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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: philj on May 05, 2006, 21:02:19

Title: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: philj on May 05, 2006, 21:02:19
Hello everybody, a little question to pick your brains if I may.

I sowed some Early Nantes and Autumn King about a month ago and have no sign of germination of either. Am I just being impatient, or can anyone suggest any reason for this.  I grew Sugarsnax well last year, and I am sure they were showing by now. 

I think I may have to resow.

Phil
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: amanda21 on May 05, 2006, 21:04:48
Hi
My Early Nantes and Parmex both sown about a month ago have only just come through and I cloched for the first three weeks!  I have also sown another row, which I was going to do anyway to keep up a good supply.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: greenstar on May 05, 2006, 21:12:28
Did you protect them?  I sowed flowers, lettuce, carrots and beetroot a month ago and thought they hadn't germinated, until I found odd ones all over the place - reckon the birds had a bit of a feeding frenzy.   I still haven't learnt - sowed more this week and forgot to put netting over them today.  I'll have to go back tomorrow - thanks for reminding me, philj, you've just saved my bacon, er, salad.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Philbasford on May 05, 2006, 21:14:19
ive had same problem,4 carrots in total yet!
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: philj on May 05, 2006, 21:17:32
No protection or cloching whatsoever (my veg have to be survivors), but salad, radishes & leeks are all germinating well in the open.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Tee Gee on May 05, 2006, 22:46:19
Quote from: philj on May 05, 2006, 21:02:19
Hello everybody, a little question to pick your brains if I may.

I sowed some Early Nantes and Autumn King about a month ago and have no sign of germination of either. Am I just being impatient, or can anyone suggest any reason for this.
I think I may have to resow.

Phil

You  say  I grew Sugarsnax well last year, and I am sure they were showing by now. 

Looking at your geographical position I would hazard a guess and say that you  may have sown them too early.

I live over the hill from you (West Yorkshire) and I would say that this year things are about three weeks behind last year.

Personally I would say sow some more if you have them but wait another couple of weeks before doing so, I never plant before mid May.

What I find can happen if the germination period is not quite correct is;

Because seeds are sown quite shallow protection is minimal, i.e. when they germinate but before they emerge, the weather can change i.e. it becomes hot/cold in hot the tiny shoots dry out and die, conversely too cold and they rot.

As the others have intimated the soil must be warm enough to have any chance of success. I would offer some protection to the ones you have sown, and sow more as back up.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 06, 2006, 18:45:08
In sunny Essex things are slow on the carrot front.  My 2 sowings of about 3 weeks are still to show, but I sow and sow and sow again and eventually they all come through.  The kids and I sowed half a pack of stubby rooted ones (can't remember the name) in a large square trough today for the garden - I will use them as my guide - once they are through, if the lottie ones aren't then I shall rake the area and sow again!
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: deboydoyd on May 06, 2006, 20:07:27
Sowed a row each of three different types of carrot about a month ago under fleece--all up and about an inch high (In Yorkshire)
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: loulou on May 07, 2006, 15:07:00
my kids sow some early Nantes back in January ( packet out of date ) there all up and growing happy i sowed another lot of carrots about 4 weeks ago still no sign   but the lettuce and spring onions and leeks all done at the same time are up and running
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: supersprout on May 07, 2006, 15:46:16
None of the carrots I sowed six weeks ago have shown (although some I sowed last year in the flowerbed have come up) ??? Do you rent your brood out by the hour loulou? ;)
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Zoglet on May 07, 2006, 18:19:14
I have some early nantes in window boxes on my balcony. It is the first time I have ever grown carrots. How will I know when they are ready? (I started them around 24/3).

TY

Zoglet
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: MrsKP on May 07, 2006, 19:45:09
my inexperienced tuppence worth, sowed some early nantes on a window sill ages ago and transplanted them in a pot outside under fleece, still doing pretty well considering i never take the fleece of and water through it so i can't actually see much of what is going on.

sowed a row of the same, in the bath a month ago or more and need to thin.  it breaks my heart but i suppose there's no point in growing them just for the greenery is there ?  the bath is under a fleece and polytunnel cloche to try and ward off the evil fly, so i guess it's nice and warm under there, but i am oop north, so guess i'm just catching up with them darn sarf !

if you've got nothing at all i'd find that a bit strange.   ::)
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: glow777 on May 07, 2006, 20:07:17
Mrs KP
Dont thin for a while leave it until they are mini carrots (carrets!) they can then be added whole to salads etc
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: dicky on May 07, 2006, 22:14:45
Carrots can br a right pain, I planted parsnips and carrots (early nantes) on the same day and expected more carrots than parsnips to come up, worng. Of the 24 stations of parsnips I planted only 2 failed to do anything so i've reseeded them. nothing at all from the carrots, just done the whole area again.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: powerspade on May 08, 2006, 06:03:41
Its all to do with soil temperature for best germination the soil must be above 50 degrees F,  below that and they will take a long time
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: froglets on May 08, 2006, 10:36:54
Carrots have been slow this year and only just breaking the surface  3 - 4 weeks after sowing in light soil in Cheshire.  Second sowing 2 weeks ago only a millimeter or so behind.

