Carrot rust fly is a problem in this part of the province. The mature flies lay eggs on the soil near carrot plants. The eggs hatch, and the larval stage, maggots, burrow into the developing roots, leaving a trail of feces. My band, Trail of Feces, was actually named after this phenomenon. In the past we’ve ignored the rust fly problem, more often than not getting lucky with sowing dates and enjoying uninfected carrots. We’ve also eaten our share of wormy carrots, being careful not to look at them as we munch them down. This year we’re taking action. By “we’re” I mean “Jessica is”. This afternoon she erected a row-cover-and-rebar barrier, held together with clothespins, around the year’s first sowing of carrots. Apparently such barriers are effective. The flies don’t fly high off the ground as, in addition to being inconsiderate and greedy, they are lazy.
Tagged: Misc

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One Comment
That fly barrier looks interesting. I look forward to hearing if it works!