Carrots

[Brenjon]

My carrots are now 1 inch tall with a pair of true leaves.
They are uncovered. Is the carrot fly about and active, and do I need to net them now .
I would prefer not to net them as they are easier to weed without the net on. But if I have to I will do.
Advice please
Regards Brenjon

[alan refail]

I can't offer much advice, as I don't grow carrots anymore, partly because of carrot fly damage, but mainly because I now garden on a bit of stony topsoil overlying granite. I wish I had your Bickerstaffe/Ormskirk soil.

As I recall, carrot fly are likely to be active soon.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0500/carrot.asp

Cofion gorau - Best wishes

Alan

[Mr Potato Head]

There is a good deal of material on Carrots in this month's KG! Don't forget you can buy a single issue online and have it posted first-class to your door.

[Malk]

Can't help. I plant my carrots in a bathtub and that seems to deter or confuse or something the carrot fly, so I never have problems there.

In the ground, it's slugs that get my carrots.

[submariner]

I once saw a programme in which the gardener earthed his carrots like potatoes and never had any trouble with fly. I grow mine in a raised bed about 2ft 6inches high becase apparently the fly does not fly above 21 inches. I wonder who had one still enough to measure?!!!!!!!!!!

[Monika]

I put a fleece on the carrots as soon as they are sown and this stays on until about September. At first it protects against the elements, then against carrot root fly, and we always get lots of lovely carrots. This year they lasted well into the new year (about end February).