Topic: Carrots

[caseylee]

All my carrot packs say plant in march, would it be now or wait till the end of march, and I am going to sow them in paper pots can I put them in my coldgreenhouse before i plant them out

[kt.]

Depends where you live in the country. Here in Teeside, I usually add on an extra 2-4 weeks for outdoor planting. Under glass should be fine. I have usually had abysmal times with carrots sown direct in the ground. Zero to be precise.

Last year I sowed earlies in containers and they were half decent. Small but still edible. My winter carrots had huge 8-10 inch lush green leafy stems - but no carrot? Possibly planted too many in the containers. This year I intend to use the container method.

[debster]

caseylee i have sown some of my early nantes they can be sown from february ill gladly send you some if you like?

[saddad]

I planted some in a raised bed with an old window glass on them at Christmas they were slow to come up but I now have three strongly growing rows of seedlings.
 ;D

[caseylee]

I have bought rainbow carrots, purple carrots, round carrots are those classed as early nates not too sure, and could i plant them now in a cold greenhouse

[jesssands]

I got an old delapitated trolley from work, I intend using for carrots. Got hubby to take the other wheels off it, the reason it had been thrown out was a wheel was missing, (my gain!) Thing is, its a bit deep, Probably about 90 cm.  Anyone got suggestions as to what I could put in the bottom so it doesn't  take up too much soil? I was thinking about some polystyrene boxes? would this be filling my soil with chemicals?
I understood from a lady that used to run the village veg shop, she grewsome of her own stuff to sell. That carrots were a bit fussy on soil, and liked a sandy mixture? for this reason I thought about the trolley box, so I could make them a nice mix. I have sown carrots twice in the past, 1st time was good, although I couldn't wait for them to get big and ate them all as babies! My second sowing was 0..... lol

Sand xx

[saddad]

In a cold greenhouse you could plant any carrots now... personally I would prepare a bit of soil and cover with fleece for a week or two then plant. Our soil caps easily which stops the carrots coming up... the fleece helps keep it moist.
 :-\

[saddad]

Jesssands...Why not grow parsnips or get a long carrot like Scarlet Intermediate or St Valery for your deep box...?

[caseylee]

Ive got large propgrater tops can I put them on top of the carrots would that be alright, or come clingfilm

[jesssands]

Saddad!

I have got some seed already, I have parsnip in the airing cupboard on damp kit roll, just starting to sprout too! unwins white gem

Also the carrots I bought are Autumn King 2, these are unwins.

Who do you think would benefit most from the deep trolley?

Thanx x x x x x
 

[saddad]

The propagator tops should be fine but use a thin layer of compost or sand on top of the seeds Caseylee..
The Autumn King would get to about a foot... the parsnips would get longer.. Jesssands so I'd do parsnips in one and cut one down to about 15" to use less compost...
 ;D

[jesssands]

Only have One trolley saddad? what do you reckon?

[saddad]

Parsnips if you really like them... carrots are easier to grow in other things and the ground. Nothing like a fresh carrot though!!  :-X

[caseylee]

I have bought all different colours for my sons, just looking for yellow ones now, I am trying to get them to eat fresh veg, and they love carrots hence why I want to plant them so badley

[jesssands]

Thanks Saddad....... I love parsnips!
how long do you think they might get?
Will my carrots need the sandy mix if planting just in my veg patch?