[rgabrielle]

Hi , this year things seem to be really slow growing,I grow everything outside , a sheltered spot but not under cover, but have sowed carrots three times now and nothing, not even one has germinated, all my tomatoes are lovely and big but no flowers, sweetcorn has either not germinated or the ones I grew inside and then transplanted outside have hardley grown at all. Is it to wet and cold, any one else having this problem or am I doing something wrong!!!!

[Bing]

In the current Chinese lunar year, it has 'two springs' (two Aprils).

So we will have an extra month than normal, everything will be alright if not better!

Que Sera Sera..

[Yorkie]

Not sure that you made any sense there Bing 

Welcome to the site rgabrielle 

You don't say where you are (it's helpful to have this information - perhaps you could edit your forum profile to show your general location; just click your username to edit your profile) but in most areas it has been too cold and wet for plants to thrive.

Quite a few people are reporting problems with carrots (mine haven't done anything) - either they aren't germinating, or the slugs are nibbling them as soon as they come through.

[rubyrose]

hi we are also having problems with germination of carrots,and i have sowed some about every 2 weeks  they either haven't germinatated or slugs and snails have eaten them and i invested in enviromesh this year as carrot fly had them last year. we have a few that have survived after adding slug pellets       all i can say is hopefully next year will be a good year for carrots as you can't beat home grown fresh raw carrots!!

[GrannieAnnie]

Well after a VERY slow start, I have 14 little 3ft rows of carrots growing behind my big greenhouse.  They were covered in fleece until 2 weeks ago.

There is lots of greenery, but not much going on underneath yet.  But the plants do look really healthy.  I think the fleece protected them from a lot of the rotten weather.

Fingers crossed I get a few decent ones.

[strangerachael]

It has been the worst year I can remember, if you were a newbie you would be forgiven for thinking this veg-growing is all a complete waste of time. I noticed a courgette plant looking floppy yesterday, when I went to examine it it came away in my hand, the stem had rotted through. Miraculously some of the plants are actually producing some small courgettes, I will be amazed if they survive for long enough to produce one of a decent size. It's only a matter of time until the tomatoes get hit by blight, and they are only just beginning to produce flowers. One excessively wet summer after last year's excessively dry one (here in the midlands anyway), surely we are due a 'normal' summer next year? Or is there no such thing any more?

[Plottered]

As soon as I step out the door to go to the plot the heavens open....truly fedup.com 

[rgabrielle]

Thanks for all of your answers, we are in herefordshire, it has been a very wet year, no chance of a hose pipe ban here. Glad to know that its proberly the weather, I guess I will have another go at the carrots and hope for the best.

[SnooziSuzi]

I had to sow my carrots multiple times before anything came up.

The first lot may have been older seed that failed to germinate:  parsnips and carrots are notoriously fussy about the viability of older seeds; the second lot were sown about 4-5 weeks ago outside and are no taller than an inch whereas a batch that I sowed in my greenhouse border came up within a week and are already an inch high (except for the ones that have clearly been mown by the snails - I will not rest until each and every one that I find has met its maker  ) but the ones that haven't been touched are doing very well indeed in the GH.