How to quickly get rid of a carrot fly, the best methods of dealing with chemicals and folk remedies
One of the pests that attack the crops of plants grown in the beds of summer residents is the carrot fly. Judging by the name of the pest, you might think it's only dangerous for carrots. However, this is not the case. Fennel, parsley and celery also suffer from its vital functions. To determine how to quickly and effectively get rid of a carrot fly, it is worth considering the causes of the appearance of the insect and the effective means of its destruction.
Where does the pest come from
The first reason for the massive spread of the pest is the lack of a competent crop rotation. If you plant carrots on the same bed for several years in a row, a large number of insect pupae accumulate in the soil, which turn into adult flies and damage the future crop.
If you thoughtlessly use pesticides in the garden, you can upset the biological balance and, together with harmful insects, destroy useful ones, among which there are many natural enemies of the carrot fly. The affected root crops crack, an unpleasant smell appears, and the vegetable begins to taste bitter. These are the consequences of the influence of parasitic larvae. In addition, the foliage changes color from bright green to yellow and subsequently dries out.
Effective ways to fight
Among the effective means of combating the carrot fly there are agrotechnical, chemical and folk methods, each gardener either uses one species or carries out activities in a complex way. It all depends on the degree of infestation of the site and personal preferences. Folk recipes are effective when there are not many pests and you do not want to use strong and harmful chemicals.
If an insect has filled the beds, insecticidal agents are no longer needed.
Plant carrots with other crops
To scare away carrot flies, gardeners practice planting strong-smelling plants next to these beds. For example, you can place beds with garlic or onions next to them. Or plant marigolds or calendula along the perimeter. The bright aroma of these plants does not tolerate the pest, and a massive invasion of pests can be avoided.
Planting period
In order not to give the pest a chance to damage the future crop, it is important to correctly select the time for sowing carrots. As you know, this culture is planted before winter, it perfectly tolerates low temperatures in the ground.As soon as the first rays of the sun appear, carrots will begin to grow, and by the period of mass distribution of the insect they will already be quite dense and firm, and the larvae will not be able to damage the structure of the vegetable. and settle there. It is also recommended to sow the crop early as soon as the ground thaws.
Change of beds
If the plants are attacked by pests, you should think about changing the bed.The advantage of carrots is that they are sown both in March and at the end of May. Until autumn it will be possible to harvest a full crop. The main thing is that the new bed should be at the maximum distance from the infected one.
Vertical barriers
As you know, this pest cannot fly high. Therefore, vertical barriers will prevent carrot flies from entering the beds. However, with strong gusts of wind, individuals will still end up on the site.
Crop rotation
If you plant carrots several years in a row in the same bed, the pupae of the pest will accumulate in the soil and massively affect root yields.
It is therefore important to change the place of cultivation of the vegetable each year, and to plant onions or garlic instead of carrots, which do not interest the parasites.
Traditional methods
Sparing natural remedies do not harm the environment and are safe for humans. In the early stages of damage and in cases where there are not many carrot flies on the site, it is recommended to pay attention to these recipes.
Garlic mint
The pungent smell of garlic and the aroma of mint will keep the pest away from beds for a long time. To prepare an effective spray at home, follow the step-by-step instructions:
- A few mint leaves and 2 cloves of garlic are chopped in a food processor or blender.
- To improve adhesion, add a few drops of dish detergent to the mixture.
- To improve the effectiveness of the spray, a few pinches of cayenne pepper are also sent there.
- Bring the composition to a boil and leave to infuse well overnight.
- Then take a conventional sprayer and pour the resulting product into it. Infected beds are regularly treated.
coffee grounds
Don't rush to throw away leftover coffee grounds. Such a remedy is deadly for the pest. Add a little water to the residue and water the affected carrots thoroughly.
oily spray
Aromatic oils have a negative effect on the insect and cause it to seek other habitats. For a carrot fly spray, use rosemary oil, mint, eucalyptus, cloves and lavender. Mix and pour into a spray bottle. The beds of the future crop are regularly treated, preventing the adult carrot fly from laying larvae in the ground.
pepper spray
You can use red pepper and black pepper for the recipe. gThe main condition is that it must be finely ground. Take half a liter of water and 5 pinches of pepper. Put on the fire and boil for 15 minutes. Glue is added and the grown plants are regularly treated.
