Soil and feed for carrots - advice please

[Snadger]

I grew some Autumn King and some Chantenay carrots in buckets - planted in seived garden soil back in July. These were thoroughly enjoyed with Christmas dinner.

The question is, can I plant more carrots in the same soil? They are 10litre flower buckets and only grew about 8 carrots in each bucket. The garden soil is lovely loam which has grown nothing but nettle and bramble for at least 10 years previous to the carrots.

Should I add some type of feed or just throw the used soil back on the garden and try to dig and seive some 'fresh' to sow seeds in the greenhouse now for an early crop?

Why don't you try half and half ie use new soil on some and beef up the old soil on others? That way you'll be able to come on the vine next year and educate us all!

[shirlthegirl43]

Why don't you try half and half ie use new soil on some and beef up the old soil on others? That way you'll be able to come on the vine next year and educate us all!

Now that is a good idea! Might try that thanks Snadger

[Matt.]

Thanks for the advice everyone - one plant per tube is definitely the way forward!

am I right in thinking carrots are better with sand mixing into the compost?

I would say yes. Last year almost all of my carrots were forked and I think it was because the soil was too heavy. This year I'm definitly going to try incorpoarating sand as well as seiving the soil.

[Cutecumber]

Do remember that the other reason for forking may be growing them in tubes in the first place. It happened to me.