[EddieJ]

I have an abundance of 6X fertiliser and would like to know if I could use it prior to sowing
some carrot seed.

For some reason carrots have all but failed on this plot. Carrot fly risk aside, the soil whilst looking okay, is infact quite lifeless and full of stone.

I have raised beds, and have spent approx 6hrs digging out the soil from one 1.8m x 1.2m bed to a depth of approx 18" then sieved every wheel barrow of soil down to a fine bread crumb size. I also added a 1 gallon bucket full of sharp washed sand to each barrow full of sieved soil, in an attempt to try and improve the soil texture. The soil certainly doesn't have much growing for it, and as an average, I only found two worms per barrow full of soil.

I also carried a PH test, or rather two tests. Both were from Gardman, and both gave different readings! The powder test kit said that the soil was alkaline, and the prop test kit said that it was Neutral. So much for the quality of there products!


Back to the 6X.. Would it be okay to fork in a small amount prior to me sowing the seed, or should I find something else?

[240173paul]

Rightly or wrongly I have always put a small had full of 6X along every seed I grow including carrots and never had any problems, I do water all seeds in well.

[solway cropper]

Isn't 6X a type of lager? 

[Elaine G]

Noooooo! Its Wadworths real ale 

[prakash_mib]

Noooooo! Its Wadworths real ale 

I would certainly have 6X prior to sowing seeds but I feel its little too early in the morning to have a pint  .
(Thats the only reason I started reading this post)
Hats off to your hardwork on making a fantastic bed. hope you have success.

[Growster...]

While I could quite happily spend the rest of my life looking at several pints of Wadsworth's 6X (nearly as good as Shep's Spitfire), I'm a great fan of the compost.

We didn't have time to get a compost heap going this year, as we only took the plot at the end of October, and have been de-couching since then.

I'm just using the standard method of spreading as they advise, and hope that next year, I'll have enough compost/rotted stable manure to provide the humus the plot desperately needs.

One tip though, don't use too much of it in an enclosed space like a greenhouse, the ammonia can damage your seedlings.

Actually, now I come to think of it, I might just pop down to the shop and see if there's any of the real beer there...

...naaaaah, it's still only twenty to six in the morning... (sigh)

[Nige2Plots]

Don't forget you can also use 6X as a liquid feed!

[Growster...]

Thanks Nige, I'd forgotten that!

[Goldfinger]

6X? I've seen this and wondered what it's like to use  :blink: 

With carrots though??

Won't they 'fork'?

That reminds me, Off for a beer now>>>>>>>>>>>>   

[Growster...]

Gold, just read the chat on the bags in the garden centre, it's pretty informative, otherwise, check it out on their website.

I rate the stuff, and think it's better than most.

[Goldfinger]

Googled, cheers Growster.

Who you found cheapest though? What's the average price range?

[Growster...]

I think we paid a shade under £10.00 a bag, Gold.

Seems a lot of dosh, but not when you chuck it over the plot at about 1 - 2 handfulls a square yard. I think I covered about 80 s.y. with one bag, and have another bag for topping later on.

It's really the only way to get some goodness into the plot at the moment, that and a damn good hoeing each week...

[Goldfinger]

Busy battling with couch grass on my plot   

[Growster...]

Busy battling with couch grass on my plot   

Know the feeling Gold!

We spent over 50 hours on a 3.5 rod plot on that particular escapade; and it's not over yet...

[Christine]

If you can get to a gardeners association you may find that they have keen prices for 6X - the fertiliser not the beer mind.