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

[Ger-annie-um]

My grandaughter has just sown a black flower bucket of Nantes and challenged me to sow a bucket of James Scarlet............god help me if mine are better than hers - she's 9 and very scarey

[SusieG]

Can I start next weekend, please??!!
Just checked through seed packets and have plenty of carrots to start ...

[veggiechicken]

Welcome on board the Carrot Nutter's bus, Susie

[Neilbaldwyn]

Is the challenge bucket specific? I've got plenty of space down the lotty and in the polytunnel but not much in the way of buckets!

I've got about 6 different varieties to get me started, including some afghan purple from the HSL I'm keen to try.

[veggiechicken]

There are no rules, Neil, we make them up as we go along
Stagger your sowings and let us know how you get on!!

[Penellype]

Sowed 16 seeds of Nantes Frubund Fastcrop in a pot indoors, covered with a plastic bag to keep the moisture in and put in the spare bedroom where it is quite warm. I did the same thing 2 days earlier last year but had to put them outside in very early March due to nowhere light enough to put them. This year I have some taller grow lights so I am hoping to keep them indoors a bit longer.

[Martin H]

There are no rules, Neil, we make them up as we go along
Stagger your sowings and let us know how you get on!!

In that case, I'm in too!

I made my first sowing on 18th Feb in a bucket in the cold greenhouse. No sign of germination yet. I won't sow the next lot until these ones have come through.

[marcofez]

I'd like to have a go at this challenge. Will have to wait till March and will only be fortnightly.

[bramble]

Didnt get to sow my carrots today as I had decided ,as the car is off the road and Imnever got to s garden centre to buy some carrot seeds. I will catch up soon.

[Gillykat]

I'll start mine on March 1st as I don't get paid until Friday Will have a browse in Wilko or online and see if there's any other varieties that catch my eye.

[veggiechicken]

Sowed my first bucket today, in Jack's Magic compost.

Amsterdam 3 (Sprint). "Unbeatable for baby carrots"
This was the only variety in my seed stash that could be sown in January - and through to July. May try it for a late sowing too.

[jackarmy]

I'll start mine on March 1st as I don't get paid until Friday Will have a browse in Wilko or online and see if there's any other varieties that catch my eye.

Cant think of a better day to start anything tbh Gillycat

[vixylix]

My seed packets say to sow from March - do I need to wait until after the last frost?

[Martin H]

No, they can cope with the odd cold night. But they won't germinate in cold wet soil so if you're growing in cold clay soil like me you should wait a few weeks yet. I've done some in a bucket in the greenhouse though, they will be warm enough there in compost even though there's some frosty nights forecast for the next week.

[Shadylane]

I'm determined to get carrots this year. The last few years the slugs always get them so I'm sowing some in the ground at our sluggy plot under enviromesh, some at out slightly less sluggy and less heavy soiled, but slightly stony plot under fleece, some at home in half a dustbin in the greenhouse and seeing as you lot are, I might get some flower buckets on the go too. If I can't get at least a meals worth this way I may as well give up.

I'm gonna get the kids at school growing some as well. Will start earlier this year, as they were puny last year. They were still ridiculously excited about finding them in the soil though. Dread to think what their parents thought when they took them home.