carrots in guttering

[tootles]

Can carrots be grown in guttering like peas? Every time I sow them in the ground something will eat the seedlings almost before they get their true leaves. I wondered whether they (I) would benefit from a better start in the greenhouse and could be transplanted when bigger and stronger.
Grateful for any advice.
Tx

[peanut]

Not sure about guttering, beacuse of the depth, but I've grown some in pots and they're coming on fine in the unheated greenhouse.

[Cutecumber]

Guttering is not suitable for carrots.

Their first root - which becomes the one you eat - needs much more depth or you will end up with tiny stumpy or forked roots.

You need to sow direct and cover them with fleece or enviromesh or cloches.

[zazen999]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rots_4983.html

PW's easy way with carrots - enjoy.

[skybluepink]

Hi
I am afraid i have to beg to differ, i find the guttering method works well for me especially with chantenay red cored and is the only way that i can grow carotts at all due to the evil slugs in my garden.
I sow in the greenhouse in guttering which not only makes sowing easier but i generally sow my first ones in Feb and get a nice early crop. However i have found have found that the knack is to transplant at the right time, generally i find after the first true leaves develop and before they put on much root growth and water the guttering well before you pour (!) the carrots into the planting position. How ever i must say i do not grow exhibition carrots but tend to eat them when they are little and sweet cos thats the way the kids like them so it works for me.

good luck

[Cutecumber]

However i have found have found that the knack is to transplant at the right time,

Exactly - it's not something to recommend to a beginner, and you won't get big autumn maincrops doing it like this. If it works for you then that's great.

[Snadger]

The reason why guttering is used for peas is because the roots form a tight mat and are easy to push out of the guttering into there final position. For carrots, the last thing you want is a tight mat of roots I would think?
You could probably grow some of the round carrots to fruition in guttering but I would imagine you would need to water at least twice a day in the middle of summer!

[skybluepink]

Um.......pre watering the the baby carrots before you transplant mean they kind of aqua plane there way out of the guttering with no damage to roots and then i grow them on outside as per usual outdoors i.e i dont let them mature in gutter. Yes it is a bit of extra faffing about and i am only aiming for the small carrots , my soils too stony for big ones BUT for the first time ever in my many years of gardening i cropped carrots form June to December ... cant be bad:-)

[radioactive]

well I have sown all sorts in the guttering I have knocking about.
I have done some today in fact
including ;- peas, dwarf beans, courgettes and beetroot done in the greenhouse and a mini polytunnel over them as well

[Aberdeenplotter]

The worlds longest carrot(and also longest parsnip) were grown horizontally in gutters by a guy called Bernard Lavery. Approaching 30ft long if I remember correctly. I think the poor soul is now dead .

[Florence Fennel]

I sow directly into the ground and this year I'm not going to faff about thinning too much. Advice on another thread is that the carrots push against each other and reach a decent size anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

the carrots push against each other and reach a decent size anyway.

They do, although you may get some funny shapes as they merge with each other