is this a great idea?

[queen of the cobs]

I am pretty sure that there's no way that I can grow any carrots or parsnips on my plot as it's so stony, so I had this great idea of growing them individually in old 2 litre water bottles.

Is this a great idea or am I being foolish? Not that there's any sign of my seed germinating yet, sigh.   :-\

(I mean, I know it's a bit heavy on compost, but I could get great shaped roots!)

[queen of the cobs]

[manicscousers]

I don't see why not, this is how we do it..the bed covered with fleece  :)

[markfield rover]

I think some exhibition growers use drain pipe ,so give it a go.

[cambourne7]

i remember a post from someone who just gardened in milk bottles, so i think its a great idea :-)

[davyw1]

You can use this method in any ground by making a wedge and filling it with your fine mix

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture031.jpg

[queen of the cobs]

thanks everyone - am going to give it a go - hubby planted a few carrots and I don't want him to be disappointed.  ;)

[Marymary]

Sounds a great idea - be you get some whoppas- Keep us posted.  :)

[Lauren S]

If you can get hold of any of those blue barrels, they are wonderful for carrots. Apparently they are the right height above ground to avoid the carrot fly too.

[saddad]

I grow my best carrots in an old cold frame filled with home made compost...
;D

[davyw1]

If you can get hold of any of those blue barrels, they are wonderful for carrots. Apparently they are the right height above ground to avoid the carrot fly too.

ELLE, I am afraid that growing in 45gal drums is not so easy unless you are going to cut them into three. Then you need to have the space to put them.

[laurieuk]

Just for fun I sowed some carrot seed in a large pot about November time, my greenhouse is just about frostfree as long as there is no electric cuts. Jusy started having the first few, as they were growing above 2 feet there can be no problem with carrot fly. Also very easy to get out by giving a good watering and gently pulling.

I am pretty sure that there's no way that I can grow any carrots or parsnips on my plot as it's so stony, so I had this great idea of growing them individually in old 2 litre water bottles.

Is this a great idea or am I being foolish? Not that there's any sign of my seed germinating yet, sigh.   :-\

(I mean, I know it's a bit heavy on compost, but I could get great shaped roots!)

[Marymary]

They look wonderful, Lauire. I can almost taste them - funny I never liked carrots much till I started growing them.  :)

[Jeannine]

Try Mokums !!! XX Jeannine

[Marymary]

Try Mokums !!! XX Jeannine

Just got some from T&M in their sale cos you rated them so highly - now where can I squeeze them in?  :)

[Tora]

I sowed Mokum carrots in a balck florist's bucket on Friday. I've never sown such an expensive carrot seeds, even when half-price, so put a plastic back on top to prevent snails eating seedlings. I can't wait to harvest them!
I'm going to try making a trench and filling with compost at my plot (heavy clay) and sow cheaper carrot seeds from Wilko. ;D

[Emagggie]

After 4 faliures sowing direct, the trench filled with compost worked for me Tora. Best of luck. ;D

[bennettsleg]

Like you, it feels like my plot has more stones than earth at times.  Carrots last year were a disaster: small, strange shaped, unscrape-able, split from drough-to-rain changes etc.  This year I wasn't going to bother but OH looked crestfallen so we filled a huge pot with earth, added some water retention pellets and sowed away. 

The pot went for a burton when one our fence panels was blown across the garden, OH - miserably - scooped up the earth and shoved the pot to one side. The carrots have sprouted (not in little rows, but never mind - can't remember if it was just variety sown so should be interesting!) and are growing away merrily much to OH's surprise. 

If you have room to do this, it's ideal - and you can make sure they get water when they need it too.

[Debs]

...do you think they would grow in 1 litre pop bottles??

Debs

[bennettsleg]

why not.  give it a try.  just make sure that the bottles are taped together well so they can't fall over and don't sow too many at once.  And let us know how you did!

[asbean]

Those shopping caddies that people used to put their shopping on the special trolleys at Sainsburys (they don't do them any more, I got mine from a friend who had broken the handles off hers and was going to throw them out).  Purrrrfect.