Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Sideways on March 11, 2011, 13:37

Title: Too early for carrots?
Post by: Sideways on March 11, 2011, 13:37
I was thinking of sowing my carrot seeds this weekend, they will be under a protective mesh to keep the fly off, this usually helps to keep the soil a little warmer in my experience.

I had a good crop last year but cant remember when I sowed them   :blush:

Anyone sowing carrots yet?
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: wozza on March 11, 2011, 13:43
Planted my chantenay and Amsterdam's 2 weeks ago under cloches but nothing showing yet

Just hope this weekends predicted snow wont impair things in Ireland
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: TerryB on March 11, 2011, 13:48
A bit early unless you protect with some form of cloch
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: Sweatndirt on March 11, 2011, 14:01
I'm going to try some this weekend under fleece.  You get so many carrot seeds in a packet a little trial won't hurt.  Must try to remember to record how they do for next year :)
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: r2d2 on March 11, 2011, 14:05
i put some in a tub today to try and get some early baby carrots, if they germinate i'll sow more.  got them covered though.
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: harry on March 11, 2011, 14:27
I was thinking of sowing my carrot seeds this weekend, they will be under a protective mesh to keep the fly off, this usually helps to keep the soil a little warmer in my experience.

I had a good crop last year but cant remember when I sowed them   :blush:

Anyone sowing carrots yet?

What do you protect them with enviromesh? I was thinking of buying some but it seems expensive.
  I thought i'd sow some early carrots this weekend. :blush: :nowink:
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: DD. on March 11, 2011, 14:37
First I'll apply a little patience as a top dressing.

Then I'll sow in about 4 weeks when the soil's warmer.
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: Sideways on March 11, 2011, 14:50

What do you protect them with enviromesh? I was thinking of buying some but it seems expensive.
  I thought i'd sow some early carrots this weekend. :blush: :nowink:

Nope, I use net curtains, the type with no patern or holes. Used it last year and didnt loose a single carrot to fly, crop was bumper too. I plan to do exactly the same this year.

I was given the netting, Im sure most people have some gathering dust somewhere. Its even cheap to buy.

Trust me, it works a treat  ;)
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: harry on March 11, 2011, 15:14

What do you protect them with enviromesh? I was thinking of buying some but it seems expensive.
  I thought i'd sow some early carrots this weekend. :blush: :nowink:

Nope, I use net curtains, the type with no patern or holes. Used it last year and didnt loose a single carrot to fly, crop was bumper too. I plan to do exactly the same this year.

I was given the netting, Im sure most people have some gathering dust somewhere. Its even cheap to buy.

Trust me, it works a treat  ;)

What good idea I'll ask round for old net curtains. I often see it on car boots. :D ::)
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: nipper31 on March 11, 2011, 15:15
Sideways - did you put the net over hoops or directly on the ground over the seedlings?
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: Sideways on March 11, 2011, 15:24
Sideways - did you put the net over hoops or directly on the ground over the seedlings?

I built a simple frame- stuck bits of wood in the ground to a height of around a foot, linked it all up with string and let the net lay over the top. Where the net touches the string I clipped it with a few clothes pegs here and there. Easy.

Hoops would also work. Weigh it all down at the edges and keep it tight.
Title: Re: Too early for carrots?
Post by: alibean on March 12, 2011, 18:00
The cheapest net I've found in the shops is from IKEA.  They do a really basic one - 2 net curtains, each 3m x 2.8m approx (can be cut into 3 lengthways to give nearly 18m x 1m in total) - cost last year was 3 quid I think and it was called something like 'Lill or Lilli'.   
Washed on delicate and fine for this year too.