On 5 Oct, 17:42, Moonraker wrote:
On 05/10/2010 11:37, Bertie Doe wrote:





"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Baz" wrote ...
After so many years with carrot fly, and having read up about putting a
polythene barrier 2 feet high, we thought lets give it a try.
The resulting carrots have no evidence of fly damage AT ALL.
The varieties sown were Early Nantes and Autumn King, all sown at the
same
time in a very cold day in March this year.
The earlies are only finger size, even now, but the Autumn King are so
good, we were pulling them well before the earlies.
If size matters, the AK's are huge and the earlies are now just right
for
earlies ie: finger size.

All said, the barrier method has worked (this year) and we have our
fingers
crossed for next year.

Anyone have similars?

I have not found a barrier works much. Used to grow them surrounded by
a wooden box structure 2 scaffold boards high and that didn't stop
them. Then we grew in an old large water tank with sides nearly 3 ft
above ground and they still got the carrots. This year only one carrot
has shown any sign of root fly so I think it must have been something
else that has done the job, possibly last winter or the dry spring.
Welcome though.

Very little carrot fly damage this year and I grew 3 varieties and
thinned to 2 inches apart in early Summer.
On each side of the carrots I grew onions, shallots and leaks. First
time I've tried 'companion planting' but I agree with Bob, maybe hard
Winter followed by dry Spring.

I protected mine with fleece, so no carrot fly, however as I did not
thin them, so they are all twisted and deformed from being too close. So
how can I grow them without thinning, or if I do how do I stop the
dreaded carrot fly from attacking while I am thinning?

--
Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You are planting the seed too thickly. I always plant my carrot seed
on a bit of sand in the bottom of the drill. It improves drainage/
germination