Carrots

[Camsdad]

I'm about to ask an embarrasing question, for me that is. I'm a COMPLETE novice at this veg growing malarky. Until now I've just been a shrub type person, straight from the garden centre to the garden,if they grow great,if not hey ho.

OK, so to the question when planting carrot seeds, do they yeild one carrot per seed or do they yeild a bunch?

Camsdad

[Hazel at the Hill]

It's one carrot per seed. Hope they do well for you - I'm plagued with carrot fly with mine, so I'd suggest you keep them covered with fleece to protect them.

[Gwen11ian]

I did my carrots in pots, and had no trouble with carrot fly. But I did plant them very carefully so I wouldn't have to thin (the carrot fly is attracted to the smell from the crushed plants). Hanging baskets or window boxes (on a window) would be ideal, just make sure they're deep enough for the type of carrot you're growing.

Have a search on the forum, or get some gardening books out of the library.. there is lots of information out there.

[Lazgaot]

I noticed a variety of carrot the other day, Resistafly! Check out the T&M site for details. Could be an idea to try if you have a big problem with carrot root fly.

[BarleySugar]

I have heard that it's best to plant the resistant carrots with some ordinary, then the flies go for the 'ordinary', and ignore the others. Otherwise they will still attack, although maybe not so much. No experience though so if anyone else has, then please let us know if this is the case.

[Snadger]

I tried carrot fly resistant carrots, and guess what??? The carrot fly got em!
Enviromesh is the way to go........expensive but worth its weight in gold if you want to grow carrots!

[spudstacker]

I bought 3 packetsof carrots last year. The slugs got all of one packet. This I mixed with sharp sand and threw in a long thin wooden container in september and I have had no end of carrots from them. I moved them in the greenhouse when the wild rabbits started to take a fancy to the tops and I am pleased to say I am still eating them, although they are smaller now, but still taste really sweet. Try container growing them is my advise. Good luck.

[bobleponge]

1 carrot per seed as has been said, grow them in as fine a soil as you can get, the lighter and sandier the better.
Carrot fly resistant carrot???? I'm not sure one has been invented yet. Enviromesh definately if you have them in your area.
I grow predominantly in containers, in 3 parts sand 1 part soil, and have the containers placed in and around my leeks. My neighbours here do this as they are convinced that the smell of the leeks disguises the smell of the carrot.

[Matt.]

Try planting carrots in buckets or tubs and then placing them higher like on the lid of a compost bid. This limits the exposure to carrot fly that stays close to the ground. Also like has been posted it allows you to make the perfect sandy growing medium - especially good if you have heavy clay soil. Don't forget to water though as they will obviously dry out very quickly.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow mine in buckets stood on a garden bench, don't get many to a bucket but up to yet (fingers crossed) they haven't suffered from carrot fly.

[scarey55]

I always grow mine very close to onions and/or garlic. I try and plant the carrot seeds very carefully so that I don't have to thin them too much and when I disturb them I always pick some onion leaf and rub it between my fingers and drop it around where I've been. This has worked so far (touch wood) but I don't know if I've just been lucky.

[Sanjo]

I also grew mine last year with a border of onions and had no trouble. I am still harvesting them from the ground although they come in looking a bit the worse for wear!! OK for soups and stews after they have been given the once over with my trusty knife. This year I also intend to add garlic to the border. OH will hate it Ha ha!!

[Nicos]

So..you've never grown them before???

Well..you are in for a FANTASTIC experience!!!!!

The flavour is nothing like wot y've EVER had before!

Oh...and welcome to the Vine!!!!