Carrots and sedge peat

[Pies]

Hi all.This is my first year down on the allotment.My plot was neglected for years.I'm planing for next year and would like to improve the soil where the carrots and parsnips will go would I be ok to add some sedge peat to the soil,its clay.Id rather not add sand and was wondering if sedge peat is okay.

TIA

[rustylady]

Any organic material will improve your clay, Home-made compost, leafmould, horsepoo if you can get it. Where do you intend to get the peat from?

[Pies]

I thought manure + carrots was a big nono

[rustylady]

Sorry, I was thinking more of long term improvement. Best not to use fresh manure before sowing any root crops apparently. Not sure why!

[Two_Sheds]

Carrots and parsnip don't need improved soil at all. They actually prefer a poorer, sandy soil

[rustylady]

Carrots and parsnip don't need improved soil at all. They actually prefer a poorer, sandy soil

Yes, but not clay - which will need opening up with either sand or compost.

[Pies]

Sedge peat is whats in most growbags,from what ive read its low on nutrients

[Snadger]

What you could do, just prior to sowing is put the spade in to its full depth ease it back and forth and do this all the way along the proposed row so that you have a vee shaped trench. Fill this with a sand /peat mix, or peat alone if you prefer, then sow carrots along the centre.
This would give your carrots a head start and enable you to grow them in a clay soil!

[zazen999]

Why don't you want to add sand?

[Pies]

Why don't you want to add sand?

I've got loads of the peat