Homebase fleece

[Gordonmull]

Hi folks

Does anyone know if this is effective against carrot and onion fly?

Edit - link:http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=133381

[Gordonmull]

[green lily]

Yes it will but its designed to be a warm layer and plants can get too hot if you leave it on in the summer when the flies are about..... Mesh would be a better option once it warms up.

[Gordonmull]

Thanks Green Lily. I hadn't thought of that!

Can anyone tell me if it would be worthwhile to buy this stuff? I don't want to shell out only to find it's no use. It looks like it's a meter wide - would that be too narrow? I'm probably only going to use it on carrots.

http://premiernetting.co.uk/catalog/insect-mesh-woven-standard-mesh-metre-p-538.html

[CDave]

Can anyone tell me if it would be worthwhile to buy this stuff? I don't want to shell out only to find it's no use. It looks like it's a meter wide - would that be too narrow? I'm probably only going to use it on carrots.

http://premiernetting.co.uk/catalog/insect-mesh-woven-standard-mesh-metre-p-538.html

I suppose it depends what you are trying to cover. If your carrots are in rows or blocks then 1m wide should be ok. If in blocks - then it depends on the size of the block/container. some folk use mesh curtains - Ikea are good/cheap apparently.

[Digeroo]

I am not convinced that even ikea netting is small enough mesh to prevent carrot root fly.  I had some covered with net to deter deer and they still got the fly.

[Alex133]

Environmesh stops carrot root fly. There's also an extra fine version that even keeps out flea beetle. Used both in 2011, very good and should last for quite a few seasons. Got both from Gardening Naturally.

[Plot22]

I have bought 2 lots of Enviromesh Mesh. The 2nd lot was much bigger so enabling me to crawl inside it and weed the carrots. I grow 4 rows of carrots the width of the allotment and I have found it 100% proof against the fly.
The problem that I have with it is that I turn it over on the edges abut 6" and weigh it down with boards which are in turn weighed down with bricks.
These never move throughout the season. I access my carrot tunnel from the ends and always close the ends behind me once I am in. I do find however that weeds grow underneath the boards and actually make holes in the netting particularly when I am taking it down at the end of the season. Last year my wife spent a couple of hours sowing them all up.
I have planned this year to put a thick layer of plastic on the ground underneath the netting before I weigh it down. My carrot set up with new larger hoops was quite expensive and I would like it to last 5 years or so.

[Gordonmull]

Thanks folks - that's carrot fly protection sorted then.

[green lily]

Yep thats roughly what I do. Enviromesh isn't cheap but it lasts more than 5 years and it goes in the washer at the end of the season to get rid of muck, moulds and allsorts. Then I roll it up tightly and hang it in the poly for the next season. I've certainly had my moneys worth and the onion sets and the PSB are under some now- its marvellous stuff.  ;D