carrot seedlings - show yourselves!

[Iamhanuman]

I am wondering how long before carrot seedlings start showing their weeny heads above the soil.
is it really 2 to 3 weeks?
i planted paris market (the freebies from the GYO feb edition) in a container inside on 28th feb, i stare at the soil until i'm cross-eyed every day
can you still my growing feeling of paranoia?

many thanks!!

[Marthaclematis]

I sowed mine on 20th Feb - outside in a tub in the sunny side with glass over the top - and they haven't sprouted yet. I wouldn't worry if I were you, it hasn't been that long. I reckon you're given them the best chance and they will be very healthy. I hope mine come through.... I've been a bit harsh but I heard they don't like to be transplanted so I thought I'd put them where they're gonna stay.

[Iamhanuman]

I've been a bit harsh but I heard they don't like to be transplanted so I thought I'd put them where they're gonna stay.

i'd heard that too. the container is their final resting place, unless you count the saucepan and our tummies later on all being well

i guess i'll just have to keep waiting and watching!!!

[Eyren]

Most members of the carrot family are slow to germinate - if anything, carrots are a good bit faster than, say, parsnips or parsley.

I sowed my Paris Market carrots on 15th Feb - I didn't note the exact germination date, but they were definitely all up by 28th Feb. I would say they take about 10 days if you sow them indoors - and it's only been about a week, so they should come up very soon!

[lynda66]

sowed some in loo rolls indoors in my cold kitchen on 20th feb, they are currently about 1/2 an inch tall

[gojiberry]

Carrots can be a bit slow to germinate. You need to be careful with the watering as they can rot before they germinate if they are waterlogged. I usually water at sowing time and then try not to water again till they are up.

Ian

[shirlthegirl43]

Watch out for slugs and snails too - they seem to smell the seedlings even before they are through. I have lost loads of carrots before I ever saw them coz the slimers have noshed them

[zazen999]

Keep watching and they will take even more time to come up. If you haven't got Slug protection, as Shirl says, they will be munched as soon as they appear.

[TonyF]

Patience is also needed when gardening.

[Herbie]

I did mine in a trough, but kept them indoors until they had germinated. I think it was February. I moved them into cold greenhouse and they are now in the coldframe. Will take a piccy later. They did take a while to germinate but are going great guns now. Really pleased as this is the first time I have had a result with carrots. Hoping to try some outdoors now.

[Iamhanuman]

thanks all
mine are in a very large pot in the conservatory. i have watered them every day but not too much. i wonder whether i should lay off for a while until it dries out a tad.
no danger from slugs inside hopefully!

[snohare]

On the 16th of February I made up two transparent pots of water gel, sowed one with Amsterdam 3 Sprint and another with Nantes 2 Early.
I left them both on the windowsill, the Nantes 2 seem to have just started sprouting while the Amsterdam Sprints are at the same stage but about half seem to have developed mould.
I'm just about to sow the sprouted ones in a tiny blob of gel into a bucket of compost, and will shove that out into a cold frame.
To be honest I wasn't wanting to use these seeds, I just wanted to see if they were still viable after using the packets last year, so if they all die at least I will still know the germination rate !

[Herbie]

Piccy of my carrots. Thanks Zazen999 for posting instructions, hope I have got it right this time Its only taken me an hour

May even need to thin these!

[Iamhanuman]

Wow thanks Herbie
so 7 weeks growth and I can expect that little bunch of blighters can I?
Here's hoping.
I will try and take a similar pic!

and then of course work out how to post it!!

[Iamhanuman]

well what would you know?????????/
after that!!!
last night i saw two seedlings poking their heads above the soil!!!