Carrots

[Garden_girlie21]

I sowed some carrot seeds in pots earlier in hte year, and at the weekend, I realsied they needed more space, so instead of separating them all like i did the last lot (disasterous, when people tell you not to transplant carrots, it's good to listen!! I tried to be clever, and it failed. LOL) I planted all of the small pots in one big pot without separating the individual plants, and mulched with gravel for a change. The idea is that as they grow, they will push each other apart, and I just need to watch them grow and water sometimes.

What I want to know, will the gravel help to deter carrot fly?? I'm hoping so, and is it ok for my to mulch with gravel??

Many thanks,

Jennifer

[Cutecumber]

Gravel probably won't make any difference but if your carrots are in a large pot they may not be affected. I grow all mine in containers and I don't get carrot fly damage.

Can I ask why are you sowing in small pots and transplanting? Root veg really needs to be sown where it is to grow to maturity or its growth will be compromised.

[gojiberry]

I have some carrots in pots and I am thinning as required and using the thinnings in the kitchen. Don't always get a mealfull but can be chopped and put into salads (tops as well). The idea being that eventually I will end up with a pot full of fully grown carrots.

Ian

[Garden_girlie21]

I don't really know why I was sowing in small pots and then transplanting. I only did this with one batch, and about 3 have survived. I think it was because I had no space available, and I thought I could sow them in pots and then plant them out when I had space. Ah well, it's a lesson learned.

Thanks for the advice re pots etc!!

Jennifer

[Chillimad]

I have some carrots in pots and I am thinning as required and using the thinnings in the kitchen. Don't always get a mealfull but can be chopped and put into salads (tops as well). The idea being that eventually I will end up with a pot full of fully grown carrots.

Ian

I am growing my carrots in Morrisons flower buckets,, about 20 seedling to a pot, will this be ok, or should I use bigger pots ?, sorry to crash in on a thread but seemed pointless opening another post

[Two_Sheds]

Think about how big a carrot is, and think about how big your container is, ie 6 inches + deep, and at least an inch wide, each.

[Chillimad]

Think about how big a carrot is, and think about how big your container is, ie 6 inches + deep, and at least an inch wide, each.

So do you think 20 in a 10" wide bucket is ok ?

[rustylady]

Why are you all growing carrots in pots? Do you not have any garden or lottie?

[Chillimad]

Why are you all growing carrots in pots? Do you not have any garden or lottie?

Nope Very small garden and no chance of a lottie in the foreseable future

[Garden_girlie21]

I had first carrots in pots because the ground wasn't ready yet, and I was desperate to sow seeds (its so addicting!). Now I've got carrots growing in gutters to slide into the ground.

Jennifer

[TrulyGreen]

I'm sorry to crash this thread too, but have a carrot question so pointless to start another. I sewed Nantes carrots in a raised bed end of March and they are looking healthy with lots of greenery.....a row of spring onions either side to defeat the carrot fly. My question is when do I know they are ready to be pulled up? Haven't a clue what is going on below and hope below is as good as on top. I haven't thinned them out. I tried to sew thinly and they don't look too crowded.... Like all my Newbie comrads I can't wait to pull one out and have a peek...

[SMS6]

if you just look close to the soil and shift it a little you should find the top of the carrot, that should help you decide if they're big enough to eat as baby carrot. Then just take out a few along the rows and this thins them out making room for the others to grow bigger still

[Demeter]

Why are you all growing carrots in pots? Do you not have any garden or lottie?

The ones we sowed direct all got scoffed by slugs. So the only ones to survive are ones we grew in modules / seed trays and transplanted, some into the ground and some in containers (troughs a foot deep - because the open ground is a bit lumpy and we wanted a back-up plan). Still attempting some direct sowing but not holding our breath...

The transplants all look healthy as far as you can tell from the top - although obviously we've no idea what's going on underneath

[Cutecumber]

I grow 'em in pots because I have to use the available soil space for other things - things which can't be grown in pots!

[snohare]

I grew a lot more than twenty in a florist's bucket last year, and they did fine enough - I didn't get very big ones, more like (largish) baby carrots, but they lasted fine enough, liked the company, and were a dawdle to net against the carrot fly. I basically forgot about them once they were in and netted !
But growing them in guttering - damn, that's clever, why didn't I think of that ? - oh, that'll be why !