Carrot Fly activity

[hilary]

Hi,
Since I look out over the veggie plot from the kitchen window I was wondering when it would be safe to lift the enviromesh from the carrots. When does the carrot fly cease to be active on its second round in the south?
Thanks
Hilary

[Johnboy]

Hi Hilary,
My advice would be to keep the net over the crop until it is lifted. I do this with mine and have some super fly-free carrots.
JB.

[hilary]

Hi John,
Thanks for that - did lift the net last night just to have a look at the main crop and found some slugs all warm and cosy so dealt with them but unfortunately they had done some damage. My fault I forgot that Nemaslug isn't active against the big b..........s. Anyway will keep the nets on but be a bit more vigilant.
Thanks
hilary

[PLUMPUDDING]

I agree with John, always leave them covered up as carrot fly usually invade at the slightest opportunity, even when the books say they are no longer active after a certain date. Don't give them a chance.

[Johnboy]

Hi Hilary,
I have always used slug pellets inside the netting and now use the new organically accredited ones, which certainly help but they are not quite as effective as the conventional pellets.
I certainly agree with Plumpudding's comments and have found to my detriment that the little buggers are exceedingly haphazard with their laying seasons.
It is for this reason that I keep mine covered until I finally clear the bed. If you do this continually then there are no larvae residing in the soil to attack the following year. They also attack other Umbellifers including some of the Cow Parsley Type of weed. A friend of mine grows a sacrificial row of carrots and sprays them regularly but I feel that he is using chemicals when there is no need. He nets his actual crop. We have agreed to disagree!
JB.

[Catherine]

This is the first year that we did not cover our crops of carrots, for one reason or another (my OH accident, knee operation and time) we did not do it and we have paid the price. Yesterday I picked some small carrots and they are ruined. I think that I will write off this year and start from scratch next year with lots of new ideas. Roll on spring.

[Johnboy]

Dear Catherine,
This seems not to have been your year one way or another. I think that we all get years that do not go as planned. Stick with it and I wish you a better year next year.
JB.

[Catherine]

Thank you Johnboy. For more reasons than the failings on my plot I will be really glad to see the back of this year. I am off up there now to do a bit of tidying and clearing of some of the beds and if it stops raining long enough I will try and paint the shed and wash all my pots for storage. Anyway on the bright side we are off to Wales on Saturday for a mountain biking and walking holiday, that will cheer me up no end.

[Colin Miles]

Catherine - walking? More like swimming I think.

[Catherine]

Hi Colin. Looking at your location it seems you might be speaking from experience. Where is Llanelli? We are heading for Builth Wells location. I dont care what the weather does anyway because I am on holiday I am used to riding in the rain! and walking in the rain! so I will take my swimsuit just in case, just hope I dont bump into anyone who knows me in a swimsuit and walking boots I will wear dark glasses maybe know one will recognise me.

[Colin Miles]

Monika, we are halfway between Carmarthen and Swansea, so we don't get the worst of the rain! Even so you will definitely need wellies.

[Brenjon]

interesting hearing the answers to the carrot fly problem. yet no one has ever sucsesfully answered my question of how the commercial growers of carrotts can ovoid the carrot fly without netting and why there method, or seeds are not available to the allotment holder. I would be pleased to hear an answer
Regards brenjon

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Brenjon, i should think they use granules containing insecticide used at sowing time, and also spray for the maincrop Carrots.
Probably insecticides that the general public can not buy.

[Johnboy]

Hi Brenjon,
OH is correct in what he says and this is the reason why supermarket carrots and parsnips are always washed.
The washing actually prevents them from being stored for any length of time.
JB.

[Phil S]

round about this area the carrot crop is sometimes left in the ground, covered with black polethene and coverd with straw to over winter or take up mid winter(large carrot processing establishment nearby), has enybody tried this on deep beds? i presume the farmers must spray for slugs an the like beforehand.