Carrot Failure

[Plot22]

Over the years I have invested a considerable amount of money in hoops and netting (large enough for me to crawl in )in order to keep out the carrot fly. I have nearly always been successful in growing carrots but this year I have less than 50% come through. I have set Sweet Candle, Flakee ,Cidera and Early Nantes. One half of my net tunnel is reasonable but no where near good whilst the other half on all varieties is very poor. Other people on our small site are suffering a similar fate. I am thinking give them another week and then resow which would not be easy inside the tunnel. They were all sown on the 12th of April which in normal weather conditions should have been plenty of time for them to germinate. Any advice suggestions would be most welcome.

[Plot22]

[saddad]

Are you certain they aren't being hoovered off by slugs?  :-X

[Digeroo]

I think the voles are eating mine.  Nothing appeared with I put out slug pellets.  I am not sure the carrot roots fly stops them germinating , it likes a nice fat carrots to plnat iits eggs on. 

[star]

I sowed 2 rows of Purple Haze and 2 of Valerie (I think) one row of Valerie came up but the slugs had the rest. I have since sown more of both about 2 - 3 weeks ago, they either havent germinated yet or they've been eaten again  :-\ >:(

[telboy]

plot22,
You don't say where you are - it's been too cold I would suggest.

[taurus]

The cold was my thought to.  The ground here is both cold and water logged.  Its been raining again to day and forcast for tomorrow as well.  A lot of people are complaining about lost crops and are resowing for the 2nd time, as well as slugs and snails.  Going to pay the granchildren to do a slug and snail hunt at the weekend  ;D ;D ;D

[chriscross1966]

I'm planting out my modules this evening/tomorrow.... plot neighbours were moaning about dreadful germination last week....

[Tee Gee]

My seeds are still in the packet and will remain there for at least another two to three weeks!

[Hi_Hoe]

Carrots struggling here too (Rotherham). I'm putting it down to the abnormally wet conditions combined with struggling temps? Its the only explanation?!?

Sowed two more rows on sunday and i'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[Duke Ellington]

Mine are doing fine. they were sown in a three foot tall raised bed and have been under a fleece tunnel. They were sown during the third week of March. they are now showing their true leaves. I will make a sowing in the ground in about two weeks time.

Duke  :)

[green lily]

I never sow carrots until June but this year I'm even having trouble getting parsnip and radish to thrive because its been so cold and despite the rain in April its still far too dry here in North Lincs. ::) My soil is already cracking in places and could do with another good soak. Seedlings are struggling already despite puddling the rows.
You should be fine with another carrot sowing in June when the worst of the fly is over until September.

[winecap]

I sowed two raised beds (in builders bags) in March when the weather was lovely. They are both doing ok, but the early Nantes are much better than the other, which I confess I have no idea now what variety they are. I shall sow winter carrots in June. The early Nantes in the greenhouse border (Feb sown) are nearly ready though, so I shall pull some when I put my peppers in. Small seeds sown in April (scorzonera and hamburg parsley) are taking forever to come up though. Not sure whether they will make it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

My parsnips aren't in yet, but they're next on the (much delayed) list.

[star]

After a few mild days and no rain to speak of my second sowing of carrots are showing  ;D yay! The parsnips are doing well too. Its good.....I thought all efforts would be in vain this year  ;D ;D