Your comments and tips

20 May 11, John Bee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Brenda, without checking with mixture it’s very hard to diagnose the problem. However I can offer a few maybe’s in the absence of physically looking at everything. Firstly the problem definitely appears to be with the mixture or something you are doing rather than the plants themselves. They are all cool weather crops so temperature is not an issue. If the mixture was “young”, i.e. not fully composted then it could be a simple nutrient “tie up” of the 5 in 1 (presume that’s a fertiliser in this case) by the mixture which means that if you let it be for a while and turn it over a few times it will come good and be suitable for later use. Secondly if the mixture is not inherently well drained you could well be over watering (you said daily). Take a handful of the mixture an hour after watering and give it a good squeeze. If water drips out easily then you are over watering. However, if the mixture handful just falls apart easily when you open your hand then maybe you are not watering enough as you only say watering and not “good watering”. I hope this helps… John Bee, Master Gardener.

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04 May 11, Brenda (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted carrot seedlings 3 mmonths ago in new organic soil mixed with a little 5 in 1 and they havnt grown look healthy just no growth same with my broccoli, cauli, leeks and baby beets. What have I done wrong they are in full sun and water daily.

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30 May 11, (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Brenda, The first problem is seedlings. Carrots (and parsnips) are one of very few plants that do not grow well from seedlings and any processional grower would agree. If they were in the seed trays for more than a couple of weeks then they will struggle as the tap root wants to grow downwards and can't in a tray. Buy some seed and try again. I promise you will have better luck. Make sure your soil is friable and stone free before sowing the seed in a row and then thinning the seedlings out (once they are 10cm tall) to about 2" or 5cm. Daniel

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26 Oct 14, J. de Viana (Australia - temperate climate)

You spray the Carrots with kerosene when they are 50mm tall . All the weeds die and the carrots grow. Kerosene is volatile and disappears. It is ridiculous to suggest that there will be kerosene in the carrots after several months. The original amount of kerosene was minuscule!

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11 Apr 11, Donna (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted carrots a couple of weeks ago and they have germinated successfully and started to sprout, however, I have a few that are too close together. Rather than pull any out, is it possible to wait until they get to a certain size and then transplant them to a different area of my garden (as if they were a seedling). And if so, at what stage can I do that (ie. when they are how many centimetres tall)?

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14 Jul 15, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi I too have just discovered that my carrots are too close. I got them as seedlings, I thought they were single as I planted but no. I have heaps of foliage but I dug one up to check and found there were 3 close together and only about a couple of inches. I suspect the others to be the same. I planted them end of June. This is my first time growing veggies. I have health issues and do not work. I pray that all the money I have spent and energy isn't in vain. I have broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries and Papaya growing. The only one that seems to be doing well without problems is the broccoli. Plenty of foliage am waiting for the flowers. I bought good garden soil. Please help me are my carrots done for?

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06 Jul 15, Ron (Australia - temperate climate)

Suggestions are that you CUT off the one you don't want, DO NOT disturb others around it.

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14 Apr 11, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)

From what i have read you will end up with forked roots if you move them, just eat the whole thing in a salad when they are young and tender!

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10 Apr 11, Corinne (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a question: I've been growing carrots quite successfully but the last crop was eaten by something. I came out one morning to find the tops wilted and falling over. When I touched a plant I discovered it had been eaten from under the soil. Any ideas as to what that may have been?

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05 Jun 11, Joe (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Dear Corrine, A little unsure but led to believe the culprit maybe cutworm, it is hard to find. Check your local nursey or agricultural supplier for a chemical remedy. Hope this helps.

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