Should I fleece it?

[Likac66]

So... last weekend, after some lovely sunny days, I planted some carrot, radish and turnip seeds on the allotment. They are covered with a plastic cloche tunnel. The temperatures are set to drop below freezing this week. I'm going up to the allotment later - is it worth taking any fleece up with me? I am assuming nothing will have germinated yet, so if the seeds are still under ground and they have the cloche over them, will the fleece make any difference?

Presumably, if there are any green flashes already (I highly doubt it), I should cover them with fleece under the cloche for double protection?

Thanks for any advice.

[Two_Sheds]

Your carrots are unlikely to germinate, in cold wet winter soil. Sorry.
Fleecing now won't warm the soil up: you'd have been better to warm the soil before sowing, by leaving the plastic cloche on the soil during a couple of weeks sunshine, or waited until April (like I have to). Carrots need warmth

[SarzWix]

I'd be inclined to take it along, just in case. 2 layers of protection can provide a big increase in frost protection. Not the end of the world if they don't come up/ survive though, plenty of time to re-sow

[Likac66]

I did put the cloche down first to warm the soil. I know they might not germinate this early but the seeds are plentiful so if I have to sow again next month so be it.

[sammy_roser]

Good luck!

I knew nothing about growing carrots so when my early nantes seed kit told me to plant in February I did just that! Never mind though I've still go plenty of seeds left.

[Two_Sheds]

my early nantes seed kit told me to plant in February

I don't understand why they do that (they do, I know).

"carrot may germinate at low temperatures but ...a soil temperature of at least 10 ºC is ...recommended"
Carrot Growing - In depth guide to growing carrots

[Alison]

I sow some early carrots in my polytunnel every year in mid March (will be doing it in the next few days) and get a nice early crop every year before the outdoor ones are doing anything much. I'm not sure how well it would work under just a cloche but its definitely viable in a full sized tunnel so all may well not be lost and as everybody says, the seeds were pretty cheap and plentiful anyway.

[VirginVegGrower]

I sowed some under a cloche in the polytunnel in February. They are through, but no way would I sow on the plot until we have some decent weather.

[WendyC]

I don't understand why they do that (they do, I know).

"carrot may germinate at low temperatures but ...a soil temperature of at least 10 ºC is ...recommended"
Carrot Growing - In depth guide to growing carrots

Or if it doesn't feel cold to a bare bum! Personally I don't try this at the allotment but invested in a soil thermometer. The back of the hand is quite a good thermometer too.

[rita1]

i have also sown some carrots as the packet said March, i have put a glass cover on top of the tub, fingers cross that they will pop up, if not i will try again in April.

[kathyd]

Hi Likac. I planted a few seeds in the tunnel recently - mainly salads I think, but also some carrots (following packet instructions like you!), and half a dozen remaining beetroot. I'm still fleecing the seeds even in the tunnel, using 2 layers AND a layer of bubbewrap when it gets really cold! No, there's not much poking through yet, just a few brave lettuces and plenty of weeds (how come they're so much stronger??), but I live in hope! It's not as if I needed the space for anything else at the moment, and it's fun to try things out isn't it .

[Two_Sheds]

plenty of weeds (how come they're so much stronger??)

Because they've adapted to the conditions they grow in: they are ideally suited to the space you find them in, whereas your plants (veggies) are not