Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Twoflower on April 06, 2009, 09:07:15
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Am planning on sowing mine at the weekend, but before i do is there anything i should know? I have tried them in my small plot in the garden but they never seem to come to much and then the cat sits on them! so now i have a big packet of seeds and an allotment i am going to give it one more try, any tips before i do? :)
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What's your soil like?
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A nice fine soil is what you need to try for, plenty of raking. Then just put your line out and make a shallow groove in the soil and sow thinly, and cover up with soil and dampen the row. When they are growing, thin the row, using the small carrots as baby carrots.
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Basicall clay but has been well looked after so it now mostly crumbles with a bit of raking. :)
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Do i need to cover them and if so with what?
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we water the drill before we sow the seed, then cover with dry compost, seems to work for us , also do some in small pinches(hands don't work properly), with a space between, means we get small bunches of baby carrots, we take out a few small from the ordinary rows and leave some to grow bigger..cover them with fleece, keep the fly out ;D
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Good advice there... I'm on clay and it took me 10 years to crack it... Try to sow after it has rained! (Or even while it is raining... the soil needs to stay damp while they germinate). Water into the drill. Sow carrots, add compost or sand covering, firm in ( so that seed is touching damp soil... just tap with back of rake will do)water again. Cover with fleece, this stops it drying out... check and re water at least weekly... put some slug pellest down, or they may disappear as fast as they emerge...
:)
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Thank you, I'll try all of the above advice and keep my fingers crossed :)
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The fleece is the real trick... without the sand/compost the soil will cap and trap the emerging seedlings under the surface... the fleece keeps it moist and keeps the fly out (and slugs in sadly.... ) ;D
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I do it this way; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing%20outdoors/Seed%20sowing-%20outdoors/seed%20sowing-%20outdoors.html
Note OK the example shows lettuce being sown but the same applies to carrots
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I saw folk growing carrots in barrels on the big dig so thought I'd give it a try this year as there is still a long way to go before I get decent beds and OH can get the drums from work. ;)
Lushy x
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I saw folk growing carrots in barrels on the big dig so thought I'd give it a try this year as there is still a long way to go before I get decent beds and OH can get the drums from work. ;)
Lushy x
Do you mean that you are going to cut the barrals into three to grow your carrots or grow them in the complete barrel, because its not as easy as they make it look. To start what are you going to fill a 45 gall drum with to grow in.
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Was planning to cut it and put multi purpose compost in
Lushy x
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Then may i sugest to make it cheaper make a mix of
1 Part riddled compost,
1 Part riddled sharp sand
2 Parts riddled soil
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OK thanks Davy, what does riddled mean? Apols for my ignorance
Lushy x
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passed through a sieve...
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Put thro one of these to make the mix fine
[attachment=1]
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Great thanks for that will do as you suggest :)
Lushy x
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Suggest you don't cut the barrels lower than 30 inches the carrot fly won't reach the carrots at that height. What I'm trying this year in my barrel is an up turned bucket to reduce the need for so much compost. This an old factory jam bucket takes more room up. This for the tapered carrots and a raised bed for the stubby carrots. I no it means I'll after water more, but after last year I'm prepared to give any thing a go. ;D ;D
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Last year was my first success with carrots - it had to be in containers as I lost each time I did direct sowing in the ground. Last week I did a trial of direct sowing in the ground again after rotovating some ground with my Mantis. Hopefully this will work. If not then containers it will have to remain....... ::) ::)
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Best way for me (not tried containers) is to mix the seed with used compost in a bucket and then spread it out using a rake. I do not sow my carrots in rows - I get empty rows (except once) and this method avoids the need for thinning.
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Suggest you don't cut the barrels lower than 30 inches the carrot fly won't reach the carrots at that height.
Says who?
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Last year (my first year trying) the tops all got eaten off - presumably by slugs.
I my scatter a few slug pellets this year.
The carrots are going in a new bed that I only turned over on Saturday, so I think plenty more forking and raking is in order first.
I hadnt considered covering with sand, but may try this. My soil has a tendency to get a hard crust on it when it is raked too finely.
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I saw folk growing carrots in barrels on the big dig so thought I'd give it a try this year as there is still a long way to go before I get decent beds and OH can get the drums from work. ;)
Lushy x
Tried this works OK but need to use a lot of soil i put loads of polystyrene in the bottom but need a lot of soil for big carrots
the soil needs to be light though
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I use two compost bins to grow carrots in and I get wonderful straight monsters from them with relatively little care.
I started off by filling the bottom of the bins with the stuff I'd skimmed off the top of weed infested beds. This was solid clay like substances which was just good at bulking up the bottom.
I then emptied the old tomato grow bags into it mixed with a little fish blood n' bone.
Sprinked some carrot seed over it, hey presto multi coloured carrots (got them off realseeds)
Another way I've seen is taking a plastic barrel without a bottom, setting it halfway in the ground for stability and filling the rest with compost, that works too...
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Suggest you don't cut the barrels lower than 30 inches the carrot fly won't reach the carrots at that height.
Says who?
GQT :) http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/fsheets/11_11_01/fsheetsq2.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/fsheets/11_11_01/fsheetsq2.shtml)
Found this interesting as well on a GYO forum (hasten to add I'm not a member)
"Coriander.
when I use it, no carrot fly
when I don't, carrot fly.
Chop the coriander down to the same height as the carrot tops every week/few days [as you can], and sprinkle the choppings around the carrots as you go.
chuck a tagetes nearby and some onions in as well, and you should be covered!!!"
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My seed packets tell me to sow them thinly to avoid the need for thinning. Is it possible to sow them in batches of 2 seeds, then leave a gap of 5" to the next batch? Will this stop the need for thinning?
