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dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45487
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 11:46 am Post subject:
make sure the bed is free of stones ,deep and not compacted. the only time i have had good carrots the soil was sandy loam, quite unfed and very fluffy,all my other attempts have been a zero or very funny veg.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 12:12 pm Post subject:
Can't grow them in the ground where I am, too clayey and dense. They grow very well in barrels filled with a loose compost (or spent growbags in my case).

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 12:21 pm Post subject:
We grew brilliant carrots one year in tubs filled with a compost & sand mixture. I reckon growing them in the ground is a hiding to nothing in most gardens. It's possible that Chez has all her garden soil worked to a fine tilth with the stones removed though.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 12:36 pm Post subject:
But the results can be quite funny in a smutty way.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 12:59 pm Post subject:
Nothing like genital-shaped carrots to brighten up a family meal. The soil is quite light and sandy. And I have worked it quite finely. I'm not bad at this, I've just never put much thought in to it before, just stolen stuff from Ma

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45487
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 1:00 pm Post subject:
a fine tactic with carrots

gardening-girl

Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 3:20 pm Post subject:
We grow ours in barrels/tubs up high.Trying to avoid carrot root fly.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 15 8:05 pm Post subject:

I have grown really good carrots in the ground by digging out a shallow trench and filling it with last years tomato compost/growbags. Then you have to water them EVERY day until the are strong-ish seedlings and cover then with fleece over a support (I use underfloor heating pipe) to keep the carrot fly out. I've never managed any winter carrots, but had loads of lovely baby ones. A but of a faff, but worth it. One of my top vegetables - right up there with asparagus, peas and new potatoes for growing yourself to have fresh.

I've also got some in one of those self watering windowbox things in the greenhouse this year. Not many in the beds, because of an increased cat population in the current garden.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15592

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 15 6:05 am Post subject:
Mine have failed completely this year. I might have another go perhaps.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 15 3:19 pm Post subject:

I always grow a few carrots in a box, which is placed about 3ft up on an old tank this keeps the carrot fly at bay as they are only said to fly below 18ins, I have never had fly with this method so it is probably true! 'They what knows' also advocate planting carrots in rows but between onions which puts the carrot fly off, I have never tried this but have had carrot fly in a carrot bed years ago -about 40- and have grown my carrots 'up in the air' ever since.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 15 4:17 pm Post subject:
I've sown mine between the onions. I was going to stick some fleece over the next lot to keep them out.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15592

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 15 7:16 am Post subject:
Would it be an advantage to sow them between the rows of leeks?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 15 8:16 am Post subject:
All my books say that you don't need to fleece after the beginning of June, as carrot flu isn't active then. I've never tried it, as I grow in have same patch each year harvesting in strips and resowing as I go. The real key for me is watering every day until they look like sturdy little seedlings.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 15 10:25 am Post subject:
Not a bad thing to try MR., but leeks are not as smelly as onions, though more protective, and that protective cover available for a longer period.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15592

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 15 7:42 am Post subject:
Thanks for that Gregotyn. Not sure whether to try in the same bed as I have been unsuccessfully trying for root vegetables, or to try in the leek bed. I will decide, but need to get some sown now.

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