Protecting carrots

[grawrc]

I've planted onion beds and am intending to plant carrots between/ among the onions and garlic to help against carrot and onion flies. I also have fleece and fine mesh which I can erect around the beds. I understand from other threads that the mesh is probably better. My question is, what's the best way of erecting the mesh and keeping it firmly in place? Does the edge need to be fastened all the way round and/or buried in soil? I'm thinking of something like a 2ft (or slightly higher) "fence" of mesh round the bed.

Also: can I do the same with parsnips (ie plant between onions and surround bed with mesh)?
I had such trouble with carrot fly last year that this year I have sowed my carrots in toilet rolls and intend to plant out when ready. I am doing the same with parsnips. I know this is not standard procedure but thought it might give them a headstart and also mean no thinning therefore no smell to attract the nasties.

Can't wait for your comments and advice! ;)

[grawrc]

[petemason]

Hello Grawc,

I didn't have any notable success when growing onions with carrots to defeat carrot fly but the method of growing them in a raised bed (see pic) certainly worked for me even though the bed isn't as high as people suggest it should be to combat the low flying beastie.



I use voile (I think that's how you spell it) rather than expensive enviromesh to cover stuff when needed. I would suggest that you do need to fasten it at the bottom so you can either bury it in the soil (and unearth it every time you weed) or fasten the edges to a piece of wood with staples perhaps. I suppose (as always) that the best method will be the one that you personally have success with and A4A members will be interested to see how your toilet roll method unfolds.
I grew leeks in toilet roll holders and had a pretty poor return I'm afraid.
Anyway, good luck.

[adam04]

i tired the mesh barrier last year but wasnt impressed. every time wind comes alone it blow it about and in the end you just keep messing about with it. This year im going to cover the whole site with clear polythene after sowing. then when i need to water the carrots or weed them, i just lift it up and put it back down

[grawrc]

Thanks Pete: I'll bear your voile tip in mind. Cartainly cheaper than the mesh.

Adam, will polythene not cause condensation and get them too hot?

[adam04]

well im going to have it raised in the centre and hopefully then condensation will build up at the top and then run down the sides and into the soil, plus i think a breeze may alos still get through smlal gaps in it.

Alternativly you could do the same just with fleece or similar.

[MrsKP]

again, belt and braces ........... once i've finally prepared the bath, i intend to put one of my lidl cloches with the perforated polythene cover,  then a layer of fleece over the whole bath, so in theory i will have the height, protection from the elements and nasties but allowing the rain through.  In theory !

If I don't manage to do anything else this weekend, I will be getting the bath drilled (rain allowing).   ::)

[supersprout]

LOL these carrots better be good mrskp! ;)

[grawrc]

Well Sarah I stuck mine out in the garden this afternoon for a breath of fresh air, then the gas repair man arrived and I forgot about them. When I remembered and brought them in they had been battered by hail and sleet poor dears. Lets hope they pick up by the morning.

[supersprout]

:'( :'( sorry to hear your tales of plumbing and carrot woe anne, hope they perk up and hope you do too! :D

[MrsKP]

there had better be SOME and why is it when we try our hardest to get lovely pointy ones that everyone wants me to grow rude ones  :P

[cowellen]

I had such trouble with carrot fly last year that this year I have sowed my carrots in toilet rolls and intend to plant out when ready.

how does the soil stay in the loo roll holder - what do u put on the bottom ?  :-\ havent started on the carrots yet - as ppl on our plot havent had much luck with them - so i'm scared  ::)

[MrsKP]

I dampen the soil a bit before filling the tube 3/4 (or however far up you want the seed to be) palm of hand over top of tube, and wack tube back down into   appropriate container before sowing, filling up the tube after.  Keeps soil loss to a minumum or so i find.   ::)

[cowellen]

I dampen the soil a bit before filling the tube 3/4 (or however far up you want the seed to be) palm of hand over top of tube, and wack tube back down into   appropriate container before sowing, filling up the tube after.  Keeps soil loss to a minumum or so i find.   ::)

???  so the tube just stands in a tray ?

[MrsKP]

well it does in my life.  i would say something deeper than a seed tray, something to give it some support as you're transporting them about.  i've got my sweet peas, 3 tubes to a 4" (vertical - never have been sure how to measure pots  ::)) pot with a pot saucer underneath.  or cut a milk carton in half and about 3 tubes in there. 

i sow on a very small scale though so may not be practical for you,  and i don't use loo rolls for everything,  when i've got them, i use them.  i've got my carrots (trial sow to transplant) in milk cartons, but will be sowing main crop direct.

i'm not very scientific.   ;D

[supersprout]

Ahem, sorry to interrupt (no I ain't) method b is to stand the dry loo rolls up in a deepish tray, fill with compost from the bag using a jam funnel for neatness. Plant the seed. Then pour water into the tray. It gets sucked up by magic (osmosis) and the tubes will get wet. Pour off any water in the tray, then leave alone for about a week. Plant out soon because those little roots do burrow down quickly!

I grow my carrots direct (seed tapes!) like MrsKP.

Here are some scorzonera sprouting after a week.



Don't be scared, they are only little plants





.

[MrsKP]

i like that supersprout and after today i may just have enough loo rolls to fill a tray.  :o

.......... you don't wanna know  :-\

i also like the "they're only little plants" ....... i really must stop thinking of them as my babies and expect a few casualties lmao   ;D

[bennettsleg]

i like that supersprout and after today i may just have enough loo rolls to fill a tray.  :o

.......... you don't wanna know  :-\

i also like the "they're only little plants" ....... i really must stop thinking of them as my babies and expect a few casualties lmao   ;D

Casualties?!?!?!??!!?

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

They're my babies, I'm horrifically attached to them (purely because they managed to sprout despite my kack-handed methods/levels of attention) and I get all squealy and excited when anythign pokes its head above the soil!

Sad, isn't it...  ;)

[supersprout]

I get all squealy and excited when anythign pokes its head above the soil!

Thinning is soooo stressful! :'( :'( :'(

[cowellen]

I get all squealy and excited when anythign pokes its head above the soil!

Sad, isn't it...  ;)

mee too (glad im not the only 1 ::) ;) )

[bennettsleg]

I get all squealy and excited when anythign pokes its head above the soil!

Thinning is soooo stressful! :'( :'( :'(

Thinning?! MURDERER ;D ;D ;D