Hi everyone,

I am growing carrots for the first time this year. I live in the North Carolina piedmont. I am planning to put them in 9/1. I have read up on the need to keep the soil moist for the seed to germinate. I do not have any boards, landscape fabric, or burlap to put over them and I would love not to have to buy them. Has anyone used flattened, wetted cardboard boxes to keep the soil moist?

I also live in the middle of Charlotte, NC. Not many home gardens in my neighborhood and I am pretty sure nobody else is growing carrots (or even putting a fall garden in for that matter). Do I still need to worry about carrot rust flies? I am wondering where they would come from. Thanks.