[juvenal]

Bloke on my allotments (looks like he knows what he's doing) has sown carrot seed in the last couple of days.

Isn't this a bit early?

[BabbyAnn]

depends .... I noticed your location as Devon so it might be that it is possible to sow carrot seed which is winter hardy but at the same time, if soil temperatures doesn't get above 7-10oC then they won't germinate.

[mumofstig]

Soil temperature can be critical for successful carrots. At temperatures below 5 ºC they will struggle to germinate. Slightly higher temperatures and they could take up to 35 days to start. If you wait until the soil is 10 ºC germination will occur within ten days. Basically if the soil is chilly to touch do not plant.

and that's a quote from Hayle allotments in Cornwall 
http://hayleallotments.org.uk/ingredients/carrots

Seems to me that later sown, into warmer soil - will catch up anyway, because of quicker germination 

[al78]

Given that temperatures are expected to be below average, if the Met Office 30 day outlook is to be believed, until the third week in March at least I would have thought it is a bit early. I probably won't sow carrots until after Easter as I am on clay soil and that takes time to warm up (it could do with drying out first as well, if we can ever get more than two days in a row without significant rain  ).

[Mattgregory27]

I have tried a row or two for the last couple of years at this sort of time under a clear plastic tunnel cloche with good results, but based on the forecast over the next couple of weeks I am going to hold off for w while this year.

[Trikidiki]

Does sowing in the greenhouse border count?   

I sowed a 12ft row on Sunday.

[AnneB]

Never sow my carrots until the first week in May.  The soil is warm enough and Iget good germination. Last year got a massive crop.  Lifted them all second week in September and stored in sand in the cellar.  Just taken the last few out of storage and frozen them.  Nearly self sufficient now.

[Salmo]

If you want early carrots they must be sown early. The problem is that not only are they reluctant to germinate at low temperatures, they then grow slowly and are under attack from pest and disease while they are small.

Sometimes you get away with it but mostly not.

[jaydig]

I've had my plot for nine years now, and it's taken me this long to learn that nothing is to be gained from sowing/planting too early. All that achieves is having to do the job again.  Sowing a little later does not necessarily mean that you will have a later crop because if the conditions are right, then the plants soon catch up, and they are healthier than if they have had to struggle.  However, I've always found it's worth trying to sneak in an extra crop later in the season if you have the space and the seeds, because sometimes we have quite a pleasant autumn, and quick growing stuff like salad leaves, spinach etc. often do ok.