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Baz[_3_] · 22-07-2013, 10:19 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

(Peter James) wrote in news:1l6ehmz.8hdfyl14hxyyaN%
:

This year in my allotment I have again suffered with carrott fly.

I've tried a lot of the growing methods by growing under fleece,
planting altenate rows with other plants, jeyes fluid watered on the
crop and this year covering with grass clippings.

Nothing seems to work, and to add embarrassment to dismal failure last
night, whilst watering the plot my wife tripped and fell over and into
the fleece covered carrot rows. She caused quite extensive damage for
such a small woman! The damage caused gave us the opportunity to check
the crop only to find, yes you guessed, carrot fly.

So next year I guess the only alternative will be a raised covered bed
or no carrotts. At 76 I really don't fancy making a raised bed with all
the hassle of transporting earth in a wheel barrow.

So, my plea is this. Is there any product on the market that can be
used to deter this little beast. Years ago I used "Bromophos" and that
worked so well the EEC banned it.

Does anyone on the group use any other product with any degree of
success?

Peter

What has always worked for me, is to make up a timber frame to length and
breadth you want it to be, but it MUST be at least 700mm high. The fly does
not fly above that.
Cover the sides only with clear polythene sheeting.
In situ pile up earth at the bottom of the frame so there are no gaps
between frame and soil or else they will find a gap and enter.
I use tanalised 38mm X 38mm and heavy guage polythene. I have had to
replace the polythene once in 5 or 6 years. The frame is as sound as when I
made it.

Hope this helps. And if you want any help about making the frame and
covering it with the polythene please ask me, I will be glad to help and go
into more detail.

Baz