carrot fly resistant carrots

[hippydave]

i have grown 2 varietys this year resistafly and flyaway both from thompson and morgan and i am very dissapointed with them both >:(
i never weeded them and also earthed them up but on digging them tonight they were infested with fly some so bad there was hardly anything left of them.
they cost 10 times as much as normal carrots and you only get around 350 seeds compared to 2000 on your ordinary carrot. Wont be bothering next year just going to grow nantes and autum king 29p per pack from netto compared to £3.50 for the resistant ones from T & M :o.
Has anyone else had success with there varieties.

[hippydave]

[cornykev]

I'd E-mail them for your money back, telling them how they ruined your carrot growing season.    :(       ;D ;D ;D

[SMP1704]

I use enviromesh - now that is carrot fly resistant ;D

I grew flyaway my first year on the plot - I pulled them early so maybe they did not have time to be hit but not impressed with flavour, so didn't bother again.

[hippydave]

will try that kev and see what happens,
I find the price of the enviromesh off putting but that may well be the way forward.

[SMP1704]

True, the price is bit on the high side but for me this is year three of using the same mesh - and it works hard all year - after the carrots, its on the winter brassicas etc. 

Much better than pulling up ready munched carrots. ;D

[Digeroo]

I saw a TV programme a few years ago in which Christine Walkden suggested that if you sow carrots while the Cow Parsley is in flower you have less problem with Carrot root fly.   

Tried it this year and did not have much problem with flies but not done it long enough to say whether I think it works.  But spoken to several people on the site who had a major problem so I am going to try it again next year.

[plot51A]

Another vote for enviromesh here - always use it on carrots, so far have never had a problem with the fly. Well worth the investment in my book.

[small]

I think timing is the key. I've tried Flyaway, which were not only riddled with holes but tasteless too.  Fleece has proved ineffective, as has interplanting with marigolds. But this year I sowed my first row (Autumn Giant) on March 22nd, and they are the cleanest carrots I've ever grown, hardly a mark.  The slugs left them alone too, whereas they've ruined the row sowed a month later. And the August sowing  (Nantes) just didn't germinate.  Aren't carrots tricky!

[chriscross1966]

I grew a few resistafly this year. I was quite happy with them, no fly problems and the carrots, though no autumn giant for size were enjoyed by all who ate them. I've already got a pack for next year (wyvales 50p sale)....

The plot opposite grow all their carrots in 220 litre tubs (ex food chemicals), they put a fleece bag over them and never seem to have a problem with fly....

chrisc

[lewic]

Lidl mosquito net seems to have done the trick with mine!

[shirlton]

I keep meaning to have alook at this mosquito net. Our enviromesh is in its 4th year and its just as good. I wash it after its done its job and put it away for next time we need it. Money well spent when you consider the hard work we put in to grow the crops and not forgetting the great feeling you get when you harvest food that you can actually eat without cutting out the infested bits. Not only that but our daughter has just paid out £30 for a month at the gym so the £30 for 2 enviromeshes that will last years and the free workout at the plot. Ask Yerself. ;D

[Suzanne]

I did a bit of a trial this year.

Sowed Resistafly at same time as parsnips in early March - no protection. Carrots have got carrot fly.

Then Nantes under enviromesh (late March) - lovely carrots no fliy damage or slugs.

And finally resistafly in late June no protection - no fly damage and no slug damage.

So in future years anything I sow before Midsummers Day will be fleeced irrespective of variety. Anything after I will leave to take its chances.

[shonam]

Would a very fine voile or muslin type-material do the same thing as the enviromesh? Trying to keep costs down when I start planting next year.

[Digeroo]

Have you looked at Tozer Direct their price for resistant varieties is very reasonable.