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Carrots

Gardeninggirl36Gardeninggirl36 Posts: 36
in Fruit & veg
I am growing carrots on my windowsill and they are doing really well, with some pepper plants and sunflowers. I have noticed lots of small flies around all of the pots of them, I initially thought they were flies from the surface of the compost but now am worried in case it is carrot fly. This is my first time of growing carrots and I have pulled one up and although not fully grown the surface of the carrot was perfect. Any ideas on how I can identify these flies and what I can do to get rid of them.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I think they will be compost flies. Carrot flies only fly at low level outside. They are unlikely to be in the house.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Carrot fly is quite big compost fly is tiny.
  • Gardeninggirl36Gardeninggirl36 Posts: 36
    Thank you both for your replies, I have just breathed a sigh of relief as the flies are really tiny. When I put the carrots outside is there anything I can do to prevent carrot fly? 
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Plant them in a raised bed at least 18" high as supposedly they dont fly that high @Gardeninggirl36 .
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You can put a fleece barrier 24 inches high around them (like a thin wall)
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I use fleece and insect mesh barriers, it makes the allotment look like a bedouin camp when I cover the carrots and parsnips, peas and leeks, fleece barriers everywhere, I can't remember allotments looking like this years ago. Anyhow, these barriers do work as long as the flies cant get through any chinks in the armour but I see that Nemasys do a combined mix of nematodes which kill carrot root fly grubs.
  • Green MagpieGreen Magpie Posts: 806
    I use fleece draped over my raised beds. I don't like the look of it but needs must, and it works. 
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