Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Becca on February 01, 2010, 23:38:39

Title: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Becca on February 01, 2010, 23:38:39
Hello everyone,
so i'm terrible for forgetting which variety of seeds i use, or not marking which variety i planted in which row ,, for instance last year had success with one variety of carrot out of 3 i sowed, but left the packets attached to each row taped onto a stick and the rain washed them away..  only one variety did well,  one got attacked by something and the other just didnt taste nice.

anyway long rant but i was wondering what everyones fav variety of carrot seeds is.
i think i've had good success with a nantes variety and autumn king.  but as i said above i'm not sure ???
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Jeannine on February 02, 2010, 06:26:28
Without any doubt..Mokum, the only one I grow, It is very sweet and crisp, I haven't found another one to come close. It is not a cheap seed, T&M have it.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Digeroo on February 02, 2010, 09:29:25
I grew Nantes 2 and Chantenay from Franchi last year was very pleased with the crops.  Loads of seeds in the packets.  Gave some Nantes seeds to my allotment neighbour and but they were dreadful. 
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: asbean on February 02, 2010, 10:06:39
On Jeannine's recommendation I got Mokum last year, and have ordered it again for this year, it was very successful and delicious.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: reddyreddy on February 02, 2010, 10:49:16
any comment on carrot seed tape? I hate thinnning!!
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: asbean on February 02, 2010, 11:19:56
I only tried the tape once, with parsnips.  It was a last-ditch attempt after previous failures, and I got zilch.

Now I start them off in loo roll tubes, and we have more than we can cope with.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: reddyreddy on February 02, 2010, 11:23:07
I do my parsnips in loo rolls as they are tricky to germinate sometimes but never thought of doing carrots that way! I only sowed 30 or so snips last year but would like to sow a hundred or so carrots, need a lot of loo roll...!  :o
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Flighty on February 03, 2010, 10:37:28
Becca I don't really have a favourite so I grow different varieties every year and this year it's Little Fingers, Paris Market Atlas and Yellowstone!  :)
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: grawrc on February 03, 2010, 10:56:22
you could have a look here:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,55837.0.html (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,55837.0.html)
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: adrianhumph on February 03, 2010, 11:09:07
Hi all,   ;)
               Amsterdam forcing for sowing early March under cloches. Then chantenay royal, for sowing April onwards. both sown broadcast, don`t faff about sowing in rows, sprinkle them lightly in a patch, then pull up when they start to get a bit crowded, simples ;D  Both available from Kings

                                                                                      Adrian.

                                                     
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Becca on February 04, 2010, 19:20:30
not heard of mokum.  who sells it?
maybe i just missed it.
might go with nantes and chartenay (cant spell) just been looking at a new site ive not used before seedaholics.com
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Flighty on February 04, 2010, 19:27:21
Becca if you only want small quantities then try MoreVeg

http://www.moreveg.co.uk/shop/catalog/browse?shop_param=ecid%3Dcarrot_vegetable_seeds%26
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: grawrc on February 04, 2010, 19:29:08
T + M sell Mokum. Jeannine said it already.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: plot51A on February 04, 2010, 21:27:55
Nickys nursery also sell Mokum. Cheaper than T&M.

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/veg-carrot1.htm
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: kt. on February 04, 2010, 21:39:46
Nigel F1. Successional sowing from March-July ensures a crop from Jun through to November.  I put the later sowings in the greenhouse from October as they are in pots.

I tried Nantes Frubund from T&M, supposedly an overwintering variety for an early spring crop.  Was disappointed.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: FennelandFern on February 07, 2010, 09:32:40
I'm a big fan of Yellowstone - very sweet indeed. Only problem I had with it was that it did get a bit of greenback around the top.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Jayb on February 07, 2010, 10:54:46
I've always been happy with Nantes and Autumn King. I did try Sugarsnax F1 as well last year, but I was not that impressed. This year I am going to try St Valery and James Intermediate, hopefully they will become favorites :)

I think with all positive recommendations I will try Mokum next year.
   
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: saddad on February 07, 2010, 10:57:42
I like Yellowstone too... Autumn King are very reliable. Danvers half long (from Browns) were the first ones I could get to grow on my heavy soil.... not tried Mokum for years... always found them too expensive as seeds when I had little sucess germinating carrots.. maybe I should try them again  :-\
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: kt. on February 14, 2010, 19:17:34
Quote from: Jayb on February 07, 2010, 10:54:46
I did try Sugarsnax F1 as well last year, but I was not that impressed. This year I am going to try St Valery and James Intermediate, hopefully they will become favorites :)
I was also disappointed with Sugarsnax though  I did grow St Valery for the first time last year in bucket containers.  They were long thin carrots.  If you intend to skin them then there may not be much left to cook......  They grew successful but too thin for me so will be skipping them in future.
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: 1066 on February 17, 2010, 09:55:38
Quote from: asbean on February 02, 2010, 11:19:56
I only tried the tape once, with parsnips.  It was a last-ditch attempt after previous failures, and I got zilch.

Now I start them off in loo roll tubes, and we have more than we can cope with.

Asbean do you remove the loo roll when planting out or rip it a bit? I used loo rolls for sowing peas last year and struggled a bit with them drying out - realised later that I should have covered them completely!

Thanks 1066
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: 1066 on February 17, 2010, 09:58:11
Becca
meant to add that I grew Purple Haze last year (and will be growing them again this year). They have purple skins that keep their colour when cooked. They werent massive but they were very tasty  :)
Title: Re: Carrot Seeds Best Variety's???
Post by: Jayb on February 17, 2010, 13:03:42
Quote from: ktlawson on February 14, 2010, 19:17:34
Quote from: Jayb on February 07, 2010, 10:54:46
I did try Sugarsnax F1 as well last year, but I was not that impressed. This year I am going to try St Valery and James Intermediate, hopefully they will become favorites :)
I was also disappointed with Sugarsnax though  I did grow St Valery for the first time last year in bucket containers.  They were long thin carrots.  If you intend to skin them then there may not be much left to cook......  They grew successful but too thin for me so will be skipping them in future.

I imagined them to be long but stocky, perhaps because they are a heritage variety! Never mind, and luckily I don't usually peel my carrots