[Christine]

I've managed most of the ways in the book this year.

1. Late frost knock back
2. Too hot
3. Suddenly too dry due to heat wave despite daily watering
4. Shaded by tall plants
5. Swift Moth
6. Too wet
7. Carrot Fly despite planting next to onions

Anyone got any other suggestions as to what I have done wrong this year. Usually I can manage carrots with not too much bother. Hmm.

Anyone know of what else I can do wrong with the remaining couple of tubs? But I have had a few that have succeeded.

[Christine]

Spacing - yes that can go on my list. Manure and stones in tubs possibly not 

[penninehillbilly]

I hoed between the rows, watered, looked good, forgot to put the stones back on the corners of the enviromesh, wind got up, rabbit visit, goodbye carrots.

[Trillium]

Christine, have you ever tried growing carrots up high in troughs or old bathtubs? Carrot flies have about a 2 ft flying limit, other caterpillars wouldn't bother much with climbing heights. The container would have drainage holes so excessive water wouldn't be a problem, and it might put the carrots on equal height with the other tall plants. As for vandals, there's little you can do except catch them in the act.

[Christine]

Yes Trillium - the tubs with carrots in them are on a concrete hard standing which is about three feet high at the end where the tubs go (sloping site and the hard standing may be flat at gate but then stays level instead of going with the slope - don't ask). So we are looking at about 4ft high - reckon the carrot fly comes in on the breeze meself 

[penninehillbilly]

I hoed between the rows, watered, looked good, forgot to put the stones back on the corners of the enviromesh, wind got up, rabbit visit, goodbye carrots.

The ultimate revenge - the rabbit is going in the pot tomorrow

[Christine]

Ah - carrot fed rabbit. That will taste good then.

[Salmo]

Daily watering may be one answer. I water the furrow before putting the seed in and that is it. Too much water will encourage the roots to develop near the surface and not go down.