[Claudina]

Can anyone recommend a good type of carrots and parsnips to sow now for eating later in the summer and autumn ?  Also can someone give advice on how to get the carrots to grow long, my earlies are tasty but very short and chunky!  

PS: Dug my first potatoes ever today! Very Happy!


Thanks a lot

[rugbymad40]

You are a little late for parsnips!  You might be lucky, but I would suggest you wait until next year for them.

I grow Autumn King carrots from May onwards.  To get long straight roots simply dig well  to a depth of one spade and mix in a lot of good quality compost.  The looser the soil the easier it is for them to grow downwards.  Make sure there are no stones to obstruct them and cause kinks.

If you are showing, then you should grow them in a barrel filled with loamy soil and multi compost. With a long cane make holes about 3 inches apart evenly over the surface to a depth of 2 feet.  Fill these holes with soft sand and then top with compost.  Plant three seeds per hole and water.  As the seeds germinate and grow thin out to one per hole.  The easy route down will ensure long straight carrots suitable for the show bench (or simply to show off to friends and family).

regards

Rugbymad40

[gobs]

Also look for long varieties, some just don't do long.