Kitchen Garden Forum

My carrots are 2 inches tall under a fleece tunnel. Now they need thinning and weeding. is it safe to remove the fleece for a while to do this and is there a safe time to do it or should I leave well alone .
Advice please
Brenjon

Brenjon

If you leave the fleece on and weeds growing you will lose your crop. I can't imagine there is any problem removing fleece while you work then putting it straight back on.

Hi Brenjon,
You can simply roll back a couple of feet of fleece at a time and I assume this can be done from either side so to the thinning from one side and weed then simply weed the other side using the same method.
JB.

Hi Johnboy
I cannot use the method that you suggest as the bed con only be approached from one side as there is a hedge on one side. I suppose I could start at one end and move along(about 14 ft).as quickly as I can. and hope not to take too long. but do you agree better to do it than leave it,
Regards Brenjon

I'm no expert but I have read that to remove fleece to weed the carrots it is best to do this on a still evening or late afternoon. Apparently this cuts down on the risk of carrot fly invasion.

Not sure whether this is an old wives' tale or fact?

Hi Brenjon,
Is it possible to use a second fleece and by rolling one up, thin and weed and then unroll the second fleece to cover and progress down the line like that leaving only a couple of inches open at a time. Only a thought mind.
JB.

Hi JB
Thanks for that advice. Yesterday the problem resolved itself. Whilst on the plot I noticed the fleece flapping about in the wind .I siezed the oppertunity and weeded it a few feet at a time. I didn't need to thin them yet. Hopefully they will be O.K
Regards Brenjon