Content
Among the daily chores of gardeners and gardeners, there are both pleasant and unpleasant concerns. And the latter bring their negative aftertaste to the feeling of joy from all the vegetable garden acting. Such not very joyful concerns include the fight against various pests of cultural plantings. The main postulate of this struggle is the desire not to harm the general ecological situation of the entire vegetable garden.
It is not difficult to defeat all life on the cultural site. Modern means of chemical and biological plant protection allow it. But whether the benefit from this will be great - both for the quality of the crop and for the health of the fighter himself. If you exterminate the Colorado potato beetle, moth or carrot fly, then bees with bumblebees and other useful insects will fall under the extermination. There is a high likelihood that the residues of the applied pesticides will enter the body in the area of people.
Theoretical foundations of garden pest control
There are not many methods of pest control of cultivated plants at the disposal of the zealous gardener. The task comes down to the fact that it is necessary to choose not only the most effective of them, but above all the safest and most economically justified. For clarity, it is convenient to use the example of confronting a carrot fly. After all, carrots are not so terrible climatic conditions as this is a harmful insect, capable of giving 2 full-fledged offspring per season.
The fly itself is not involved in the defeat of root crops. Its larvae specialize in this, but it is she who is the initiator. Having emerged en masse in May, the fly immediately begins laying numerous eggs on young carrot sprouts and on the ground around it. This is how the carrot fly cycle begins in carrot beds. It was at this time that she should already feel that a struggle began with her:
- chemical method... The desire to use this method as rarely as possible is understandable, but it is simply impossible to completely abandon it. The most effective are drugs such as the popular "Decis" advertised in the forums "Aktara" and no less well-known among gardeners "Fitoverm". All preparations do not decrease their activity within 20 days and are not washed out during watering. Destroying the larvae in the first twenty minutes, these insecticides prevent their development for a long time. Here are just root vegetables can be used for cooking or raw no earlier than 20 days; 333
- somewhat less effective, but much safer folk methods wars with the carrot fly. They involve the use of various infusions on ash, nettle, tobacco dust or tomato tops. All these infusions are used with the addition of a soap solution for better retention on the plant. It is better to carry out processing in the evening and morning hours at least 3 times;
- biological intimidation... Of course, we are talking about the feathered inhabitants of garden plots, insects that are enemies of the carrot fly - ground beetle, lacewing, scolia wasp and, of course, ladybug. Planting, among the beds of carrots, calendula or marigolds, will not only scare off the carrot fly, but also attract its enemies - ichneumonids. In addition, these are pathogenic, for many pests, bacteria - "Bitoxibacillin", "Dendrobacillin", "Lepitocide". They must be used in accordance with the instructions for the drug;
- creating unbearable living conditions, by choosing resistant carrot varieties to carrot fly;
- by strict adherence to the agrotechnical parameters of the selected variety... Exceptions to practice, preparation of beds for carrots, the use of fresh manure. Placing carrots in well-lit and ventilated beds without thickening. Placement of onion and garlic rows in carrot plantings. Compliance with the recommended crop rotation. The use of low barrage structures;
- prevention and strengthening the immunity of the plant itself through various dressings.
Often, it is in the complex method of struggle that the maximum success lies.
Choosing Fly-Resistant Carrot Varieties
There are no varieties of carrots that are completely resistant to this gluttonous insect. It is ready to inflict defeat at least on all varieties of carrots at once, at least selectively. But some of them are more to her taste, while others she simply dislikes. Seed organizations, when advertising different varieties of carrots, indicate their resistance to various diseases. But they all constantly avoid mentioning the attitude of the advertised variety to the carrot fly.
More recently, a carrot variety has appeared that has a carrot fly icon on its seed packet. The rest of the varieties can be judged only by indirect signs, since it has long been known what the carrot fly likes and what it tolerates, but with difficulty. What smells does it refer to as attractants, and what smells it refers to as repellents. Their ratio determines her addiction to a particular variety.
