[GAZBEE]

Talking Carrots,I want to grow Carrots that grow straight, I have sifted my earth to get rid of stones but I have heard it is best to mix the soil with sand.  Which type of sand do I use, builders,sharp,silver or is there any other type. I am looking forward to seeing both my Parsnips and Carrots growing as they should.

[The Golden Heap]

I used building sand and play pit sand last year, my carrots were great, m plot neighbours told me not to bother with carrots! Beginners luck maybe, a few odd shapes and forks but generally long tasty carrots.

[Kleftiwallah]

Ask yourself why carrots bend.   

They bend to deveate? round stones and grow too fast when there is a sufeit? of food.  So the answer is to ensure the soil is fine (but not so fine so it congeals) and try and get the water to the bottom so the carrots have to streach to reach it.

I'll blame any spelling mishtakes on the Gin.

Cheers,   Tony.

[Chrysalis]

Your carrots drink Gin ?  :blink:
or is it just their spelling that's odd? 

[compostqueen]

I grew some lovely carrots in home made compost and builders sand (my husband left it lying about  )  They grew well despite there being no soil at all    I think finer sand is probably best but I used what I had

[green jack]

i'v put some in the greenhouse but not grown any at all, but i riddled where they were going and put building sand in and some pot ash after being riddled and churned over.
who knows, i don't 

[Benandbill]

I think it's meant to be 'sharp' sand.  You can get it in B&Q and probably other places.

I haven't had much joy with carrots.  How far apart do you space the seeds when sowing directly?  Do you sprinkle randomly then thin out or do you think perhaps it would be better to make sure each seed is spaced about a centimetre or an inch apart?

[lottieheaven]

the only luck Ive had with carrotts are when Ive planted them in MPC in a container......but the amount of carrotts we eat the yield is too small to be practical......mind you I did pull the remainder of my container carrots and to eat in January and they were lovely.

I'll continue with container grown for now

[Ivor Backache]

I have never used sand. Just riddle your soil to get the lumps out. What about the soil from mole heaps?

[Jake]

I went to bovingon market on Saturday and you could get a massive bag of carrots for £3 and a massive net of onions for £2. I'm still going to try carrots as I've never grown them well but the price of those carrots at the market! They must be easy...so long as you get the conditions right.

[DD.]

Did they come with any taste, though?

[Jake]

Did they come with any taste, though?

I didn't buy any, I did buy the onions though, not tried them yet as we always have loads of them.