Carrots

[Lady of the Land]

Can anyone tell me what carrots can be sown now, presumably under fleece that will then be ready early next season - is it early nantes ?

[Lady of the Land]

[saddad]

any of the very fast forcing carrots like early Nantes would do fine, presumably you will fleece them or have them in a frame...?

[daisymay]

I was going to try some in the soil in the greenhouse over winter - early nantes??? is it not worth a go?

[Rosyred]

I brought a variety for autumn sowing called Nantes Frubund from T&M. Sow until mid- or even late autumn in mild spells. Winter sowings for a really early crop can be made in a coldframe or greenhouse. Harvest Spring onwards.

I've done some at home in a pot in my plastic greenhouse and three rows at the allotment under a clothe. Wasn't very successful with carrots so thought I would give these a swirl.

[Common_Clay]

I tried Autumn King late last year (October or thereabouts) and harvested in January this year. I didn't use a cloche, cold frame, fleece, etc. Just out in the elements, still got a crop though. Good luck.

[plot51A]

I also got some Nantes Frubund and put them in last week, compost drill, covered them with enviromesh. Well, it was very mild then, unlike now. Nothing to lose except the price of the packet, I thought it was worth a go and will report back. Am encouraged no end by you Common Clay  ;D

[supersprout]

I tried Autumn King late last year (October or thereabouts) and harvested in January this year. I didn't use a cloche, cold frame, fleece, etc. Just out in the elements, still got a crop though. Good luck.

thanks for the voice of experience cc, like p'winkle says, nothing to lose, I'm going for it too! ;D

[Barnowl]

Our carrots were pretty sad earlier in the year. I think either I didn't dig the bed deeply enough (in some spots we have a compacted layer only about a spit down) or they didn't get enough water.

So I'll have a go as well if my Early Nantes seed arrives by the w.e.

If at 1st you don't succeed plant & plant again...

[plot51A]

I couldn't seem to grow carrots at all until this season - then tried planting them in compost drills (as recommended on this site, of course) and covering - I prefer enviromesh to fleece. Have now enjoyed 6 months supply of carrots, absolutely lovely. My only disappointment is the ones destined for winter storage - when I went to lift them they had all been eaten away, with the tops left and looking as if all was still well  ??? They were the only ones I uncovered, thinking the carrot fly season was over - so the slugs got them instead. Gardening is WAR  >:(

[Lady of the Land]

Thanks for the replies.

I am in the south East of England and I would sow under fleece. I think it is worth a try. I believe I have some early nantes that came with The kitchen Garden magazine
I thought I would just try sowing a few to tide me over from when the ones I have in now finish and next years are ready.

Next year I was going to sow carrots in a raised bed - The wood is in the garage, ready to make when there is a rainy day and I cannot get to allotment or out in the garden. At the moment I have leeks in where the raised bed is going, so are aiming to use these over the winter, prepare the soil when they are all up ready to put in raised bed and sow next years carrots.

[manicscousers]

we now have three raised beds, two we grow carrots in, covered by fleece, the other we were given this year so will try to grow parsnips next year, the beds about 12" high, we'll have to see if it works try anything once  :)

[Rosyred]

What advantage do you see for carrots having a raised bed?

[manicscousers]

we can fill the bed with what we want, very well rotted horse muck in our case, the beds about 18", we put hoops over to cover with fleece, this keeps it fly free, I don't know if you've seen our other threads but our allotment was a swamp last year , it was an unused piece of land so every bed is raised, the carrot beds are raised more than most, we got some 9" carrots this year
I suppose I'm just trying to say they're protected. by the way, the carrot beds are only 2' wide

[Rosyred]

So your carrots liked manure?  :o I thought roots didn't like it. 

[manicscousers]

this stuff's 15 years old,we get it from the local stables, it's like gold dust :D

[kitten]

Hi there, we watched an allotment programme earlier in the year (was it called The Big Dig? Sunday am's?) i'm sure i remember them saying that growing carrots in a barrel or raised container of some type kept the flies away cos they don't fly over 30cm above the ground - does that sound familiar to anyone else? I could have dreamed it of course lol!

[saddad]

An active carrot fly might make 15" but 18 is almost unheard of. I have an old frame, that had a double glazed window unit on it. Now th window has finally given up I filled it from the compost bin and sow carrots... no fly! As my soil is heavy clay it is the only place I can be sure of growing carrots.
;D

[Roy Bham UK]

Hi there, we watched an allotment programme earlier in the year (was it called The Big Dig? Sunday am's?) i'm sure i remember them saying that growing carrots in a barrel or raised container of some type kept the flies away cos they don't fly over 30cm above the ground - does that sound familiar to anyone else? I could have dreamed it of course lol!

Yes Kitten I saw that prog. some grew them in tall plastic barrels and one grew his in a bath with great success, I have had two seasons at growing them the first was great with net curtain surrounding them, the second this year, plentiful but lots of very small ones shamefully because I didn't have the time to thin them out :'( ;D

[manicscousers]

you pay a premium for baby carrots in the supermarket  :)

[Roy Bham UK]

you pay a premium for baby carrots in the supermarket  :)

;D Right on ;D my grand kids love em so they won't go to waste ;D 8)