Carrots

[sammylou]

I have 2 packets of carrots (Early Nantes and Nantes Frubund) and both say they can be sown in February. Now I have a bed ready to have something planted in it and it has been a lovely warm day today but it was only 2 weeks ago that we had 2ft of snow

So should I bung some in the ground (and then pray for lots of nice sunny weather) or leave them for a while?

And before anyone suggests it I'm not sitting on the ground with no pants on - my neighbours already think I'm nuts, if I did that they would be calling the men in white coats

Cheers Sam

[zazen999]

I succession sow - I put some in an old deep polystyrene box last night but if they don't come up, I'll sow a few more in a few weeks.

I'm assuming you are somewhere in the UK as you said pants and snow...if you pop your location into your profile, it will help when answering stuff like this.

[FionaH]

You planning on transplanting them Zazen or are they big boxes?

[sammylou]

That was a quick reply. I've put my location in.

[Norm]

Which area do you live in? Darn sarf, you may get away with it, but up here in the frozen north, we're usually a good few weeks behind weather wise.
The other thing is, early sowings are best done under a cloche which has been in place for a couple of weeks to let the soil warm a bit.

[tamsin]

I've some frubund I sowed in pots in a plastic greenhouse in November. Just this week they are getting their second leaves. Might do better if you cover them otherwise might be a bit chilly to germinate, bound to snow as soon as you sow um

[Marthaclematis]

I've put some seeds in a tub outside with clingfilm and a sheet of glass over the top. South facing sheltered corner. I've still got loads of seeds left. I suppose I can keep them in the fridge till next year.

[sammylou]

A couple of you have mentioned pots - do you intend to prick them out and transplant them? I thought that you couldn't transplant carrots?

Thanks for all the replies by the way!

[zazen999]

You planning on transplanting them Zazen or are they big boxes?

The carrots will stay in the box but the leeks [depending on how many germinate] will be carefully put into the lottie when about pencil tall, unless the proportions look right in which case they will be left in the box and harvested once the carrots are long gone [and in our tummies].

[thatshallot]

I sowed Early Nantes 2 in mid Jan in a trough in a plastic greenhouse. They've just started to poke their heads up today.

[Eyren]

There's usually loads of seeds in a packet of carrots - if you want to have a go, why not sow just a few and cover them with fleece or fizzy drinks bottles (with the bottoms cut off)? Worst thing happens, they don't come up and you can have another go in a few weeks...