As regards to crop rotation some people seem to grow some crops on same plot year after year, how do they manage this? I would be very interested to hear comments. Many thanks
The best solution to prevent carrot fly, which i have found is by putting wind breakers (what you use for camping or the beach ) round your carrot plot , but make sure you hammer the poles right down so not to allow any gap between earth and breaker try this it's the best solution ever.. ( second hand or old wind breakers are perfect.) Make sure there is no gap between joining poles when putting wind breakers together..
I found that growing the purple variety of carrot seems resistant to carrot fly. I grew three patches of carrot this past year, and the ordinary common orange carrot was touched by the fly, but the purple type was virtually unscathed.
All this stuff about growing garlic or onions close by has not proved successful here in Northumberland. The best method is, for me, to lay fleece over the seeds and this is the necessary barrier to prevent the fly invading.
I grow all my carrots in willow planters which are a height of about 18 inches. I have never had trouble with carrot fly as I think they fly lower to the ground than this.
I was told by a market gardener that carrot fly cant fly more than a foot or so high,is this right! any way i have made a plastic fence and put around my carrots, I,ll just have to wait and see.Lu.
It's true - carrot fly cannot reach above about 18 ins but most important, when thinning or picking carrots try not to disturb the foliage too much and NEVER leave a bit of leaf laying on the ground. Pick up every scrap and take it far away from the remaining carrots. The broken foliage gives off a heavy scent which the fly picks up on.
I put my carrots between tall growing veg like sprouts and haricot vert and take a softly, softly approach to thinning, harvesting and weeding around them. I also grow a row of marigolds alongside. So far this seems to work for me.
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on same plot year after year, how do they manage this? I would be very interested to hear comments. Many thanks
thank you
All this stuff about growing garlic or onions close by has not proved successful here in Northumberland. The best method is, for me, to lay fleece over the seeds and this is the necessary barrier to prevent the fly invading.
I grow all my carrots in willow planters which are a height of about 18 inches. I have never had trouble with carrot fly as I think they fly lower to the ground than this.
It's true - carrot fly cannot reach above about 18 ins but most important, when thinning or picking carrots try not to disturb the foliage too much and NEVER leave a bit of leaf laying on the ground. Pick up every scrap and take it far away from the remaining carrots. The broken foliage gives off a heavy scent which the fly picks up on.
I put my carrots between tall growing veg like sprouts and haricot vert and take a softly, softly approach to thinning, harvesting and weeding around them. I also grow a row of marigolds alongside. So far this seems to work for me.
This year i planted a row of tagetes then a row of chives either side my carrot plot and so far .....touch wood no fly looks pretty tooo
Simmo45.