Your comments and tips

11 Apr 17, Ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Being a root vegetable, carrots don't need much nitrogen so if you are using chemical fertiliser use one with a low 'N' number in the N:P:K. If you are growing naturally plant them in an area that has been manured for a leaf crop and also grown a fruiting crop such as beans or tomatoes. This would give you a friable soil with reduced nitrogen.

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10 Apr 17, Al Fry (Australia - temperate climate)

Some say cover carrot seed with old carpet etc to help germination. Is this correct.

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11 Apr 17, Jonno (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

This is correct. Carrot seed is very fine and can dry out easily. This is critical when the new plants are germinating as a hot or windy day can dehydrate the emerging seedlings causing them to die. The carpet will keep the soil damp. People also use old sacks and sometimes boards. Check them each day and remove when the seedlings have emerged. If you also have trouble with ants sprinkle pepper along the row after you have sown the seedlings to keep them away.

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03 Apr 17, Catherine (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Thank you. My soil is very free draining and deep as it is on a hill and has sands with it. I will plant next season's carrots where this season's peas were.

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28 Mar 17, Kate (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

I sow carrots every year but since living near the sea most of my biggest carrots split. I can make soup of the split carrots as they are tender but that is all. I do not put them in manured areas although I generally have grown a green crop in the winter and have it well dug in before I sow. Should I save an area from the green crop?

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30 Mar 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

Splitting carrots in fruit and vegetables is generally an indicator of too much water suddenly. The skin of the fruit or vegetable that is affected can't handle the increase in water intake and will split. I have seen tomatoes, carrots, apricots, capsicums and oranges affected. In your location extra rainfall can't be controlled so ensure that drainage is good. Fresh manure causes forked and twisted roots as the decomposers working on the manure can damage the growing root tip causing it to fork. A leaf crop followed by a fruit crop (beans, tomatoes, etc) then a root crop is a good rule of thumb to follow.

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15 Mar 17, Joel (Australia - temperate climate)

Tip: Carrots are best grown in sandy soil and work best in pots

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06 Feb 17, mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)

tried to grow carrots for 2 seasons now i doen take off. carrots only size of my small finger as the biggest of the crop.how can i fix it?

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07 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

There are a number of reasons why your carrots are small. Carrots like deep friable (loose and fine) soil so if it is only shallow try and dig it deeper and break it up. They also do not like too much nitrogen in the soil. If you have a lot of fresh manure they will grow big tops and small carrots. If your soil is shallow and has clay close to the surface plant the round varieties and eat them when they are golf ball size. Maybe they are not getting enough water. I suggest you think about all these things and also make sure to plant the right variety for the time of year. I'm sorry I can't help you more but trust these suggestions help. All the best for your next crop!

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01 Dec 16, Elizabeth (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I have grown carrots successfully for years but my latest crop of young carrots are all white!!!! why

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