6. Pest Control:
Carrot flies are a real thing! And they damage carrot roots. They lay their eggs in the crops, which eat away at your vegetables. Cover your carrots immediately after sowing to protect them from this pest that can ruin your crop completely.
Make sure to secure the edges of cover, with rocks or whatever “paperweights” you have lying around. Keep the cover in place over the whole life of the carrot.
If they are in a pot, set the pot or container up off the ground, such as on a table. This will keep the damaging flies away. Another great idea is companion planting. This confuses the carrot fly from seeing the carrots as easily.
Leeks are a good companion plant to carrots. The flies are active late sprint through to fall. Some say avoiding pruning or thinking of the crop also keeps them away, as you are not disrupting the plant and uprising scent, similar to when the grass is cut and the scent uprises.
Resistant carrot varieties are worth using if you can.