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I cannot grow good carrots

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Laura (U9085143) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  Looking ahead to next Spring I would like to grow carrots well. My soil is acidic being usually wet and heavy (looks a bit like clay but hydrangeas are blue). How can I improve conditions so that carrots grow well. In the past I have tried to grow them in a large tub with lighter soil but even then they did not do well. Should welcome tips from those who know please.

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  Posted by rosie (U14839383) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  Looking ahead to next Spring I would like to grow carrots well. My soil is acidic being usually wet and heavy (looks a bit like clay but hydrangeas are blue). How can I improve conditions so that carrots grow well. In the past I have tried to grow them in a large tub with lighter soil but even then they did not do well. Should welcome tips from those who know please.   I had similar problems I use raised beds protects from carrot fly and veg compost expensive at first but had a really good year hope it helps

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  Posted by pastmemories (U2437829) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  This year for the first time I decided to try growing carrots in a builders bag. Soil was put in some old manure a couple or three of old growbags, with a little sand. Seeds were scattered around. The bag depth was organised so that the side was turned down to about 20" high soil about 12" deep.
  It proved to be the best I`ve ever had with results that the carrots were perfect. Easy to weed and water, You could never overwater because of the side drainage. Not a sign of carrot fly, the sides being higher than the carrots in almost all of the stages of growth. I finished up getting another bag going and this kept us in carrots for about three months.
  

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  Posted by kiocarp (U2370311) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  Hi Why dont you try growing them in drain pipes if you can get hold of some.All you do is cut the pipe to the size you want mine are 5ins cos this is the size of carrots I want if you want bigger cut bigger pipes then just fill with a multi puppose compost sith it if you want plant the seed 4 to a pipe thin out to the best 2 and you will have very good carrots with no carrot fly Last year I won best in show at our allotment show .I had been trying to grow them the same way as you but with no success so I tryed the above and not looked back since so if you want good carrots please try this way.

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  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  Hi there, carrots...CARROTS.....they give me nightmare they do!
  
  I have tried just sow and hope
  
  dig till the soil is like sand
  
  I went all out and did the bath and sand thing
  
  .....still no good
  
  so I tipped the sand and soil mix out on to a bed and gave up.
  
  But then I had a pack of carrots free on thr front of a paper....we all buy them at some time.
  
  They went on the sand/soil mix and was so nice...not to big just right I think.
  
  So just give up and see what happens...sorry this is no help...but now you know your not on your own.
  
  Whatsthemarrow...

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 26th October 2011

  I have the same problem, been trying for a couple of years now to grow carrots, if there was a prize for best in show foilage I'd win top spot but nothing seems to happen underground. I was going to try something similar to the drain pipe idea next year but use pop bottles by cutting off the top and bottom then filling with compost and sowing seeds on top.
  
  I'd welcome any idea's as to how to grow them succesfully

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  Posted by mini-ha-ha (U3232053) on Thursday, 27th October 2011

  Me too! Once, just once, a couple of years ago I planted a row that were gorgeous and delicious but I've been unable to do it again. I've tried all different types in various places and planted them at different times in spring, covered and uncovered but I end up with the most mis-shapen, small, disappointing things you've ever seen, apart from the foliage, which is great.
  
  Ah well, I live in hope.

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  Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Thursday, 27th October 2011

  Been trying to grow the Chantrell one I got from the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s dig in last year and have failed utterly. Not sure if the birds eat the seeds before they germinate or if I got a bad batch. I think I have had one ONE that was bigger than my index finger's nail. They were planted in a portable raised be.

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  Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Friday, 28th October 2011

  The top foliage is caused by too much nitrogen in your soil I suspect.
  I grow carrots every year and I always have success (not due to skill but by following some simple rules)
  
  I grow them in large tubs which have a mix of multipurpose compost plus some soil from my allotment. I make sure that I sift all the stones out of it. I think it`s important to have some soil in the mix because they will do nothing in pure compost except put on top growth.
  I also add some fish blood and bone early on in the year before I sow. This helps the microbes in the soil do their thing and make the soil more balanced.
  I dont add anything else to the soil but do foliar feed some seaweed emulsion every few weeks.
  Also, dont sow too early. They will just sit there and do nothing in cold wet soil. They also need to be kept moist when seedlings. If they dry out you will probably lose them.
  
  PJ
  

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Laura (U9085143) on Friday, 28th October 2011

  Thankyou all for your advice - especially the very detailed reply from PJ. I will not give up and intend to try again next year. Laura

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  Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Saturday, 29th October 2011

  Good luck Laura
  
  PJ

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  Posted by horththit (U13862695) on Sunday, 30th October 2011

  Hi Swedboy, try using seed on a tape from Lidl. I used them this year and got 100% success. Even got some late ones growing for Xmas. I have a raised bed too, 3ft high and mixed a load of sand into the compost, they love sand. None were split or misshapen. I used Early Nantes, and every single one of them germinated. Using them again next year together with a late variety. They were divine!

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  Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Sunday, 30th October 2011

  Thanks for the tip. You just mean normal tape that you glue the seeds on?

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  Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Monday, 31st October 2011

  No.
  
  The seed tapes come with the seeds already attached. You unravel them in a drill and then cover as normal. The seeds are spaced out equally and its a good way to ensure that you dont have to thin them out (which will attract root fly)
  They are more expensive than seeds but the Lidl ones will be quite cheap I suspect.
  
  PJ

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  Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Monday, 31st October 2011

  I see. I'll look out for it next year.

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  Posted by Community Class (U15021849) on Thursday, 3rd November 2011

  water them well

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  Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Friday, 4th November 2011

  "Water them well" is a little bit vague for me. What I would say is, keep them evenly moist after sowing and in the seedling stage.
  Try to avoid them drying out when growing as a sudden downpour will probably cause them to split.
  
  PJ

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• Message 18

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  Posted by diggingdoris (U13981971) on Saturday, 19th November 2011

  I gave up trying in the veg patch but took the tip of sowing them in a trough, just enough to have for Xmas dinner! I keep the trough up on the staging in the GH so no problem with carrot fly. I always choose a variety of the little stubby ones as the depth of the trough is about 6in.
  The family couldn't stop talking about the fantastic flavour, so I do it every year.

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