two years back

[Ken the Chef]

I have just got back to a veggie plot after many years. Too many.
As a lad at school we had gardening lessons which when I think back have put me in a good position now as the old grey cell have started working overtime.
Last year I set up three raised beds 9 by 3 and 5" deep. I had some good results ;some not so good. The sweetcorn was fantastic, getting about three corns per plant. Parsnips were a disaster as none germinated, my onions did ok but not that good. The tomatoes in pots were blighted.
This year I raised the beds to nearly 15" and added some more organic loam.
The sweetcorn was very disappointing while the tomatoes in B&Q Buckets did exceptionally well as I have had a glut and now have about 15/20 pots of tomato chutney in various guises. my onions have been a success. Mange tout, beans, beetroot and kale have been good too.
Next year I plan to devote a whole bed to carrots and roots,
This is the question! What can I add to the bed now that will promote a good season without causing the carrots to fork or disfigure. I know not to ad manure but can I ad the contents of this year’s pots? I have already emptied a compost bin onto the bed and partially dug it in.
Can I dig in some leaf mould?
Any other info welcome

[sweetiepea]

Hi Ken.

There are lots of experts here that will be able to advise you better, but personally I don't add anything to the bed I intend to use for roots. Having said that I do rotate my beds and plant roots into last years legum (Pea/bean) bed. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil and the roots love it. If next years bed is empty now why not sow some green manure for the winter as this will add nitrogen to your soil?

[Ken the Chef]

Hi Sweetiepea
I want to bring the level of the bed up to get a better depth of soil. The carrots did not have enogh depth this year.
I was hoping that ordinary compost, some soil from this years tubs, and maybe some leaf mould might be ok. The bed I had the carrots in this year will get a generous top up of old manure [9 month old and black] before I get some garlic and onion sets in.
All advise wil be taken on board!

[weekendwellies]

Hi and welcome.
I am afraid I am still learning too so I am in no position to offer advice, but someone will be along soon who can I am sure.
They are all celebrating the imminent arrival of 2 baby grapes, so spelling/typing may not be all it usually is, lol.

[coreopsis]

I'm not an expert but I'm going to have a raised bed with carrots as well.I must say I had a look at Vegmandan diary(the guy from huge onions)-he had some big carrots either.
Your mixture sounds ok to me but add some sand to it to improve the drainage-carrots send the roots down looking for the moisture.I'm going to have some sieved topsoil,sand and compost but no manure.
Root veg-depends on which ones,carrots prefer no manure,beetroots love it,same with celeriacs.
I never had much luck with beets,I'm going to put some more effort in ground preparation.As for carrots-they were fine although short(ground not deep enough-hence raised bed for them)and carrot fly infested(easier to put enviromesh onto raised bed)
Good luck with your raised carrot bed,hope you'll get plenty of them,nice,straight and carrot fly-free

[Two_Sheds]

I want to bring the level of the bed up to get a better depth of soil. The carrots did not have enogh depth this year.

Either deepen the bed, or grow a shorter variety.


My sandy coastal soil is perfect for carrots, but they were all addled by carrot fly this year (the wind kept blowing the mesh off, despite it being pegged down well)

[Ken the Chef]

I concidered going down the short carrot root but decided a good depth of soil would be a long term better bet.
If Beets like manue; I will have to find something to grow in with carrots; any suggestions?

[Two_Sheds]

parsnips with carrots

[Ken the Chef]

I have tried Parsnipe for two years without any success' they fail to germinate, I even tried chitting. I did however manage to get about 6 to germinate from 30 or so in a deep flower tub from TESCO and that is it! I even complained to Sutton seeds but they only replace a packet and 6 out of 30 is not so good. Or is it?

[Two_Sheds]

Ken, use your Search button to find wicked ways with parsnips. Here's one to get you started: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ips_17568.html

[maytreefrannie]

I have tried Parsnipe for two years without any success' they fail to germinate, I even tried chitting. I did however manage to get about 6 to germinate from 30 or so in a deep flower tub from TESCO and that is it! I even complained to Sutton seeds but they only replace a packet and 6 out of 30 is not so good. Or is it?

This year, I tried 4 times with two different types of seed and got not even one germinating.

Then a local garden centre recommended a type called Avon Resister, I sowed those quite late and they are now all up - plants 1 to 2 inches high.

I don't know what flavour is like with Avon Resister but I can happily recommend them for getting going.

[annacruachan]

The time-honoured companion for carrots is spring onions; the carrot 'perfume', so delectable to the carrot root fly, is said to be disguised by the stronger smell of the onions.
It is also possible to harvest the onions gradually and sow more in the same place without disturbing your carrots.
The round carrot Parmex has a lovely flavour, though a bit more of a faff to prepare than the long 'uns, and is also resistant to crf up to a point.
Parsnips are notorious for their failure to germinate, I'm afraid! I have just nine from a whole packet of seed this year!!!

[ginger ninger]

I plant garlic with mine, and spring onion's, it's already been said the strong smell confuses the carrot fly, I also sow them very thinly that way I don't have to thin them out (the carrots).