Sow some more now!
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 08, 2006, 13:51:23
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/carrotseedlings.jpg)

In Essex, after 3 weeks, they are up and running!  ;D
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: loulou on May 08, 2006, 15:35:44
supersprout id let them out for free they are driving me mad  :P mum can we sow this mum can we pick this   and the best question i get asked at least 20 times A day  is are they ready to eat yet  pleeeaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeeeeee  they have  dug up some of the garlic just to see if it has grown and there digging up the Flowers to i love them to bit  but i have to sow twice as much as i need coz they dig  them up far to early  and at the moment shes made her own plot in my back garden she took some seeds from my box and sowen them in the bit she dug so iv no idea what if anything will grow but it all ads to the  fun
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: sallylockhart on May 08, 2006, 16:11:29
Phew, glad it's not just me - planted chantenay and paris market under fleece on easter monday and no sign as yet - uncovered them a few days ago to see if that would help (they were a bit dry, but after todays weather they will now be a bit wet - ho hum!) ... we shall see ... fortunately I only planted 1' square of each, so will plant some more this weekend, and see if they work

sl
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: agapanthus on May 08, 2006, 17:16:03
I sowed some in a large pot in the greenhouse about a month/ 5 weeks ago and I have about 5 or 6 seedlings@(
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: saddad on May 08, 2006, 17:18:24
I put some in a raised bed under cover back in feb, have had three out of two rows, if no real movement by the weekend I will be sowing Danvers half long in the same place. Some Samurai ( red) and others sown direct at Easter are just coming through!  ???
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Debs on May 08, 2006, 21:42:06
Sowed carrots for first time (early nantes) & they came up beautifully.

I planted one seed to a module seed tray insert - i think only 2 didn't show.

Theyr'e starting to get true leaves now.

Debs
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: jonny211 on May 11, 2006, 16:13:10
Well at least I'm not alone now... have sown four rows of early Nantes 5 and Autumn king and have only seen a few stragglers so far. Lots of weeds though.

I'll sow again.

Jon
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: plot51A on May 11, 2006, 17:43:22
Last year did several sowings and got - nothing. This year have sown in compost drills as recommended by A4Aers and have got - one row of Early Nantes and one row of Amsterdam forcing - looking good with true leaves and really coming on in the last couple of days after the rain. Absolutely delighted  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: jonny211 on May 12, 2006, 12:43:20
Compost drills for me then!

I tried this with my Parsnip seeds as well, but no show with them either!
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Alimo on May 12, 2006, 13:04:31
Mine looked like EJ's a couple of days ago... wonderful healthy seedlings.  This morning when checking the veggie patch - all gone and a couple of shiney snail/slug trails over the bed... GRRRRRRRRRRR >:(

If at first the slugs get them - try and try again........

Alison
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: supersprout on May 12, 2006, 16:39:13
Quote from: jonny211 on May 12, 2006, 12:43:20
Compost drills for me then!

I tried this with my Parsnip seeds as well, but no show with them either!

One of my (experienced) lottie neighbours showed me a row of parsnips just coming through on his plot. He sowed them in March. You have to be patient with parsnips, he said knowingly ;D
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: jonny211 on May 12, 2006, 17:22:27
LOL... If it wasn't for the experienced neighbours where would we all be?

Perhaps I'll germinate some carrots and parsnips at home just to be sure, then put them in compost drills and then cover them with netting. Surely I'll get something then  :)
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: saddad on May 12, 2006, 17:32:34
Yep, a late night raid by the mollusc squad!
;D
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 12, 2006, 23:19:43
I just replanted parsnips, salsify and scorzonera I planted as soon as it warmed up. I wasn't happy with the sparse germination in the latter two, and I'd rather replant unnecessarily than end up with almost no plants. I can always thin later if I need to. I should have fleeced the bed; peas I put in at the same time under cloches came up thick and fast.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: redimp on May 12, 2006, 23:25:10
I have never grown carrots (I have tried and failed) or parsnips before.  Mien have germinated and are just showing their true leaves.  When and how do I thin them out - my carrots were sprinkled in rows and the parsnips were sown three to a station.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: MrsKP on May 12, 2006, 23:30:50
i've been told (on here) not to thin them until the wee carrettes are big enough to eat.  and as i've grown so fond of them and hate murdering living things, that's what i'm doing.  i've sown a second row more sparcely though.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: glow777 on May 13, 2006, 07:29:36
when you do thin them, thin them last thing before darkness/going home and remove all traces of thinnings. if you expose any carrotts in the ground earth them up. Reduces the chance of the carrot fly homing in on the smell.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: plot51A on May 13, 2006, 07:49:09
I thought there was a good tip in KG recently on thinning parsnips - use nail scissors to avoid root disturbance. Still pinched out the extras with my finger and thumb tho'  ;D
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: redimp on May 13, 2006, 08:22:10
Quote from: periwinkle on May 13, 2006, 07:49:09
I thought there was a good tip in KG recently on thinning parsnips - use nail scissors to avoid root disturbance. Still pinched out the extras with my finger and thumb tho'  ;D
If you use nail scissors, do you just cut off the top growth and leave the roots to wither and die?  If so, sounds good to me.
Title: Re: Carrots (or lack of)
Post by: supersprout on May 13, 2006, 08:38:08
Yep, the little roots just wither and die when you snip off the tops!