Water with salt
A simple and inexpensive way to get rid of the pest is to use salt water for processing. Take a 10-liter bucket of water and dissolve 380 grams of salt in it (about one and a half glasses). The beds are sprayed at the beginning of June, retreatment is carried out after 2 weeks, but with a higher salt concentration (450 g). After another 2 weeks, the amount of active ingredient is again increased to 600 grams, and the carrots are again sprayed.
dandelion solution
Dig up the dandelions with the roots and separate them from the top. A bucket of water will need 200 grams of roots. Within a week, the composition should be infused. After that, the beds are treated with a 2-week break until the parasite is exterminated.
potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate has also been shown to be effective against carrot flies. Dissolve 2 grams of potassium permanganate in 10 liters of water and spray the planted carrots.
wood ash
Wood ash is mixed with tobacco dust and sprinkled with this powder on plants and paths. For 1 glass of ash take a teaspoon of dust. You can enhance the effect of the composition by adding a teaspoon of ground red hot pepper.
Kerosene
Refined kerosene is used to control the pest by watering the furrows with it. The main thing is that the agent does not get on the plants themselves, then there will be no smell of vegetables in the future.
Ammonia
The use of ammonia is twofold. In addition to being an effective carrot fly control agent, it is also an excellent fertilizer for crops. To prepare an effective composition, a teaspoon of ammonia is poured into a bucket of water and the beds are treated with this agent.
Overview of special tools
However, there are times when folk recipes do not work due to the high contamination of the site, and then you have to use chemical preparations. If you follow the proportions and step-by-step instructions for preparing the working composition, there will be no harm to culture and human health. Among the most effective means, summer residents distinguish the following.
"Actellik"
Organophosphate insectoacaricide effectively fights the pest, both with larvae and with adults. Dissolve 1 gram of drug in a liter of water and spray the beds. The consumption of working personnel is 300-400 liters per hectare of cultivated plantations. During the entire growing season, no more than 2 treatments are carried out.
"Aktara"
A new generation systemic insecticide has a wide spectrum of action. One package of the drug is diluted in a 10-liter bucket of water and soil treatment is carried out. For 100 square meters of carrot area, about 5 liters of working composition are consumed. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the morning or in the evening.
fitoverm
The active ingredient in insectacaricide is aversectin C. It is effective not only against carrot flies, but also against other pests found in beds. 1 ampoule of the drug is dissolved in 2 liters of water and thoroughly mixed, then clean water is added to a volume of 10 liters and treatment is carried out. When using the drug, observe safety measures and use protective clothing.
"Decide"
The drug has a wide spectrum of action and is often used by gardeners in the fight against carrot fly. To create a working fluid, measure 1.5 grams of the drug, carefully stir in a small amount of water, then add it to a volume of 5 liters. The advantage of "Decis" is that it can be used even in hot weather, this does not affect the effectiveness of the product in any way.
"Arrival"
In the composition of the drug "Arrivo" the active ingredient is cypermethrin, which is responsible for the working qualities of the insecticide. For a bucket with a volume of 10 liters, you will need 1.5 ml of the drug. Spraying is carried out in calm and dry weather.
"Inta Vir"
The effectiveness of a broad-spectrum insecticide extends to more than 50 species of insect pests, including the carrot fly. 1 tablet of the drug or package is diluted in 10 liters of clean water and sprayed.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent the insect from multiplying in huge quantities, prophylaxis is carried out annually. The list of necessary measures includes:
- Destruction of weeds and plant debris in the fall.
- Digging the ground in anticipation of winter.
- Respect for crop rotation.
- Standardization of the bed irrigation regime.
Simple measures will reduce the risk of a pest and help protect future crops.