How to deal with a carrot fly in a garden bed

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The carrot fly is a dangerous pest. Its larvae feed on the pulp of a ripe carrot root crop. As a result of deep damage, the fruit becomes unfit for consumption, and the plant itself dies. We will learn further how to deal with a carrot fly in the garden.

Control and prevention measures

Prevention is the best way to control a pest. Measures taken in advance will help protect plantings and preserve the harvest.

Agrotechnical methods of prevention can be considered the most preferred method in this case.

Sowing

Carrots are sown 3 times per season: in early spring, in late May - early June, and in autumn before winter. The crop of the summer sowing period is less susceptible to the threat of insect attack, it is better stored.

Before planting, the seeds are treated with a preparation against soil pests. In order to eliminate excess moisture and shading, carrots are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm from neighboring plants.

Carrot fly does not like the smell of onions, garlic, tomatoes. These crops are grown next to carrot plantings.

After sowing, the beds are covered with a covering material to block the access of flies and maintain the necessary moisture.

Crop rotation

Do not grow carrots in the same area. Carrot fly larvae live in the ground for more than 1 year. Onions, radishes, garlic, tomatoes are planted in place of carrots. The culture is returned to the previous beds after 3-4 years.

Thinning

Thinning is not always an effective pest control method. In place of the seedling, a hole remains in which the fly lays its eggs. To avoid thinning, granulated seeds on paper tape are used for planting.

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Loosening the soil

In search of the best method of how to deal with a carrot fly in a garden with ammonia, it is worth resorting to such a measure as loosening. In the fall, the plot for growing carrots is dug deeply so that the larvae die during the winter. Dry crust on the soil makes it easier for pests to lay eggs.

The land on the carrot beds must be loosened. Before loosening, the soil is watered, the bare part of the root crop is carefully hilled.

Weeds drown out plantings and create excess moisture. To prevent the appearance of pests, they are regularly removed. An effective way to control weeds and carrot flies is to mulch the soil with chopped peat.

You cannot use manure as fertilizer for the beds. It is a favorable environment for the development of carrot fly eggs.

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Chemical treatment of carrots

If you are looking for a quick and effective way to deal with carrot flies in your garden before planting, then you should consider this method. Diazinon-based insecticides are used to kill carrot flies. This nerve agent contributes to the rapid death of pests.

Chemicals kill not only harmful but also beneficial insects. It is possible to use chemical agents if other methods of control have not yielded the desired effect.

The main list of drugs includes the following:

1. "Mukhoed" - a granular preparation, placed in the aisles. Destroys larvae and adults. It does not accumulate in the soil, it is applied once a season.
2. Barguzin. The product is effective against most soil pests. To combat the carrot fly, an insecticidal lamp "Barguzin" is used.
3. "Provotox". The drug has a toxic effect on the digestive system of the insect. The larvae die when they eat the bait pellets. The drug does not lose its protective properties throughout the season, does not have a harmful effect on the human body.
4. "Prestige KS" is the most effective agent used before sowing for soaking (dressing) seeds. After the emergence of seedlings, the soil is spilled with a solution of the drug at the rate of 2 ml per 10 liters of water. The use of the solution stimulates the development of plants and provides protection against pests for up to 50 days.

It is important to follow instructions carefully when preparing and using chemical processing solutions. Misuse of toxic drugs can be dangerous.

The use of folk methods of dealing with carrot fly

Many gardeners prefer to fight carrot fly in the garden with folk remedies. These products are safer than chemicals and no less effective. Before planting in the garden, prepare a solution of birch tar at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. tar per 10 liters of water. The grooves prepared for planting seeds are spilled with tar water.

When sowing, the seeds are mixed with sand, dormant coffee, tobacco dust. Seedlings will be more uniform, and the smell will scare away pests.

Ash, mustard powder, peat crumbs, tobacco dust are used for sprinkling the rows of beds.

When removing weeds or thinning seedlings, the beds are sprayed with pepper solution. For 10 liters of water, 1 tbsp is enough. l. ground pepper (black or red) and 1 tsp. liquid soap.

Garlic and onion feathers are laid in the garden bed and in the furrows. For catching flies, ordinary sticky tapes attached to sticks are used.

Herbs with deterrent properties can be used as folk remedies. They are characterized by a strong and pungent odor. These include: wormwood, marigolds, yarrow. For the preparation of infusions for spraying carrots, garlic, onion peels, and tomato tops are used. Liquid soap is added to the products for better retention of the infusion on the tops. Treatments are carried out in dry weather.

These methods are mainly aimed at preventing pests or killing flies before they have time to lay eggs. In case of serious damage to plantings, potent chemicals cannot be dispensed with.

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Ammonia to kill carrot flies

Using alcohol as a pest control agent has many advantages:

• low price;
• economical expense of funds;
• has a strong effect on pests;
• is an additional nitrogen fertilizer for plants;
• does not change the taste of the root vegetable.

Ammonia is diluted at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. 10 liters of water, mix thoroughly and water the garden bed from a watering can so that the liquid falls on the tops.

The second time, alcohol is used in 5-7 days. The spray effect will be noticeable after 2-3 treatments. The insects will gradually disappear.

The ammonia quickly disappears. Processing should be done in dry, calm weather in the early morning or evening after sunset.

Outcomes

1. Compliance with agricultural techniques and preventive measures will reduce the time to fight a dangerous pest and keep the crop healthy.
2. Carrots damaged by fly larvae are not suitable for storage.
3. Pest-induced infection quickly spreads to healthy roots and can kill the entire crop.