[Sweet Pea 2]

I have read that  Carrots shouldn't be put in a place where manure has been put on recently.  So what do you use instead to enrich the soil? Is shop bought compost OK?
What else is good to put in the same area?

[lucywil]

i read somewhere that the poorer the soil the better for carrots, they like it really sandy.

[CHRISDONOHUE]

What they mean is that you should put carrots in soil well-manured soil the year before you sow them.   Fresh manure makes them fork in order to reach the better soil created by the manure.    If you don't mind forked carrots - after all they taste as good as straight carrots - you can ignore the advice.   The growth will be better in well-manured soil than in nutrient-depleted soil.   The best soil for carrots is said to be light, sandy soil but they do very well in fairly heavy clay soil.

[mumofstig]

As you obviously haven't manured your bed..don't panic! ..... add blood fish and bone (or Growmore) to supply the nutrients for this year. Add your manure to the rest of the plot where you are not growing root crops, then the carrots will be ok next year when you rotate them round the plot

[Sweet Pea 2]

OK I will get some blood fish and bone for that section.  I have manured some of my plot but not all of it, just haven't had time.  What is the latest you can add manure before you seed it? I mean for non carrot sections.

[sunshineband]

I've used compost made from ritted down turf, about 6 years old for carrots & parsnips... d'you think they'll need feeding with BF&B or similar? Or will they be OK?

[MOLUSC]

i have an area about 2.5m by 1.5m put aside for carrots and parsnips.
I have mixed plenty of compost with the soil  (2x 75L bags) and added 3 bags of sharp sand (about £1.20 each a bag from wicks)

[Pep]

but they do very well in fairly heavy clay soil.

Thank goodness for that.  Our soil is fairly heavy and I set some two weeks ago when it looked like spring was well and truly on its way.  I've set varieties bought in UK and out here, as well as onions, which are in the same bed.

Last night we had a minus 2 frost.  Do you think I'll lose them?

I'm totally new to veggie growing - does it show? 

Pauline

[DD.]

I don't add anything to the soil where I'm growing root veg. Here's some of my results...

[mumofstig]

WOW what a whopper of a parsnip
I'm well impressed

[DD.]

16" long, 17" round - 4 lbs 5 ozs!

[Sharonx]

Blimmey DD they look fab. What variety were they? I have brought some Autumn King and Resistafly seeds for carrots and can't remember the name of the parsnips.
Do you have better success with different seed types than others or do you get good results with any type?

[lucywil]

16" long, 17" round - 4 lbs 5 ozs!

Good to see you back DD

[DD.]

Carrots are Autumn King, think the parsnip was Javelin F1, but I tend to get what ever's going. Doesn't seem to matter.

And thanks, Lucy!

[philskin]

nice to have you back DD