Sowing carrot seed

[Brenjon]

Has anyone got a good method of sowing carrot seed apart from using seed tape. I have tried mixing it with fine sand but it has not made a great deal of difference, I am sure someone must have a better method.
Grateful for answers.
Regards Brenjon

[John P]

Hello Brenjon, A very simple method I picked up a few years back. make drill a little deeper then normal, then half fill with compost,dampen, then sow seeds, cover with compost and lightly finish off by lightly sprinkling soil over drill. Since I have been using this method I have had much more success,generally a full row with no gaps.

[iknownothing]

hi knowing nothing i don't know if this works but i read in a book or magazine that you can mix the seed with a bit of wall paper paste then use a polythene sandwich bag with a little hole in the end (Like an icing bag) - and squirt it out like icing along your drill .

[Arnie]

Hi iknownothing,

You can, but not recommend as most wallpaper paste contain a fungicide which I believe will kill the seed I have had great results with my Carrots when I used pelleted seed that Johnboy gave me you can get Pelleted Carrot seed from http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/index.html

Regards

Kevin

[richardwil]

Hi

I usually sow (and grow) carrots in a block system in raised beds. It is divided into small plots with wires and I often plant 36 seeds in a 12 inch square mini plot. It is hard to get 1 seed in a planting hole but I thin them out when they have germinated.

I usually thin them out later as well to allow larger carrots to develop and eat the small carrots. It is a highly productive way of growing carrots and I use a guide to allow me to space the seeds out. It also works well with radishes and spring onions as well. The soil needs to be highly productive though at these planting densities and needs to be a light soil to allow for expansion of the roots.

Cheers

[Nature's Babe]

I have a tiny gadget that you put the seed in and adjust the opening for seed size and it only lets one or two seeds out at a time, it came with a
magazine so I have no idea where you can buy them.
I also use polystyrene vegetable boxes filled with compost in the greenhouse over winter, planted with short rooted early carrots, they are filling out nicely now. The polystyrene is good insulation against the cold.

[Colin Miles]

I do exactly the same as John P and the results are very good, provided that the soil is warm enough. That usually means April for the first sowing.

[glallotments]

Hello Brenjon, A very simple method I picked up a few years back. make drill a little deeper then normal, then half fill with compost,dampen, then sow seeds, cover with compost and lightly finish off by lightly sprinkling soil over drill. Since I have been using this method I have had much more success,generally a full row with no gaps.

We use this method too but cover the area with enviromesh to keep out the carrot fly and also make sure that the compost doesn't dry out too much on too.

It's always been successful for us and we are still digging our carrots with little if any sign of root fly. I have explained it fully on our website
http://glallotments.co.uk/CarrotFly.aspx

[Colin Miles]

Yes - I should have added that it is vitally important to keep the top layer moist and also to add slug pellets at the first sign of emergence, otherwise the seedlings will be wiped out in a couple of nights.

[glallotments]

You are right about the slug pellets. Our pellets go on at sowing time as chances are the slugs would spot the emerging seedlings before we do. Once the carrots get going they don't appear to be needed. Colin - the good thing about having the seedlings covered with mesh is that the pellets are out of the way of any birds/hedghogs etc although we do buy the ones that are supposed to be harmless to them - you never know do you?

[Elaine]

Hi Brenjon. We use a similar method to John P. We dig out a "V" shaped trench, around 6", and fill it with compost (our own or from a bag) mixed with soil, water it, sow the seed as thinly as possible, cover with the same mix and apply slug pellets. We have had some excellent carrots from our heavy soil with this method.
We also grow smaller carrots in large square buckets, in a compost/sand mix, which works well. We have these at home so they are readily available as needed, due to our allotment not being close by our home.

I suspect you mean how do you sow "thinly"! I find it almost impossible but am getting better.
Cheers.

[Johnboy]

Hi Elaine,
The method you and John P have described is a very well tried and tested one. I now grow in designated 9" tall raised beds using a mix of exceedingly well rotted FMY mixed with Multipurpose compost and sanitized soil. By sanitize I mean it is passed over a bonfire on a sheet of tin. This is not fully sterilized but by sanitizing you get rid of the weed seed that pop when least needed. They are protected with New Advanced slug pellets from the off and then completely covered with anti white fly netting.
My only comment on the way you are using your method is that when you have fetched out the V trench and filled with compost it is then that you should water and allow that compost to settle then sow your seed and cover again with compost and then very lightly water (almost a misting) the top compost. Then place the slug pellets and then either fleece or very fine netting.
I wish you very great success again this year.
JB.

[Brenjon]

Hi thanks for all the advice. Elaine hit the nail on the head. I really would love to know how to sow them THINLY to ovoid thinning. Natures Babe seemed to have the answer with the special tool, that really is what i am looking for, but from where.
Regards Brenjon

[Johnboy]

Hi Brenjon,
Because I have arthritis in my hands it is almost impossible for me to grow normal carrot seed. I use Pelleted seed from Moles Seeds and even with arthritis I can precision sow carrots as they are so easy to handle.
I am awaiting my seeds from Moles and they should be here any time now so would you like me to send you some. Nothing ventured nothing gained!
JB.

[Brenjon]

Hi Johnboy
That is very kind of you. I would love for you to do that.
ook forward to recieving them and giving them a try.
Thanks again Brenjon