Carrot root fly

United Kingdom

I planted a late crop of carrots on June 1st They were covered with fleece.
When is safe to remove this fleece?

Thanks

I've already grown carrots successfully this year in containers on outdoor shelves about 4ft off the ground. Not a grub in sight!!
I later planted some in the open ground with fleece cover and I am wondering if anyone knows when the carrot root fly grubs are hatched. The hope is that there are none under the fleece.If they have hatched by now I would risk opening them up to some fresh air.
Any comments would be appreciated
Ken

6 Aug, 2009

Featured on:
carrots

Answers

Nickyt08

Im not sure you should. Its the smalle that attracts them so and thinning or harvesting, bruises foliage and attratcs flies. I would personnally leave them covered

6 Aug, 2009

Treesandthi..

Like Nicky says it the smell that attracts them. A barrier of about 12" high all around is good. The carrot root fly has to fly over the barrier and then it takes a bout a meter in distance before it comes back down to ground level.

Also by lifting the carrots on a wet drizzle day makes it awkward for the smell/scent to rise and therefore attract the root fly.

6 Aug, 2009