Carrot bed

[emarisa28]

Am thinking about making a permanent carrot bed... Has anyone done this, is it ok as long as I top it up with fresh compost or manure at the end of the year/season?
As they are so problematic it just seems the easiest way?

[nickdub]

Only problem I can see is you might get a build up of either pests or diseases - if you can keep clear of these you should be fine.

[roitelet]

Have you thought of growing them in pots. I do because I can get the right sort of sandy compost and they are easier to protect from carrot fly.

[Snoop Puss]

I'm not sure I'd do it, as carrots are so appealing to carrot fly and other pests that live in the soil. That said, in my method I simply move them along to the beds next door, so to speak, so not that far for pests to travel. I guess you could try it and then as soon as pests start to become a problem, move them the following year.

Would you be planning on having carrots in the same bed all year round (overwintering Autumn King for example)? If you were, the likelihood of pests is probably significantly higher.

[Small pumpkin]

I have a permanent carrot raised bed ( well it's a bath actually ).
It works brilliantly. Don't put manure on your carrot bed they (and other root vegetables) don't like it. I just top up with a fresh bag of MPC.

[mrmauy]

I have a permanent carrot raised bed ( well it's a bath actually ).
.

This is exactly what I'm doing on the plot for my carrot bed, although rather than just topping up I had planned to remove and replace at least 50% of an MPC/sand mix each year.

[emarisa28]

I have a permanent carrot raised bed ( well it's a bath actually ).
It works brilliantly. Don't put manure on your carrot bed they (and other root vegetables) don't like it. I just top up with a fresh bag of MPC.

Great.. Just what I was hoping to hear! Understand the points re pests, but my thinking would be to chuck out some of the soil each year and top up with MPC from used pots and leaf mould......
I would cover with mesh for carrot fly
If that fails then I give up with carrots!