Carrot growing medium

[russweth]

Last year I tried to grow carrots in the allotment but was unsuccessful due to the roots forking, the soil I have is far too stony.
Suggestions have been made to dig a narrow trench and say 8"-10" depth then fill with either Sand or compost or even a grow bag so the carrots will grow in a stoneless environment, I know the ideal thing would be raised beds filled with good quality top soil with a fine tilth, but what would be the advise of my fellow gardeners be.

[russweth]

[manicscousers]

we have a dedicated carrot bed, 18" tall, we fill it each year, usually with leaf mould them m p compost, this year, we've used our own compost with a small amount of m p compost on top, trying to cut down onpeat  :)
some people grow them in old baths, leaf bags, many containers, only way we can do it as ours is very wet, heavy clay ;D

[mickstani]

Compost from last years hanging baskets makes this years carrot trench. Works well for me.

[lincsyokel2]

I grow carrots in two old fibreglass baths, filled with multipurpose compost, and a layer of coir at the bottom. Produces fabulous results, no forking, never had carrot fly.

The real experts grow giant carrots singly in 4 inch drain pipes.

[Mr Smith]

I do a similar thing with my carrot bed by adding Sharp sand or Compost from our recycling center which I have done this year, stones are a problem but I find that a good working over with the 'Mantis' is the ideal tool to create that fine tilth that carrots need, :)

[powerspade]

I grow stump rooted varieties, I take out a trench with my ridger tool and refill it with old compost and sieved soil

[Jeannine]

We had an old cuke frame, long and narrow and deep, we filled it with a mixture  of potting soil and sand, it grew wonderful snips and carrotts and never any rust fly as the frame was about three feet high and we only filled it to about 2 feet.

XX Jeannine

[Larkshall]

Forked roots can also be caused by planting in ground which has been recently manured.

[chriscross1966]

I think what causes the forking is the change in consistancy, I've seen good carrots grown in pure well rotted manure before adn they've been fine.....

chrisc

[Morris]

I think what causes the forking is the change in consistancy, I've seen good carrots grown in pure well rotted manure before adn they've been fine.....

chrisc

That's interesting. I always thought it was the clods in even well rotted manure that were the problem, like stones, but I haven't any experience to back that up.  It just goes to show that a lot of gardening received wisdom is constantly recycled and rarely questioned.

[jazzidoodle]

I have a different problem it takes 2 years to grow a stumpy carrot

[plainleaf]

i always use Bernard Laverys soil mix 1/3 soil, 1/3 sand and 1/3 peat moss

[shirlton]

Old used compost from the previous year in a V trench or as we are doing this year in a barrel of sand with drills of compost mixture