What is it with me and carrots?

[Cheezy]

I'm still a carrot virgin. I've tried 2 sowings at the lottie, not so much of a single germination.

I decided that It was a bit late for parsnips (and had thought they would be worse than carrots from what I'd heard), but having read the thread I decided to give them ago (soaking first) , and also another go at carrots, but back at home where I can keep an eye on things. The parsnips have done brilliently, but still no carrots.

THey're a fresh pack of F1 Sirrocco from Dobbies. Rather irratatingly the packet states that F1 seeds are expensive to produce so use them sparingly! Bloody cheek

Any carroty advice. I am just sowing in a thin drill , watering sparingly due to the fact we still haven't had much bloody rain! and water butts are rationed.

[baldowrie]

mine took a very long time to germinate, thought they had been lost

[magnuscanis]

I take it that if nothing's shown up after 2 weeks, it's not a cause to worry then?

I'm beginning to discover that gardening is an excellent way of developing patience.

- Magnus

[baldowrie]

well first lot took a couple of months and second lot a month, so probably not......fairly new to this game myself!

[wulf]

I can't remember the exact amount of time but it was certainly measured in weeks rather than days!

Wulf

[Wombat]

Carrots take a while to germinate, especially in the colder weather. When I put carrots in in Spring they usually take 3 weeks to germinate. Tamping down after sowing to ensure good soil/seed contact and covering with hession to keep them from drying out works for me!

Nev

[ohareward]

From a gardening book.

Carrots will grow in heavy soils, but a sandy soil is preferred. Sow in shallow furrows 20-30 cm apart and sow seeds 6mm deep by tapping the seeds from the packet. Cover with seed-raising mixture and tamp lightly with the back of a rake, and water gently. Seedlings may take two to three weeks to emerge so keep the bed damp until they do.

Robin

[Thurston Garden]

They do take ages to germinate and I think keeping them damp is the key. In the far corner bed in my tunnel, I sowed my second bed of carrots. I broadcast sow them and eat the thinnings. One end of the bed is naturally damper being right in the corner and benefiting from the rain run-off from the tunnel skin. This end of the bed germinated fine, whilst the innermost end of the bed has poor germination. My fault - it's the least visited end of the tunnel and I should have watered it more regularly.

Incidentally, carrot fly cant negotiate the doors of polytunnels, so I never grow carrots outside and don't get bother from the dreaded fly!

[Cheezy]

Thanks to all,

I think the keeping them damp will be the problem. We still haven't had much rain, and my deminishing water butt's in reserve for tomato's, salad etc.
I may try a large pot in the green house to see if I can get any