Topic: Carrots (or lack of)

[saddad]

I put some in a raised bed under cover back in feb, have had three out of two rows, if no real movement by the weekend I will be sowing Danvers half long in the same place. Some Samurai ( red) and others sown direct at Easter are just coming through!  ???

[Debs]

Sowed carrots for first time (early nantes) & they came up beautifully.

I planted one seed to a module seed tray insert - i think only 2 didn't show.

Theyr'e starting to get true leaves now.

Debs

[jonny211]

Well at least I'm not alone now... have sown four rows of early Nantes 5 and Autumn king and have only seen a few stragglers so far. Lots of weeds though.

I'll sow again.

Jon

[plot51A]

Last year did several sowings and got - nothing. This year have sown in compost drills as recommended by A4Aers and have got - one row of Early Nantes and one row of Amsterdam forcing - looking good with true leaves and really coming on in the last couple of days after the rain. Absolutely delighted  ;D ;D ;D

[jonny211]

Compost drills for me then!

I tried this with my Parsnip seeds as well, but no show with them either!

[Alimo]

Mine looked like EJ's a couple of days ago... wonderful healthy seedlings.  This morning when checking the veggie patch - all gone and a couple of shiney snail/slug trails over the bed... GRRRRRRRRRRR >:(

If at first the slugs get them - try and try again........

Alison

[supersprout]

Compost drills for me then!

I tried this with my Parsnip seeds as well, but no show with them either!

One of my (experienced) lottie neighbours showed me a row of parsnips just coming through on his plot. He sowed them in March. You have to be patient with parsnips, he said knowingly ;D

[jonny211]

LOL... If it wasn't for the experienced neighbours where would we all be?

Perhaps I'll germinate some carrots and parsnips at home just to be sure, then put them in compost drills and then cover them with netting. Surely I'll get something then  :)

[saddad]

Yep, a late night raid by the mollusc squad!
 ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just replanted parsnips, salsify and scorzonera I planted as soon as it warmed up. I wasn't happy with the sparse germination in the latter two, and I'd rather replant unnecessarily than end up with almost no plants. I can always thin later if I need to. I should have fleeced the bed; peas I put in at the same time under cloches came up thick and fast.

[redimp]

I have never grown carrots (I have tried and failed) or parsnips before.  Mien have germinated and are just showing their true leaves.  When and how do I thin them out - my carrots were sprinkled in rows and the parsnips were sown three to a station.

[MrsKP]

i've been told (on here) not to thin them until the wee carrettes are big enough to eat.  and as i've grown so fond of them and hate murdering living things, that's what i'm doing.  i've sown a second row more sparcely though.

[glow777]

when you do thin them, thin them last thing before darkness/going home and remove all traces of thinnings. if you expose any carrotts in the ground earth them up. Reduces the chance of the carrot fly homing in on the smell.

[plot51A]

I thought there was a good tip in KG recently on thinning parsnips - use nail scissors to avoid root disturbance. Still pinched out the extras with my finger and thumb tho'  ;D

[redimp]

I thought there was a good tip in KG recently on thinning parsnips - use nail scissors to avoid root disturbance. Still pinched out the extras with my finger and thumb tho'  ;D

If you use nail scissors, do you just cut off the top growth and leave the roots to wither and die?  If so, sounds good to me.

[supersprout]

Yep, the little roots just wither and die when you snip off the tops!