My son announced yesterday that he would like to grow some carrots. I need to strike whilst the iron's hot as this is the first time he has expressed an interest in growing veg. He only eats potatos and carrots. Believe me this announcement nearly floored me and I don't want to loose his interest by being too slow on the uptake.
Can you tell me a good variety that we can grow in a container. Should I just go and pick something off the seed racks for quickness,son is going away on Thursday and I want to get him started before then? What is the best growing medium? Can I use a general potting compost? Can I use a compost that has been used before...have cleared a large pot of some straggley pansies and some weeds recently. It is now sitting doing nothing and could be used straight away if it is ok to do so. What do I need to do about pests? Help I need to try and make this a success so as to keep him interested!
Yes they grow fine in compost. Also in John Innes. Have done both!
I grew Amsterdam forcing in an 8" pot of JI in January one year :) and it gave me tiny tiny sweet carrots which just needed washing and eating... Early Nantes are probably your best bet, or Parmex (the spherical ones). Both are fast growing and small enough for containers.
If he's going away, with the 17-day germination for carrots (HDRA figures) then it's a good idea to get them in now...
moonbells
Pests - carrot fly and slugs/snails. Cover with fleece should stop both.
If you can get hold of it - Grow Your Own magazine has some round stumpy carrots which are suitable for container growing - Paris Market I think they are called - actually, why don't you PM me with your address and I can send you them - I have sown a few of them, but I have umpteen other varieties of carrots to keep me busy!
you beat me to it multiveg, i had the magazine in front of me and thought the same!!
By the way - what did you think of the new magazine then??
I tried to grow Parmex (the spherical carrots) in a large window-box type tub last year and it was a bit of a disaster.
I think that the rot set in (not literally - they didn't actually get that far!) when a cat had a couple of scoops in the nice, warm, fresh soil.
If I give it another go this year then I'll make sure that the tub is well protected with mesh or fleece.
On the other hand, I may leave the carrots to the lottie, and plant beetroot (for harvesting the leaves for salads) or rocket in it for impromptu use in salads.
Quote from: RichardS on March 23, 2005, 12:43:34
I think that the rot set in (not literally - they didn't actually get that far!) when a cat had a couple of scoops in the nice, warm, fresh soil.
If I give it another go this year then I'll make sure that the tub is well protected with mesh or fleece.
I find that gooseberry bush prunings are a very good deterrant to all sorts of mammalian pests. If you stick them round a pot (leaning outwards) then you shouldn't get cats! And often you get nice rooted cuttings...
Admittedly if you fleece or mesh them, you keep out carrot fly as well.
moonbells, who still has an accidental gooseberry bush in one pot...
Thanks everyone!
We nipped to the shops after school and picked up a packet of early nantes.
I really hope this is the start of my son (aged 7) getting an interest in growing veg, he might even try some but thats probably a long shot!