The Carrot Challenge - Grow carrots with me in 2016!!

[veggiechicken]

I have a cunning plan to grow carrots this year - based largely on the advice in http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hlight=carrots
Also, stealing an idea from Bigmallly's potato experiment

The plan is to sow a flower bucket of carrots every week from now until September with the aim of harvesting a bucket load of carrots a week I don't want to grow huge carrots - any size would make me happy! I'm aiming for a 12 week turnaround so 12 buckets will be on the go most of the time.
If a weekly bucket is too much, it could be done fortnightly, or monthly.

Since I have so many carrot seeds, I'm going to sow a different variety each week to see which performs best.
They'll be started in the GH and, as the weather improves, moved outdoors under netting.

Any other Nutters up for the Carrot Challenge?

[jackarmy]

Im growing some in pots VC but not one a week lol, unless i breed rabbits of course, hmmmmmm, veg and bunnies, what could i do with that ?

[lottie dolly]

I'll join you lass,if i can remember,are you using sifted soil,compost,sand or mix of any of them,so long as no stones in the mix,
PS peeps,what type of sand is used

[lottie dolly]

hmmmmmm, veg and bunnies, what could i do with that ?

JACK bunnies are some peeps pets young man

[noviceveggrower]

I could struggle with one a week in pots. Will join you with a fortnight challenge and try and try and squeeze in a week one if I can. Will start it as soon as I can get my tubs safely off the decking.

[veggiechicken]

I'm going to use sifted soil/compost. Think you can use builder's sand in the mix if you have any.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Yep! I'll be playing!

Not with your bucket "Jobby" But just to see if I can grow a decent Chuffin carrot!

Why do I not struggle with parsnips?

[Snadger]

VC.........have you got a carrot fetish?

[veggiechicken]

Just one of many, Snadger

[lottie dolly]

I can see a big mix coming up,thus having the buckets already prepped for use,will be quicker to do all at once,not forgetting to drill some drainage holes,was thinking,1 in the bottom,and about 5 a few inch up,the idea to retain some moisture,

[mothhawk]

I might give it a go (hope triumphing over experience as I've never yet produced a carrot more than 2" long), but once a fortnight - no room for 12 buckets. And it will have to wait till spring as I have no cold frame or GH.

How many seeds are you planning on sowing per bucket, VC?

[veggiechicken]

I can see a big mix coming up,thus having the buckets already prepped for use,will be quicker to do all at once,not forgetting to drill some drainage holes,was thinking,1 in the bottom,and about 5 a few inch up,the idea to retain some moisture,

I'll only prepare a couple of buckets at a time and only sow one a week. I have lots of holey buckets as I use them for tomatoes too.

[veggiechicken]

How many seeds are you planning on sowing per bucket, VC?

A sprinkle - about 2cms apart (so it says in my Big Chicken's book of Carrots)

[Small pumpkin]

I like that idea. I will see if I've got enough buckets. Will let you know tomorrow if I can join in

[Penellype]

I will certainly be growing carrots, but as they are one of my most important crops I will be sowing my usual 18 inch square pots. I might sow a few earlier ones in the small tall pots I used last year (16 seeds to a pot) if I can find room for them.

In the meantime I have a bucket of Nantes 2 in my friend's greenhouse, and a square pot of Marion at home, both sown in July, to hopefully keep me going when I have finished eating the spring sown crops of Nantes Frubund and Eskimo at home and the Nantes 2 and Autumn King I am currently harvesting at my friend's house. In some danger of carrot overload here .

I think 12 weeks is optimistic VC. I planted Nantes Frubund Fastcrop on 20th Feb last year. Here they are (bottom right in the 2 small green pots) on 9th April:



and here are 2 of the carrots on 19th June:



They will probably grow much faster when planted in March or April, but I usually find it takes a good 3 months to get small (finger width) carrots and 4 months to get any of a decent size.