Levitating Carrots

[roitelet]

Can anyone tell me why my carrots persist in growing upwards. I have got to the point where to stop the tops going green I have had to earth them up so they look more like the potato ridges. I have managed to keep the carrot fly off with netting. The soil is clay of the brick making type abd I have added sand to try and lighten it. This does mean that I can actually get the carrots out of the ground without using a pneumatic drill. Help pleassssssssssssse

[nick the grief]

I guess the soil is just too hard for the root to penetrate. All of the root veg like a deep light soil so if you've got clay it trying it's best but just pushing it'self out of the ground.

There's nothing wrong with earthing them up as you've done, next year try digging a trench out a spade deep or more & filling it with compost from the bin or leaf mould, that will give them a better root run.

[roitelet]

Thanks Nick I will give it a try. Wot more trenching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marg Norman]

My father grows carrots commerically and he always mounds the rows before seeding. I have tried it in my garden and it works a treat! Carrots won't grow down into hard soil.

[leona]

ive given up trying to grow them outside. my soil is practically sand but the germination is terrible so i just grow them in pots in the greenhouse.

[roitelet]

Thanks MN Perhaps I will try the mounding technique it sounds easier than trenching! Could be a use for all those mole hills

[Alice]

Hello Leona, don't think I've seen you posting for a while. Been on holiday ? You're right. Carrots can be fikey. This year I have grown Parmex and Nantes Early in pots, tubs, crates and anything that will contain (outside) and they have been just great. I have some late sowings on the go and will move them into the greenhouse when the toms etc are finished and the weather is cold. Hopefully that way I will get some winter crops.