[Ema]

This year I sowed 3 rows of different carrots under scafold netting. I never saw any of these germinate, perhaps it was too cold at the time. I gave up and weeded the bed 6 weeks later. With a brand new packet of carrots I sowed another 3 rows - again I have seen nothing of these.

There are some ants nesting near this bed I suspect they like the fineness of the soil. Will they eat carrot seedlings?

Also I am only visting the plot and watering once or twice a week which really isnt enough.

So is it at all worth me trying to sow some in coir pellets, loo rolls or seed trays at home? anyone tried this?

[moose]

I have had little success with carrots this year. The culprits are slugs who razor them off as soon as they appear, ants are not guilty. Generally carrots are sown direct. They don't transplant well as they fork and grow odd shapes if there is any root disturbance. However some people have reported success growing in loo rolls, a case of try it and see.

[LilacSandy]

Like you Ema I had complete failure with direct sowing so I started them off on damp kitchen paper in an old plastic takeaway box and put the sprouted seeds three to a plastic water cup and then planted out when they had their first true leaves.  They have taken well but will see if they fork, however I always start my parsnips off like this and they always grow huge and straight.

[Ema]

Thank you Sandy thats very reassuring

I've also had a complete parsnip failure this year. it was last years seeds so I didnt expect great results but 1 or 2 would've been nice

I have a load of new paper cups and they work quite well for big plant seedlings, I just use a bulb plaster to make a hole and lift the seedling and compost out the cup. Not sure I would get as clean a lift out from carrots but perhaps I could just cut the bottom off the pots off and plant them.

[colin120]

Hi Ema
            My carrots seem ok, but I did mine two ways 1, dug out a load of soil and replaced it with compost added, fish & bone then planted the carrot seed they seem to be growing fine.

second way was I put a few seeds in two flower pots filled with compost then put them in the airing cupboard when they was big enough I transferred them to the allotment  they too seems ok

[TheWhiteRabbit]

Did you put slug pellets down when you sowed? My first sowings failed...the second sowings were great - the only difference was I put slug pellets down for the second sowings.

[Headgardener22]

I used to start both carrots and parsnip in compost filled toilet rolls but they always forked at the point where the toilet roll ended and the soil began (I'm on clay). I've taken to creating a row of compost and sowing into that and get better results. That said, my early carrots failed this year and only the later  carrots seemed to be OK.

[surbie100]

I sow them in 42L trugs, filled with old, poor compost with some BFB in the bottom. I get lovely, sweet, straight roots about 20-30cm long.

[Ma Lowe]

Same as Surbie I grow in a large tub filled with 50/50 sand & compost some BFB and leave them in the greenhouse. It's the first year I have had lovely carrots so needles to say another tub filled and sown.

[heloise]

I'm not sure about transplanting, but the point made about slugs is a very good one. My first sowings in the ground came to nothing but the second lot, with slug pellets around, are doing well. We also have an old bath that we sow carrots in (no slugs there) that are doing well from a first sowing. This we just top up every year with a bit of compost and it keeps the carrot flies off too.

[chillimummy]

Those carrots look lovely Ma. Going to try some in garden now as have plant trough and may as well use it. 

[rosiecider]

I sow them in 42L trugs, filled with old, poor compost with some BFB in the bottom. I get lovely, sweet, straight roots about 20-30cm long.

Same as Surbie plant in plastic containers using old compost blood fish and bone, couple of slug pellets on the top just in case never had a failed crop... so far