carrots!

[Suky]

Next year I am determined to grow some decent carrots and more than just a handful. Not for showing, just for the kitchen
I am about to put up a new raised bed in a recently cleared patch and it will be about 3ft x 6ft and about 1 ft deep. (it recently held a posh bath delivered to my neighbours)
I know carrots need a light soil with no lumps etc so what do I add to the soil that is under it at present? I have: sieved compost, growbags from tomatoes, horticultural sand and some topsoil can be stolen from another bed. Shall I just mix it all together or what.
I have never successfully grown more than a few carrots and never in the ground. I have seed for Romance f1 and Chantenay Red Cored 2 to hand but would take advice on other varieties.

[chris]

I grew Autumn King - and they were massive.

I also grew Purple Haze and Early Nantes in pots, with compost and sand mixed together - they were pretty good too. The AK's I just bunged in the ground and left them to it, really surprised at how large they grew.

Pic on this post: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...12-post40.html

[denise]

I have clay soil in the back garden, so even with the raised beds I don't think carrots would do well. Thinking of growing carrot next year in pots - the questions I have are 1)what size pots to use 2)what to growing medium to put in them?

[Snadger]

Just mix in loads of concreting/sharp sand!

I have a bed one metre by five metres permanently covered with enviromesh and this allows me to grow enough carrots to be self sufficient for most of the year.

[Suky]

That's what I wanted Basically chuck it all in with sand and mix well, leave to rest until spring then add seeds and enviromesh
If you grow in the same bed do you feed the soil each year and if so, with what?

[Snadger]

That's what I wanted Basically chuck it all in with sand and mix well, leave to rest until spring then add seeds and enviromesh
If you grow in the same bed do you feed the soil each year and if so, with what?

I have two beds of a similar size next to each other. This year and last year I grew carrots in the same one and mixed veg in the other. Next year I will swap and nourish soil accordingly! No nourishment required for carrots!

[zazen999]

Plus, and nobody believes me - it is possibly to grow carrots in clay....just trip over whilst prepping the bed before you've done much, watch in dismay as half your carrot seeds fall onto the bed, swear in Bobleponge fashion, sigh, rake the seeds over and cover with mesh.

8 weeks later, fantastic straight carrots. Job done.

[coreopsis]

Plus, and nobody believes me - it is possibly to grow carrots in clay....just trip over whilst prepping the bed before you've done much, watch in dismay as half your carrot seeds fall onto the bed, swear in Bobleponge fashion, sigh, rake the seeds over and cover with mesh.

8 weeks later, fantastic straight carrots. Job done.

Tee,hee,thanks for the tip

[hailtryfan]

Plus, and nobody believes me - it is possibly to grow carrots in clay....just trip over whilst prepping the bed before you've done much, watch in dismay as half your carrot seeds fall onto the bed, swear in Bobleponge fashion, sigh, rake the seeds over and cover with mesh.

8 weeks later, fantastic straight carrots. Job done.

I am blessed with heavy clay soil and the carrots love it! Never had any problems so am a bit puzzled why everyone always makes such a fuss about soil prep for them.

[OllieMartin]

Plus, and nobody believes me - it is possibly to grow carrots in clay....just trip over whilst prepping the bed before you've done much, watch in dismay as half your carrot seeds fall onto the bed, swear in Bobleponge fashion, sigh, rake the seeds over and cover with mesh.

8 weeks later, fantastic straight carrots. Job done.

Is the tripping over necassary? I could manage a stubbed toe or a grazed knuckle if that would do.

[coreopsis]

Is the tripping over necassary? I could manage a stubbed toe or a grazed knuckle if that would do.

I could do some swearing no probs but...can it be my style or Bobleponge is a must?