Carrots

[emmy1978]

I am growing a heritage white carrot this year - but it's my first attempt at carrots, so I'm a bit worried because I'm usually a failure with something for the first time...

That made me go aaah! Bet you don't fail, bet you grow beautiful carrits free from fly!  8)

[emmy1978]

[miniroots]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I will certainly try my best...

[Cuke]

lol I think I'm living in a beginners dream world then... I planted two rows of Early Nates 2 yesterday in well dug but quite clayey soil. Made a couple of inch deep drills, sowed seeds thinly in them and then sprinkled some of the ocntents of a spare grow bag over them to cover....

I assumed they'll grow ok, I didn't know there was such a scinece to carrots.... lol ah well we'll see... :)

Although I do plan on surrounding them with something to try and disuade the carrot fly when they've come through... :)

[cornykev]

I interplanted carrots with onions about six and four weeks ago the first ones are coming along nicely, I dug out a very small trench, filled with potting compost, made a drill, sprinkled seeds and covered with compost.  ;D ;D ;D

[davyw1]

Thanks Marymary, guess I could just try a couple, see how they go.

Cacran     You would be better off with 4" stand pipe or 45 gallon drums cut to size with a fine soil mix in them.  As a carrot needs room to grow out as well as down so if you grow them in drain pipe you will only get a very thin long carrot.

[cacran]

Thanks Davy, I have some planted in beds but just wanted to try one in the pipe for fun, really, I will have a go and see how long it gets!!!!! ;)

[kt.]

At present - none of my carrots are showing after 12 days in barrel :( Does this mean they are no good or me being impatient ::)

[caroline7758]

Lots of the allotmenteers on the Big Dig were using the "planting at height" method to avoid carrot fly, as in the bath mentioned above. I think the height needed was 13" but not sure.

[davyw1]

Other than trying to keep the Carrot fly of does hight really matter these must be at about 18"

[davyw1]

And these speak for them selves but to do them 7 barrels took me 5 hours thats a lot of gardening time fitst one

[davyw1]

and the next

[davyw1]

And my final method

[glow777]

Lots of the allotmenteers on the Big Dig were using the "planting at height" method to avoid carrot fly, as in the bath mentioned above. I think the height needed was 13" but not sure.

I thought it was 23"

[davyw1]

I was always told that the carrot fly was not supposed to be able to get above 18" but no one has told the fly it cant do that and a barrier of 2 feet around your carrots
ti keep it out
A TIP  When thinning your carrots out don,t pull pull them cut the tops off with a pair of scissors.

[glow777]

A TIP  When thinning your carrots out don,t pull pull them cut the tops off with a pair of scissors.

Also thin in the evening when the fly arn't active and water afterwards to dampen off the smell

[Nelson]

A TIP  When thinning your carrots out don,t pull pull them cut the tops off with a pair of scissors.

Also thin in the evening when the fly arn't active and water afterwards to dampen off the smell

Both great tips.  My carrots were a totals washout last year so I'll be having another go this weekend.  Got a good few hours of digging and raking before that though.

[Sparkly]

Looks like I have got excellent germination from my early nantes - complete rows! I just hope they make it to full-carrot stage!!! I am also going to plant some in large containers as a backup  :-\

[Emagggie]

Noticed today that my plot neighbour has planted his carrots as per Corny Kev and John-at-the-back says he has had germination probs too so I'm thinking it's not only me that has no joy with the blessed things I have purchased even more seed and will sow yet again tomorrow. ;D (as per Corny)

[kt.]

Looks like I have got excellent germination from my early nantes - complete rows! I just hope they make it to full-carrot stage!!! I am also going to plant some in large containers as a backup  :-\

How long did they take to germinate? I sowed some in 2 half barrels with 2Weeks ago. Zero germination at present.

[glow777]

my nantes in the greenhouse took about 3 weeks - hard to spot at first because the weeds come after 3 days after watering

annoyingly everytime I water my greenhouse border I get self seeded tomato seedlings appear