A carrot question......

[Vicki123]

Hi there,

I planted some carrot seeds around four weeks ago. They are in a large 2 metre trug.

There's no sign of life........ should there be?

Thanks

[Creemteez]

Hi Vicki,
I would have thought that there should be some sort of show by now, but it depends on many things. Is the soil damp - not dry or wet. What growing medium are the seeds in? Compost will generally give you a better start than most ordinary soils. What's you weather like? If you've had it warm and dry like us or is it still quite chilly where you are?
I would give them a few more days before giving up on them and resowing. Try increasing humidity by covering the trug with polythene held above the soil with wire hoops.
Finally. make sure that the trug is deep enough for the variety of carrot you've sown, otherwise all your efforts will end in forked and stunted freaks!

[Vicki123]

Hi Vicki,
I would have thought that there should be some sort of show by now, but it depends on many things. Is the soil damp - not dry or wet. What growing medium are the seeds in? Compost will generally give you a better start than most ordinary soils. What's you weather like? If you've had it warm and dry like us or is it still quite chilly where you are?
I would give them a few more days before giving up on them and resowing. Try increasing humidity by covering the trug with polythene held above the soil with wire hoops.
Finally. make sure that the trug is deep enough for the variety of carrot you've sown, otherwise all your efforts will end in forked and stunted freaks!

Thanks for the advice
The trug is 2 metres long and 18" deep. The weather here has been rather chilly, but is now warming up. I've not removed the seeds from the trug, but have started some more in the greenhouse.

[Jeanied]

Carrots are a tricky seed to germinate as they are quite sensitive to heat. Below 10 degrees they don't co-operate - but if it gets too hot they slow down as well.

[solway cropper]

Just a thought, but how deep did you sow them? They only need a light covering of soil/compost

[CaroltheCarrot]

I covered mine with a cloche and they were up within ten days, up here in freezin Fife, they are in a raised bed.
Maybe worth sowing some more, why have you got them in your greenhouse may I ask?

[Vicki123]

Morning,
I put them in the greenhouse as they prefer warm soil.......
Maybe I planted those in the trug too deep.
It's looking like I may have to start again perhaps.....

[Lotsaveg]

Were they fresh seeds? I tried sowing some seed left over from last year and nothing germinated.

[Vicki123]

Were they fresh seeds? I tried sowing some seed left over from last year and nothing germinated.

Well, I assume so..... I had just bought them.....

[Two_Sheds]

Were they fresh seeds? I tried sowing some seed left over from last year and nothing germinated.

I'm sowing carrot seed that's 3 or 4 years old, it's fine

Slugs will eat carrot seedlings as soon as they appear - you never even see them and might assume the seeds didn't germinate

[Lotsaveg]

I'm sowing carrot seed that's 3 or 4 years old, it's fine

Slugs will eat carrot seedlings as soon as they appear - you never even see them and might assume the seeds didn't germinate

Do you keep your spare seeds in a fridge? I stick mine in an old biscuit tin and keep them in the greenhouse so they probably roast each summer!!

[Two_Sheds]

No, I keep them in a concertina file in the kitchen

[JamesM]

My carrots showed no sign of popping up after 2-3 weeks so I bunged a load more in. They did this kast year and i ended up with loads of great carrots right through until late Novmeber so don't worry about it. On the plus side you get about 4000 seeds per pack so if it's not working there's plenty of scope to just keep sowing

[Jono]

Mine took a good three weeks to come up, in toilet rolls in a cold frame, and its a really mild climate here.

Welcome to the Vine.

[Florence Fennel]

They may still pop up, but as TS says, sometimes the slugs get them before you've even seen them!