Carrots

I have been growing carrots, planted in compost in a a tall pot in mid March.  I have lots of leaves which look healthy, but no sign of a carrot forming.  

I  had a peek beneath the compost last night but could only see a long whiteish root - is this normal behavour for a carrot  :?  :?:

OH sowed the carrots and parsnips this year,the carrots are showing put no parsnips.I will resow in a few days in a drill filled with compost so I can tell if they`ve germinated,have no weed seed in the row and also know where to water!
Then all I`ve got to do is weed the carrots....I Think i may sew an extra row.,,,,,,

still no sign of the carrots.. but loads of tiny "weeds" starting to grow which are defo not my carrots.. they have till next week to show or I dig over and plant something else..

On friday night I watched the "big dig" and they were growing carrots in tall tubs (forget how high) as the carrot fly cannot get to them, it can only fly so high. The crop they had was brilliant and they packed loads in each tub, no real spacing. I might try this method if I'm not too late to sow them AND if i can get something tall enough to grow them in.. i.e. my water butts

These were filled with compost.. and I cannot find how high the * can fly so I am going to test it out at about 1m If I can find something to grow them in

ah ha

Another method of deterring the carrot fly, which I find quite hilarious, is to have a physical barrier of around a foot high (30cm) surrounding your carrots as this insect can only travel below this level. Maybe hilarious is too strong a word but this does amuse me as it reminds me of putting dog biscuits on a top shelf so your dog can't get to them. It may be that a barrier is inevitably placed anyway in the form of edging or raised beds.  I tried this method last year and was untroubled with the dreaded carrot fly.