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They are tiny. I mixed nearly a full buckey of compost with a third of a packet of seed then spread it down a band 5.5m long and 20cm wide to avoid them being too close.
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Ok carrots in. It's been raining over night and it was drizzling when i put them in this morning so they shouln't dry out espacilly with the weather forcast for this weekend! I've got some coriander seed left over from last year so will try that as well! Belt and braces job ;D
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I think I might put some marigolds and some garlic in with my carrots!
What other roots could i go for? I tried parsnips last year and didnt get one.
I have seeds left over but im sure i remember reading that the seeds dont keep well.
Also, is a swede a root or a brassica?
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Swede is a brassica. Try chitting the parsnips and see if they germinate... :)
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PM your address to me if you want parsnip seed.
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Thanks for the offer Eristic. I will try the chitting idea of saddad first, and if I get no joy there I may well take you up!
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I'm glad you started this thread Twoflower, I also want to grow carrots.
I have clay soil that forms a cap, could I mix it (after weeding and removing stones) with multipurpose compost to grow the carrots in?
Also would scaffold debris netting stretched over the carrots suffice to keep the carrot fly off?
thanks.
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The fly are really tiny and so you need something like fleece or environmesh. The compost mix is a good idea.. some people open a "v" shaped trench and fill with MP compost. Remember to keep it damp. :)
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Thank you Saddad, I'll do just that...
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Like a lot of people on the site i have tried about every formula known to keep the dreaded carrot fly away, grown between onions, garlic, marigolds and so on and none of which has been realy successful now i use nothing but mothballs and fleece. The moth is not very happy but that is tough.
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ok now i am really going to get laughed at if i start shreading moth balls over my carrots. What is it in moth balls that make them smell?
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All about mothballs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball
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Mothballs have been used for solvent abuse by adolescents. Now thats one i haven't heard before ;D ;D ;D but wouldn't they get stuck up your nose ;D ;D ;D I shouldn't laugh.
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Growing carrots amongst the onions works for me. By the time the carrot fly eventually find them they've grown to full size and I'm ususally pulling up the last of them. You do need plenty of onions around them though.
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Will carrots be able to grow correctly if the soil below is compacted slightly?
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All about mothballs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball
It has also been suggested that the toxic chemical in mothballs will bond to garden soil, causing permanent damage to it. Research has shown that a weak bond can occur, but naturally occurring soil microbes will break down the toxic component of mothballs over extended periods of time. In addition to this, the toxic effects of mothballs may also kill beneficial soil insects. By far, the risk of using mothballs in the garden - involving children, pets such as cats, and other animals accidentally ingesting exposed mothballs - outweighs any benefit of killing unwanted animals
Rules that one out for me.
I've only really beaten the carrot fly once, that was in my first year of gardening, when I had no idea any such thing existed, seems ignorance is a defence.
I sow late now and grow autumn carrots, because I hate losing a crop, it depresses me deeply.
Some of the old boys, on my site grow their carrots in the open and have beautiful crops, no idea what they're trick is.
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Couln,t find any moths so decided to soak some half inch rope in diluted Jeys Fluid and lay it along the edge of the carrot of the carrot row.
My first lot of carrots
[attachment=1]
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Never had much luck with carrots, will try fleece. Thought a fleece was something one wore. Live and learn. Also been told to put a strip of plastic round them so presumably carrot fly are on the ground and don't fly.
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This is something i found on the topic of the carrot fly.
They are low fliers rarely going above 50cm so one control is to surround vulnerable plants with a polythene barrier about 60cm high or to cover completely with garden fleece. Lifting the crop in autumn limits the damage. Sowing the seed very thinly to reduce thinning and removing any thinnings, limits the attack as they are attracted by the smell of the crushed plant. A technique called liquid sowing is a good method of obtaining a thin sowing. The seeds are suspended in Laponite gel and 'piped' like icing from the cut-off corner of a plastic bag. Delay sowing until May to avoid the emergance of the first generation. Avoid growing early and late crops together and if infestation occurs do not leave any roots in the ground to carry over to the next season.
Sowing at the correct time will avoid the flying insects. If sown in early June, the first generation females will have nowhere to lay their eggs so there should be fewer second generation flies to emerge. Other sowings in late autumn or early spring for harvesting in the summer should be at lower risk.
Harvesting before the second generation can do too much damage is important so lifting the June sown carrots by November should reduce their exposure to damage. Any left after this will be vulnerable and can provide overwintering quarters for the grubs. Chemical control is not really effective as the ones used in the past have been withdrawn.
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Thank explains why people sow them in cut in half water butts. Think I will try with the plastic surround or else just give up and buy them as they are not too expensive and stick to my lovely runner beans, courgettes (that seem to grow anywhere) and everlasting spinach which we seem to eat everyday. Should be very healthy apart from the white wine and the ciggies.
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Should be very healthy apart from the white wine and the ciggies.
;D ;D for me its beer and fags.
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i did mine today nantes, ;D i use to sow in drills but tried something different last year i sowed my carrots like you would peas in a wide bed about 18" wide then sprinkled the pack out in the trench, saves thinning and after all this is how they are sown in the fields, had the best crop of carrots ever :D
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Nowt wrong with white wine and ciggies - Known as mummy's little helpers in our house ;D
Lushy x
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I've sown my carrot seeds today and covered with a fleece, a 10m x 1m one from the 99p shop (hope this is adequate).
Having read about not thinning when it's windy and in the evening (so as not to attract the carrot fly), I was thinking would it be beneficial to thin while it's raining (I know I'm being presumtious in thinking my carrots will even get to that stage) but surely flys don't fly when it's raining as it must be similar to travelling through the Asteroid Belt for a fly, wouldn't they be knocked out if hit by a droplet.