carrots

[gwynnethmary]

Hi!
Am a complete novice when it comes to growing veg, but saw some early carrots (Amsterdam 3- Sprint), which , so the packet says, can be planted in January.  Being very keen to get going, I have planted some seed in a large pot and put it in a sheltered spot in the garden.  On the packet it said that early plantings may need cloche protection.  my question is, should I put the pot into my new mini plastic "greenhouse"or will they be OK left outside?  It has been very cold here (North- East coast) but we don't usually get the very severe frosts that occur inland.

[gwynnethmary]

[Digeroo]

I started off some very early carrots last year in a bucket but it spent the first couple of months in the kitchen only went outside on warm sunny days.  I had some very small very early carrots.  They were Mignon.

[Trevor_D]

I normally sow Amsterdam Forcing in a trough round about now. They stay in an unheated & uninsulated greenhouse until some time in spring when I need the room and I put them outside. I always get a good crop.

Haven't sown them yet this year. It's been very cold here too (even in the sheltered south). I'm not worried about the carrots, you understand; I can't stand the cold so I'm getting indoor jobs done instead!

I'd put them in your mini-greenhouse. At least they'll have a bit of warmth to jolly them along a bit.

[cornykev]

Can you put them in the kitchen until it warms up a bit.   :-\    ;D ;D ;D

[chriscross1966]

I'm going to try and get some early carrots going soon in the GH.... was planning on sowing first week of Feb, craking them in modules, then putting them in tubes stood in modules and planting out end of Feb/early March in a big cold-frame that will be getting an early sowing of broad beans (currently just sown in modules in the GH) in it as well.... The ground is going to be used for cucurbits later in the summer (I grow enough squashes/gherkins/cucmbers/pumkins for them to be an entire block in the rotation)....

chrisc

[davyw1]

Gwynneth, You are far early for up here we are about a month behind in planting time. Carrots need about 10deg of warmth so if the soil is cold to the touch it needs to be warmer also it needs to be kept moist to assist in germination. A col conservitory or south facing windowsill should be ok

Davy

[gwynnethmary]

Thanks everyone!  Think I'll pop out and bring them into the conservatory then!