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Didn't have a very good year with carrots so was wondering when do we start sowing again and what type should I try?

Early Spring under cloches, mid-Spring otherwise.
They say that the soil temp should be 40F.

Oh, & some folk sow early varieties as late as this - with protection. At our altitude it's not worth it.

I put some in a while ago, as none of the earlier sowings had germinated and I now have several rows of baby carrots under fleece!
;D

I'll be sowing some in the polytunnel during the next couple of weeks

Quote from: Merry Tiller on October 23, 2006, 07:07:06
I'll be sowing some in the polytunnel during the next couple of weeks

There's a thought...when do you expect them to be ready? I have space in my g'house.  :)

I'll be sowing on my windowsill this week for xmas carrots

I sowed mine about two weeks ago in the greenhouse border, first time so unsure when they will be ready.

Quote from: OliveOil on October 23, 2006, 12:35:52
I'll be sowing on my windowsill this week for xmas carrots

What variety can you sow for carrots by Christmas?

QuoteThere's a thought...when do you expect them to be ready? I have space in my g'house

Dunno, never tried before, bit of an experiment

Forgive a new member from jumping in here but I think I've heard that carrots are biennial in which case why do they need winter protection?  I was going to try sowing a row of those little 'ball type' ones at the weekend.  Will I be wasting my time unless I cover them with a cloche?

I find that the right time to sow carrots is when the soil is nice and warm, I test this out by sticking my finger into the soil and if it feels warm at my finger tip then the soil is ready for the seed. I always find this works. The only lost I have had was one year I had carrot fly, but I have worked that out now by earthing up around the young seedlings.

Its getting colder now but Christmas carrotts would be nice though. Could try sowing in the conservatory in a flower tub.

Personaly i think its a bit late for Xmas crop they should have been planted in August, then clotched this month. You need to plant a short rooted veriety. I think you may have germinatiom propblems this time of year

I've just sowed Nantes Frubund in my polytunnel for the first time - its supposed to withstand the cold over winter and poduce early carrots in spring. Here's hoping.

If you want to try carrots for Xmas this late it wil have to be a small one like Parmex or Early Nantes which are bred to be fast. Naturally Carrots will over winter and put up a flower stalk in the new year (the root is a storage organ and the core goes tough to support a flower stalk but we have largely bred those qualities out of commercial varieties)
???

Just thought i'd let you know, when I went to the garden centre today I manged to find carrots that are for Autumn sowing called Nantes Frubund so i'm quite excited now to get planting.....but where shall I put them....

After posting this Rhys I read your post..... I'll be planting mine next weekend now.