What's the best way to sow Carrots?

[redimp]

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.

[redimp]

[Eristic]

Suggest you don't  cut the barrels lower than 30 inches the carrot fly won't reach the carrots at that height.

Says who?

[JimmyJames]

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.

[daileg]

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

[tim_n]

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...

[Barnowl]

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

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!!!"

[Digitalis]

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?

[redimp]

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.

[Twoflower]

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 

[JimmyJames]

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?

[saddad]

Swede is a brassica. Try chitting the parsnips and see if they germinate...  :)

[Eristic]

PM your address to me if you want parsnip seed.

[JimmyJames]

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!

[muddylou]

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.
   

[saddad]

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.  :)

[muddylou]

Thank you Saddad, I'll do just that...

[davyw1]

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.

[Twoflower]

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?

[terrier]

All about mothballs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothball

[Twoflower]

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.