Query re onions, garlic & weeds

[emily84]

hi guys!

right so this is a 3 part question re the pics attached.

the 1st two things are growing in my carrot row, i suspect neither of them are carrots but wanted to check before i dig them up! So question 1 - are these weeds?

Question 2 - are onions meant to be that, well, floppy?! The greenery on them is thin and cannot support itself, is that normal? They are red barons by the way.

Question 3 - i read that garlic is ready when the greenery dies back, is that right? If so, does it mean like mine are ie going a bit yellow, or does it mean totally yellow and dying?

Once again, a potentially very stupid list of questions, but thanks in advance for any assistance!

Emily

[shirlthegirl43]

first and second pic - neither are carrots
your onions and garlic look absolutely fine, the leaves do start to flop over and turn yellow at this time of year.

[emily84]

Shirley,

Thanks for the quick reply! I had a feeling they wouldnt be, carrots don't seem to want to grow in my soil, been trying since early spring! I shall dig the invadors up now and I think my carrot row will be abandoned for something else!

Phew for the onions and garlic!

[binley100]

your Garlic needs to go yellower than it is and the leaves start dying before its ready to dig up. You could have a furtle around to see how big the bulbs are.

[shirlthegirl43]

Don't give up on carrots yet - you are probably losing them to slugs

[Two_Sheds]

Don't give up on carrots yet - you are probably losing them to slugs

and possibly to capping soil.
Carrots can't germinate on my soil, because the cap (crust) is too hard. What I do is sow into a wet drill, then top with MPC, which is softer. It works.

[OllieMartin]

and possibly to capping soil.
Carrots can't germinate on my soil, because the cap (crust) is too hard. What I do is sow into a wet drill, then top with MPC, which is softer. It works.

Same, my first sowing didn't germinate because darling mother used the soil she'd dug out of the drill to back-fill over the seeds. After a re-sowing like TS mentions they're doing fine now.

[binley100]

It's taken us about three attempts to get a row of carrots to germinate.......probably get there tomorrow and find they've been eaten by something.

[Nykied]

I sowed one lot of carrots (about 24 seeds in all I think), two of them germinated/grew but when I pulled them up, there was nothing underneath. They'd been underground for about 2 months when I dug them up, as I'd decided to give up on them.

I resowed more in a pot and all of them germinated (apart from the ones the blackbirds dug up!). I blame my soil.

[Florence Fennel]

I usually have great success with carrots, but this year they don't seem to be germinating, or the slugs are getting them. I'll still perservere, I love carrots! Your garlic and onions look really healthy, don't pull them yet!

[rustylady]

First two pictures - neither of them are carrots, pull them out. Your onions and garlic look fine.

[zazen999]

I got a great germination from my first sowing of carrots.

It helps when you drop the pot of mixed carrot seeds on the floor in the bed you've just prepared....there must be thousands in there.

Ah well, gave it a good rake, and mulched with sawdust and they are nearly like grass now.

Must remember not to be so clumsy

[NewbieGardenerRow]

and possibly to capping soil.
Carrots can't germinate on my soil, because the cap (crust) is too hard. What I do is sow into a wet drill, then top with MPC, which is softer. It works.

Worked for me too.I've just been out and spotted shoots and I only planted the seeds about 10 days ago (if that)

[King Carrot]

I got a great germination from my first sowing of carrots.

It helps when you drop the pot of mixed carrot seeds on the floor in the bed you've just prepared....there must be thousands in there.

Ah well, gave it a good rake, and mulched with sawdust and they are nearly like grass now.

Must remember not to be so clumsy

Sawdust will take an awful lot out of the soil as it breaks down - it's really high in carbon and will use a load of nitrogen to decompose - might be ok if you are planning to take the mulch away but I wouldn't dig it in if it was me - could really upset the soil for years

[maypril]

Sawdust will take an awful lot out of the soil as it breaks down - it's really high in carbon and will use a load of nitrogen to decompose

Hi King Carrot, you sound like an expert in such matters. The nitrogen which is used to decompose the carbon, is it taken from the air or from the soil?