Esther Rantzen root vegetables

[Fee]

Hello all
I'm a complete novice to veggy growing, having some successes and a few failures! I'd be mega grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction for the following:
1) Brussels sprouts are all opened up - how do you stop this happening?
2) Carrots and parsnips have all forked into weird shapes under the ground
3) Purple sprouting brocolli looks very strong and healthy but no sign of any brocolli whatsoever! Help!
Just to show I'm not a complete doughnut, I have had some lovely new potatoes and green beans.
All help from veteran growers greatly appreciated.

[gandii]

hi
can help you with the forked carrots and parsnips.This is because your ground has manure or to much veg matter in it.idealy root crops grow best and straightest in sandy soil or soil that has not previously been manured .hope this helps

[dragonz]

brocoli takes a long time to grow, you should have some in the spring I think

[Fee]

Many thanks for the advice - I will know next year! Carrots are still edible - they just take some peeling!

[Geordie]

carrots

Hi,

Just to add a little, ground manured this year should be ok next year. Try making a raised bed or ridge using a mix of sand and soil and then planting carrots on that.

Only other thing is to remember to grow a carrot of appropriate size to depth of soil you are using. You can use pots, large drainage pipes etc if you need to artificially create the right growing medium.

Thanks