Problem with my carrots and Lettuces

I have sown at least three batches of carrot and lettuce seed I did have a problem with the carrots last year as hardly got any but had two many lettuce plants now nothing seems to grow.I wondered is Multi Purpose compost suitable for planting seeds in.I have always used Multi Purpose compost.Any advice appreciated

 

Yes it should be.
Have you only tried only one type of seeds or one type of compost.
The peat free compost is not what it was, but you should be seeing at least something coming up.
Seedlings not getting eaten by something as soon as they show are they.

 

Temperature is sometimes a problem with lettuce. They prefer 12-18 deg C for germination. Carrots will require 15-25 deg C

 

I have two empty raised beds and want to put carrots in one and lettuce in the other.I have just bought a packet of carrot seeds and a packet of lettuce seed.I have two bags of Miracle Grow compost would it be ok to put one compost bag into each raised bed and plant the seeds into the beds.The problem now is the weather has suddenly got quite warm and the compost soon dries out so have to water three or four times a day.The raised beds are not empty but have the remains of last years compost plus some manure I put into them in October which has been well dug in.Sorry this was so long.

 

If it were mine, I would:
for carrots
a) Keep the Miracle compost for something else*.
b)Lightly work the surface with a 3 prong cultivator or hoe. Dampen if necessary.
c) Draw out a row and plant carrots thinly but widely (ie 12mm apart across 100mm)
d) Cover seeds barely and firm down. Keep damp and control slugs if you can(!)
e)Repeat in 28 days on adjacent row
for lettuce
Either plant a row sparingly and chop out to leave best seedlings at 150mm centres,
or grow to transplant; either in modules*,thin to singles or from a short row for transplanting.
Repeat at (fortnightly) intervals to suit your consumption.
Personally grow 4-5 varieties concurrently, to give variety salad/cos/iceberg/red oakleaf and pick outer leaves as ready .Lettuce often withstand this for 6-8 weeks before running to seed.

 

As it is quite hot now will go to the allotment early tomorrow morning and do what you suggested ie work up the suface in both beds and give them a good watering before planting the seeds hopefully will get some plants.Will let you what happens.

 

@Paul Blackburn
How are the new plantings? Did we succeed ?