__C]

Gavin,
Yellow pipe is used by gas board (Transco). Equivalent available in blue at plumbers. Relatively cheap to buy but very often found laying around after the utilities have finished working.

Ceri,
In supermarkets and factories they wrap large parcels/pallets etc in a thick self-clinging clear film. Very long and very easy to wrap around uprights. Ideal for early protection from winds etc. I am told you will often find it at your local boot sale.

[Steve__C]

Its OK saying that I did this and it worked but you need an example of two comparable conditions. It may be that carrot fly did not attack in your area, or you were fortunate in the timing of your crops. Its important that you keep a note of planting times etc. Watch other comparable crops. Talk to the local successful growers, how does their process differ from yours? Try their ideas and measure the results.

Colin, stated that he placed polythene around his crop and had no carrot fly. This is only relevant if a similar site without polythene was attacked with carrot fly.

From my own experience last year, I grew two varieties of main crop potatoes, both in the same bed, but one got munched while the other was left alone. Both were planted at the same time, treated in similar ways and dug at the same time. In this way, I determined that Desiree were more resistant to my local slugs than Cara when grown together. This year I will grow Desiree on their own, if they are as successful then I will continue growing on their own. Or else I might decide sacrificing Cara or a similar variety to guarentee a good crop of Desiree if it is determined by measurement to be more appropriate.
Another example from last season, I planted marigolds around my beds, I spent time comparing the crop results with those that did not plant marigolds. The results were very favourable. This year I am going to try reducing the number of plants on some beds. By comparing the three conditions (none, some & all) I will be able to decide how many plants are needed to offer a suitable level of protection.

With all these tests, try to keep as many elements of the experiment as constant as possible. And remember that some of the tests/experiments can be "cared for" by other gardeners. Just take a note of what they are doing and when.

[colinandyvonne]

Colin, stated that he placed polythene around his crop and had no carrot fly. This is only relevant if a similar site without polythene was attacked with carrot fly.

We were attacked by carrot fly.  The other half of the same bed wasn't protected  :(

(can see it's not obvious from the piccie now)

C.

[Muddy_Boots]

Shout me down, but can't help but think covering of polythene encourages condensation  and most bugs love those kind of conditions.  Proper polytunnel is something altogether different!

Kate

[tim]

Gavin - know what you mean - the flapping pans the surface?
OK - so tighter pegging till germination, or only cover after, or smaller areas so less flap?

And rdak, you'll have seen several comments about carrot fly flight height?

And Ceri - depends on the fineness of the material? The fly is barely visible, and gets through most things except fleece, which doesn't actually have holes in it.

And MB - don't think anyone was going to put plastic over? = Tim

[The gardener]

I  agree with Tim

Just a little bit more on the 'flying height' of carrot fly.

It might be true that in windless conditions they fly at a given height ( I don't know I am not an expert) but as I see it! it is about ' thermals'....No Tim not your long johns  ;D thermal currents!!!

I always wondered how they always got over my barriers then I got to thinking;......

Have you ever watched a dandelion seed on a supposedly windless day? yes they get lifted over barriers.

Could this not apply equally well to 'Carrot Fly' ???

I rest my case  ;D

[tim]

Rest?  You??

And long johns? Never even wear a coat!!  Chorus from the family - stoopid! = Tim

[merv]

Hi Ya  :)

Me, I use old baths on a couple of bricks for my carrots.  Can control the fineness of the soil ( no stones) and high enough to keep the fly off.  

munch!