Carrots.

Hello again good people.
Last year, I tried to grow carrots but they didn't take at all. This year I tried again and have healthy leaves but the carrots are tiny ball like things. Did I do wrong? Or should I leave them to develop? It seems late in the year but I'm new to this. Thank you. Russ.

 

Hi Russ, I'm not sure if many of us have had a good year with carrots.
I have left mine in the hope theyll magically sprout big enough to do something with other than salad

 

Thank you. So it's not just me then! He he.

 

I try carrots every year, but they always seem to be terrible, never seem to develop and the leaves and stem just seem weak. I might try them in big pots next year instead.

 

i tried carrots in pots this year but my seeds did not even germinate, i think i WIN! lol :(

 

What variety were they Russ?

 

I don't quite understand this growing veg lark as my Carrots have been fantastic this year. The only thing I did do was covered the ground with a cloche before sowing to heat the soil a bit and then kept the cloche in situ until well into May by which time there was plenty of growth. Living in Scotland I'd have thought what I did was just about equal to those living in the South growing conditions wise if you get my drift. The soil had been fairly heavily manured (new veg patch and short of topsoil) which resulted in some of the Carrot (Nantes early variety) growing more than 1 root which I knew would happen but apart from that they have been the best I've ever grown.I even managed to avoid them being attacked by Carrot root fly, why? god knows and our season hasn't been great. So so until July which was bloodsome being cold and wet, August a little better but not much. Weather last season was much better and same variety of Carrot, grown in similar location were pathetic, no idea why!

 

It's been a disaster for my veg. Tomatoes all suffered from blight, lettuce munched to bits and just enough peas for 2 dinners.
Freddy, carrots were early scarlet horn. Cheers.

 

Ok, I just wanted to make sure that they aren't a round variety, which they aren't.
Yours obviously haven't developed properly. One thing I think is important with Carrrots is that they get off to a good start. So, a reasonably warm soil, and sufficient watering. Being a tap root, they like to grow unhindered by solid ground or obstructions. Early thinning also helps. Some folks say (with regards to watering) that once they get going, they don't water in the belief that this will encourage them to search for water, and therefore grow down (lengthen). I have no words of wisdom on this point, I just made sure that the bed was always watered well, and my Carrots were always ok.
Hope this helps

 

Thanks, Freddy. Appreciate your advise. These were in a raised bed and on reflection, there probably isn't enough depth to the soil before it turns to clay. I did loosen it well and mixed with compost rescued from dad's balcony that was quite stony. We spend a lot of time away and rely on an automatic watering system so not ideal really. Another lesson learned for next year. Thank you again.