Carrots-Fleece stop the carrot fly?

[newbiemumof2]

Hi after being inspired by everyone last summer i put my name down for an allotment, after hearing from someone on the association i should have one by the end of the year, its too late for this year but im trying to get organised for next.  Currently i grow my carrots in tubs above the ground to stop the dreaded carrot fly, but when I get my allotment (eeeek so excited!) ill be growing on a larger scale so would ideally like to grow in the ground.  Ive seen photos somewhere where the plot holder has covered the carrots in fleece and anchored it down around the edges to stop the carrot fly, does this really work and do the carrots get enough sunlight etc when you use this method?

Sorry for the long winded question and thank you for your help.

[newbiemumof2]

[shirlton]

We did use fleece but found that it wasnt strong enough to withstand the wind and foxes playing on it so now we use enviromesh. Its quite expensive but it does last for years. As long as it is fastened down well then nothing can get in it apart from whats already there (slugs)

[Flighty]

If you do a search [use button at top of page] for carrot fly you'll see lots of threads on this subject! This one appears to be as good as any

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,51683.0.html

Good luck with the allotment when you get it. We love to know, and see, how people get on!

[saddad]

and welcome to A4A  Mumof2

[landimad]

welcome to A4A  Mumof2,
I use fleece most of the time. But with raised beds and over many types of plants.
It has its pros and cons just like any product, you can use it or work around it.
Good luck with your new venture

[Tee Gee]

As last year I am going the no cover route i.e. I am going the 'smell' route!

It worked reasonably well last year and this year (going on the tops) all is OK again as you can see in this picture taken a couple of weeks ago. (Sadly intermittent germination)



My theory is; Carrot fly is a soil bourn pest i.e. the maggots survive under the soil to come out as the weather warms up to start their life cycle again.

I have the feeling if you cover your carrots prior to the fly emerging you trap it so it has no alternative but to lay its eggs 'under the cover' rendering the cover useless! and this is why people find carrot fly problems even on covered crops!

My way is to form a drill at sowing time and trickle in an Armilatox mixture to wet the soil at seed level, sow the seeds and cover with soil.

It is my contention that when the fly come by it is attracted by my carrot tops but when it flies to the base of the leaves to lay its eggs, it smells the armillatox and thinks this is not suited to my pupae so it flies off.

OK its a theory but it seems to work equally as well as the covering technique and is a lot easier to do.

Now to get a theory that improves the germination rate  ::)

[shirlton]

I have used your way of sowing with the armillatox and I also covered them. Germination not too bad but have had to re sow a few bare patches.. the plants look quite good. Perhaps next year i will have the courage to try some withot the cover TeeGee