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| Carrots infested by Carrot Root Fly - Photo from 2010 |
The manufacturer's website describes Enviromesh like this:-
"Enviromesh is a fine mesh netting, woven from U.V. stabilised polyethylene. The mesh size is 1.35mm. The weight is around 55g/m2, light passage 90% and air passage 75%. The material is very durable. In tests, it showed no deterioration after continuous exposure for a period of 60 months. In practice, Enviromesh has lasted a period of more than 10 years."
Having seen the results of using this material, I shall be using it for the foreseeable future!
These are my maincrop carrots, duly protected:
There are three rows of carrots under there, as well as one row of beetroot.
And these are my little "cocktail carrots", growing as usual in a raised wooden planter outside our kitchen window. The actual carrots are in two plastic crates filled with compost.
I have used a small offcut of Enviromesh, supported by six metal rods topped with cane-toppers.
This will give enough height for the carrot leaves to grow unhindered.
The mesh is secured to the wooden planter with some drawing-pins.
All the carrot foliage looks good so far, but of course it is too early for any significant roots, though with all this protection I'm quietly confident... (famous last words).
What would we do without row covers? Carrot fly is really bad here too. Though in spring I don't see damage until the end of June and it is mild until maybe mid July. I still cover my carrots in the spring though. I like the pristine carrots.
ReplyDeleteI'm growing mine high this year minus the covers, I just hope its true that carrot fly can't fly very high!
ReplyDeletePretty nifty system. There is nothing worse than pulling up what you think (and hope) will be a beautiful, sweet carrot, and then see it full of holes and destroyed. I hope this works for you. I will stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteYuck - I don't think I've ever seen an infested carrot. I REALLY hope that we don't get them in our area - I have so many beds covered already, it would be nice to have at least a few without the need for netting!
ReplyDeleteWhen I can actually get carrot seeds to germinate, I have the same experience as Daphne - damage later in the summer. The Enviromesh seems like a good product, woven polyethylene. The stuff I use is spun-bond polyester, not woven, and is fragile. Amazon sells Envirormesh but it is very expensive for a small piece. For less than what it costs to buy a piece the size you covered your main carrot bed with, I can buy a 50 foot roll of 10 foot wide Agribon, so I'll stick with that for now.
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