[peapod]

Yes I know its a daft question, but I just dont know!
So....
Would growing a green manure in my carrot and snip bed cause them to fork next year?

[DD.]

Wouldn't have thought so, believe it's the lumps of fresh stuff that makes then do that.

[gillie]

I am not sure.

Carrots and parsnips fork when the tip of the tap root hits something as it grows and is slightly damaged.  It then divides to go round the obstacle so a stone or a piece of unrotted manure can do it.   Maybe a piece of unrotted green manure could do it too.

Transplanting is also liable to damage the very delicate tap root, which is why I wonder about these people who are growing carrots in modules and planting them out.

Personally I would not risk it.

Cheers,

Gillie

[peapod]

Thanks Gillie for a great answer

OK, more detail required...
Its a high raised bed that we built in my back garden specifically for carrots and snips as we get through so many that the container growing couldnt keep up (plot's too stoney). I know all about the dangers of not rotating, but will take the risk for the next couple of years.  The soil is top soil and sand, and a perfect soil for carrots, but I should add some nutrients next season shouldnt I? I just dont know what!

[gillie]

"I should add some nutrients next season shouldnt I? I just dont know what!"

An interesting problem!  How about topping up with a  bit more top soil and sand and then using a liquid fertiliser such as Phostrogen?

I know this is a rather artificial solution, but you have been forced to grow these crops in a rather artificial situation.

Incidentally, did you know that in Holland there are apparently organic carrot farms - just growing the one crop?  It seems to me that this is right against the organic ethos, but there you go.

Cheers,

Gillie

[Salmo]

I would not risk green manure before carrots as, if the green manure has plenty of growth, there will be bits of stalk still present when you sow. Carrots are happy with very little organic matter. They like plenty of potash but very little nitrogen. Best to apply either sulphate of potash or a potato/tomato fertiliser high in potash. If the latter apply it late winter/early Spring so that most of the nitrogen is leached out before you sow.

[gillie]

I am not sure when you could fit a green manure in anyway.

My carrots stay in the ground until wanted - and I hope they will last until January or February.  Parsnips, of course, improve with a hard frost (last winter they were wonderful) so some will stay in the ground until at least March.  Then it will be re-sowing time!

Cheers,

Gillie