[omits]

I see jvn_HHIB6tM recommends filling a widish drill with fine soil. Off course all this stuff costs. Can I use sharp sand from a builder as I've noted building sand may not be suitable (why?).
Thanks.

[mumofstig]

Why not buy a garden sieve, they're cheap enough (probably about the same price as buying sand) and last a few years?
Building sand is too fine and tends to set solid with some warm weather, sharp sand is ok but be sure to wash it well before using.

[rowlandwells]

carrots don't like stones so if you've got nice light siol or do like we do we either plant our carrots on a nice deep compost bed or do the same as we grow our parsnips make  hole with a dibber fill it with compost 2 seeds per station then pick out the weakest one we always sow pelleted carrot seed so we don't need to thin the carrots out and cover the crop with fine mesh netting

[omits]

carrots don't like stone...

Saw on gardeners world the idea of a piece of wood with large headed nails spaced say 2" apart for dibbing a row of holes. I shall try this.