Your comments and tips

29 Jan 10, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)

I tried Adam's idea of the timber on top of the seed bed as I could not for the life of me get germination. Brilliant, within a week the first seed is through and they are all looking good. I would not have believed it but it got rid of the issue of the bed drying out too quick nad has given me good germination. Thanks to Adam, Cheers, Chris

Reply or Post a new comment

23 Jan 10, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)

Can I use worm tea on carrots?

Reply or Post a new comment

19 Jan 10, Adrian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

A packet of carrot seed has about 2000 seeds. Not all of them are going to germinate, but to make sure enough do I form three 3cm wide furrows in loamy soil about two metres long, 1.5cm deep and 25cm apart. I mix the seed thoroughly into a bucket of well mulched porous loam and carefull spread the mix into the furrows, ensuring that the seed is sufficiently covered with good soil that will not cake and will retain moisture without being soaked. I lightly press in the soil with a rake and keep that moist with a light spray of water twice per day. Seeds come up in 7-10 days and the carrots are always superb within 3 months. This is fail proof. And don't fertilise.

Reply or Post a new comment

11 Nov 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Meeghan, Carrots and parsnips will take about 3/4 weeks before you see anything above ground. Carrots look a bit like blades of grass when they start. Tom, there's probably too much fertiliser in your soil. See the comment from Skip (02/11)

Reply or Post a new comment

11 Nov 09, tom (Australia - temperate climate)

Carrots seemed to grow well but after 3 months we find that some of them have split vertically down the side to the core of the carrot. They are quite stumpy - fat and short. Thanks Tom

Reply or Post a new comment

10 Nov 09, adam synnott (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I just watched a certain gardening show on a certain government station. They were planting carrots, and beetroot, in 10cm deep furrows, and then backfilling. Seemed a little insane to me. Has anybody had any success with this method?.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Nov 09, adam synnott (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

My carrots grow best in a bed where something else has grown the previous year. I DON'T fertilize carrots, because as soon as they find a little bit of nitrogen, they fork, and they're really hard to clean. I sprinkle the seed and press it into the wet soil. I then put some old palings on top, and don't check them for a few days.After four days or so, I check to see if they're popping up. As soon as a few of them have popped up. I lift the boards, and put them on little blocks of something, to be about 1-2 inches off the ground. This protects the small carrot plants from the sun, and helps to keep the moisture in a bit. After a week or so, they are big enough to take the boards away, and voila, they should grow pretty well. Just thin them out after a couple of months, so you have some baby carrots for salads/steaming/whatever, and the others will grow to beautiful fat vegies. Chantenay are my faves, they just seem to have a sweeter more robust taste. Don't forget to water during summer.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Nov 09, Skip (Australia - temperate climate)

Previously had planted both seeds and seedlings with terrible results - roots were curved and woody - Yuk! Almost gave up. Found out my high nitrogen soil (horse manure) has a negative affect. Used old veggie boxes (thick waxed cardboard) to create a raised bed and filled with 60% landscape sand and potting mix. Planted seeds in August and have not fed them at all and the carrots are lovely 4-5 inches, straight and very sweet. Go figure!

Reply or Post a new comment

03 Oct 09, meeghan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

have never planted anything before and would like to know how long it takes for carrotts and parsnips to come up?

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Sep 09, Jodie (Australia - temperate climate)

Carrots do not like excess nitorgen. This will cause them to fork or grow stumpy. Don't fertilise with Dynamic lifter. We planted carrots and they grew very well but you do need to leave them for about 3 months to grow sufficiently. Carrots grow best from seed. If you buy seedlings and then transplant you are disturbing the roots which are the part that grows to form the carrot.

Reply or Post a new comment