Best carrot growing conditions?

[coreopsis]

Managed to sort out one of the raised beds at the weekend.OH needede the space occupied by compost bin so tipped the compost into the bed and threw a tiny bed of BFB. Awaiting the results later in the year- either will get some awesome big chunky fat carrots or forked out monsters.
I'm aware that carrots don't like freshly manured soil as it's too rich. I just wanted to add a bit extra as planted some onions on the edges.

What are your perfect carrot growing conditions?

[Snadger]

Managed to sort out one of the raised beds at the weekend.OH needede the space occupied by compost bin so tipped the compost into the bed and threw a tiny bed of BFB. Awaiting the results later in the year- either will get some awesome big chunky fat carrots or forked out monsters.
I'm aware that carrots don't like freshly manured soil as it's too rich. I just wanted to add a bit extra as planted some onions on the edges.

What are your perfect carrot growing conditions?

Sandy loam seems to be the way to go.

[Jay22]

I have no idea as I have never been able to grow a single carrot in my life!

[Bren In Pots]

Carrots I sow in the garden never seem to do well, so I started growing them in buckets using spent compost and that seems to work better for me.

[Penellype]

I grow mine in container in used compost with bfb added. They hate being too dry but also don't like being waterlogged. They also need sowing thinly otherwise they don't have space to grow and you get a lot of little ones. In my experience the thing that makes them fork is stones or lumpy soil/compost, so I always sieve the compost for carrots.

[burnie]

Last year I had loads, this year none, will have to sow again in the covered raised bed.

[jacob]

This year I'm experimenting with growing them in planters, which are themselves embedded in the soil. My problem has been that no matter how much I water the soil can get very hard in the summer and the carrots don't like it The hope is that with my own soil mix in the pots (and lots of holes in the bottom) I've got a better medium without them feeling constricted.

This could be crazy.

[Welsh76]

I'm not that bothered about growing things below ground (me and the kids like the aesthetics of watching the actual crops grow) bit I picked up a pack of seeds (Early Nantes) at the end of last year for just 3p from Tesco and I just chucked them in a container full of compost and they seem to be coming along nicely so far.

I've not done anything technical, just literally chucked them in the tub and let them do their own thing. I wouldn't have lost any sleep if nothing happened, but they seem keen to grow.