Each variety is resistant in its own way
Since the degree of plant resistance to the carrot fly can be quite simply regulated in numerous ways, the taste and yield are purely individual in nature. With a fair degree of certainty, it can be argued that it is the last characteristics that will be of paramount importance when choosing a carrot variety. And only other things being equal, the choice will be made in favor of the variety with the best resistance to carrot fly.
The mechanism of the cultivar's attractiveness for the carrot fly is well understood. The more a carrot contains chlorogenic acid in tops, the more energetic the fly is interested in this variety. At the same time, the increased content of carotene and various sugars is perceived by its larvae with obvious disgust. Therefore, a carrot variety that is resistant to carrot fly should contain the maximum amount of carotene and sugars with a minimum content of chlorogenic acid in the tops.
By comparing these indicators, several varieties of carrots with relatively high resistance to this pest were identified:
"Nantic Resistafly"
This is exactly the variety for which the carrot fly has the maximum aversion. This is due to the high content of carotene and extremely low (up to 2 mg / 100 g) chlorogenic acid in the tops. It is amazingly tasty and its yield reaches 9 kg / m2... A root crop of a beautiful, orange color, weighing more than 100g. Its length reaches 160 mm and its diameter is close to 35 mm. The root crop is cylindrical with a very small core. Carrots "Nantic Resistaflay" are good fresh, but at the same time they are perfectly stored.
"Nantes 4"
The growing season lasts from 80 to 110 days. The length of the root crop is approaching 170 mm, and its diameter is no more than 20 mm. It has a pleasant orange color, which turns purple in the area of the head. Productivity - close to 6.6 kg / m2... It has a pleasant taste and excellent consumer characteristics. It is not affected by rot and mold during storage. Resistant to flowers. It retains its original characteristics for a long time.Due to the high content of carotene (over 6.5 mg) and sugars (up to 8.5%), it is suitable for baby and diet food;
"Amsterdam"
The growing season is no more than 80 days. The root crop has a cylindrical, smooth orange fruit. Its dimensions reach a length of 200 mm, with a diameter of 40 mm. The weight of one root vegetable reaches 150 g. The pulp is of good taste, juicy and tender, with a very small core. The yield is approaching 6.0 kg / m2... These carrots are not intended for long-term storage.
"Shantane"
The growing season of the plant is approaching 140 days. The fruit has an even, conical shape, 160 mm long, orange, turning into red. The weight of many root crops exceeds 200 g, while the yield of the variety reaches 8.5 kg / m2... Surprisingly juicy fruits have a good taste and pleasant aroma, which, of course, with a high content of carotene and sugars (14 mg and 7%, respectively). The variety is resistant to various diseases of carrots, not prone to flowering and stemming. Has a universal application;
Calgary F1
The growing season is not more than 130 days. The root crop has an elongated conical shape with a blunt, slightly rounded tip. Some fruits are longer than 230 mm. and the diameter is 50 mm. They have an attractive orange color and good taste characteristics. The yield of this variety sometimes exceeds 7 kg / m2... Has a universal purpose. Stores well. Excellent resistance to cracking and blooming.
"Losinoostrovskaya 13"
The growing season of this variety is no more than 115 days. It has a beautiful, cylindrical shape of juicy orange fruit with a rich color. Their size reaches 200 mm in length and weighs 170 g. This variety is not very picky about the soil, but requires intensive watering. Its yield can reach 8 kg / m2... It has excellent (thanks to carotene and sugars) taste characteristics. The variety is extremely resistant to flowers and many diseases.
Conclusion
The absence of a large, fragrant cloud of chlorogenic acid will not strongly attract the pest, especially if the plantings are well ventilated.
Once again, it should be recalled that carrot varieties that are not completely susceptible to the attack of the carrot fly do not exist. There are varieties that are unattractive to her. This is the initial link that allows, with proper agricultural technology, to get rid of its harmful raids. Only then the rich harvest of carrots of the zealous gardener will not pass.
