daft questions

[raine]

hI,
I have 2 daft questions to start the day off with! Number 1: is your own compost classed as organic matter and does that mean I can't grow my carrots in it and number 2: when does early spring finish and late spring start (and so on!) Sorry- I said they were daft!

[blue-and-green]

Hi raine, i dont know the answers to your questions, but have you been buying and using organic vegetables that has been put in compost bin? if that matters? and i hope no meat, fish, dairy. my thoughts are since you are only classed as true organic you must be purely organic for 3 years, after say using the non-organic stuff previously.
I cant see why you cant grow your carrots in your own compost, but id add extra sand to it for success with carrots. pigletwillie wrote an essay on "the easy way with carrots" you may find useful tips there
As for the seasons, i guess you gotto use a calendar for when Spring starts and Summer starts, divide it in half and youll have Early and Late Spring, i guess its just a rough estimate you should be looking for, cause some days have been as hot as summer days lately, but been told we can still have frost in May.
Do you need to know this to read and do out of books?

[raine]

Sorry- I think I didn't explain why I'm worried about the compost-it's just that in my book it says that you shouldn't add any organic matter or manure to a carrot bed or they'll fork. I'm trying to grow carrots in a way suggested for parsnips i.e. create a deep, narrow hole and fill with compost because my soil is quite stoney. Trouble is, if i can't use compost because it's too rich I'm stuffed because my allotment soil resembles small boulders more than breadcrumbs (as recommended in another of my books!)

[TPeers]

Old potting compost! The stuff that is left over when you repot something and shake out the roots first!

If you use compost straight from the heap or fresh manure you will get forked roots yes, but something closer to pond soil - i.e. no nutrients, fertalizers, what-have-you is fine - the point here is to give the roots a clear run and make sure there are no stones, which can also cause forking.

Is it any wonder I have devils own deight in getting a good carrot!

Generally, sandy but moisture retentive loam is decribed as best for root crops - ha flippin' ha - I'm on clay! So for us poor **** the only answer is dib a hole, fill with something smooth and poor (Guinness?) and pray!

Good luck - the guinness may help if applied 'correctly'!

Terry

[jacob marley]

when you ask daft questions expect daft answers here is one late early spring starts when late winter finishes so therefore late spring starts when early spring finishes and when late spring finishes early summer starts i think ihad better go ican feel sleep approaching

[Nicos]

I'd leave the compost this year for the carrots( and yes- home-made will be organic!.
Doesn't really matter what time of Spring we are now in this year- just plant it and keep free from frosts. Then you'll be fine!
If you are in London- I'd just get on with it!!

[Norm]

Hi Raine. To answer your questions, yes your own compost is organic, no don't grow carrots in it, it's too rich and you'll end up with deformed orange things rather than carrots.
Your best bet if you're growing in a gravel pit is to grow carrots in MP compost, mixed 4 to 1 with a bit of sharp sand, in tubs or buckets (make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom)
As for the late/early question, early spring is the 28 days following the Spring Equinox and late spring is the 28 days before the Summer Salstice.
Hope this helps.

[chickenjane]

oh heck!

I thought that well rotted compost was ok for p'snips & carrots.It was fresh stuff & manure that causes forking.
as my soil is quite heavy & I wanted to get veggie patch up & running, I dug out our old compost heap ( at least 5 yrs old) seived it & built up a raised bed with it.limed gently.

Should I expect useless carrots & parsnips.The truth may hurt,bu there's still time to re-do it if it's a certain disaster.

[Nicos]

'Fraid so
Although you may be in for the prize in the funniest shaped veg competition!!
Have you a different area / tubs you can use instead??

[Norm]

It's such a shame Esther Rantzen doesn't do "That's Life" any more, we could ALL be famous!