Planting carrot seeds using the board method

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DUARS 27 May 2010 Planting carrot seeds using the board method.

Carrot seeds are often hard to germinate for several reasons. Drying out, and temperature too high above about 28C. The board over the seeds keeps moisture present, and controls the temperature, particularly on a hot sunny day. Thinning will not be necessary, since some care is taken in placing the seeds in the traverse trenches. Watering is accomplished by can dispersal on top of the board, and allowing the water to trickle underneath. This can be checked by flipping the board for an inspection. The board will be left in place for about five days, then checked thereafter daily until germination occurs. Experience had indicated that carrots germinate under good conditions in about 11 days. The length of the row is 25 feet. The soil is almost perfect, fine and friable to about ten inches.

[grahamhobbs]

I was told that carrots don't like rain before they germinate so always keep them covered, but this sounds like an improved method, I will give it a try.

[Odsox]

I was told that carrots don't like rain before they germinate

Not sure this is true Graham.
I sowed Amsterdam Forcing in the greenhouse bed a couple of weeks ago and the rows had a soaking from the hosepipe probably every other day and they all germinated in about 10 days. Maybe heavy rain would knock them out of the soil ?
Daytime temperatures are around about 25c so can't comment on the over 28c, although I do know that lettuce certainly will not germinate over about 22c.
I have problems with woodlice browsing off the new growth, especially emerging carrots, so I think I might pass on the board method as it would be a perfect haven for them to hide.

[JulieSherris]

I didn't know that carrots were hard to germinate? I run my finger along the row, then work along again sprinkling the seeds, cover them over & water - never have any problems & I have loads of carrots!

I'm going to have a complex now thinking that I'm doing it wrong - but it works ok for me!

[Durgan]

I didn't know that carrots were hard to germinate? I run my finger along the row, then work along again sprinkling the seeds, cover them over & water - never have any problems & I have loads of carrots!

I'm going to have a complex now thinking that I'm doing it wrong - but it works ok for me!

You obviously have the ideal climate for germination. In NA the top layer of soil can exceed 30C on a bright sunny day and the carrot seeds don't germinate. I keep a thermometer in the garden and about six inches down the temperature is 22 C today. The top few inches exceed 30C. The board method is an attempt to simulate your ideal conditions.

A few years ago I was in Venezuela, and saw many green houses, which surprised me. Apparently the green houses are required to protect most of our common roots crops from the sun. In my area we try for all the sun possible.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DNJHE 3 June 2020 Carrots germinated in 8 days under the board

[grahamhobbs]

Hi Durgan, tried your method but without success. Whereas those sown without the boards tended to germinate, those under the boards didn't. I checked the boards everyday after about 4 days. I didn't find any woodlice under the boards as Odsox suggested I might (I grow the carrots in a 2ft high raised bed and there appears to be no woodlice present) but I did find a big slug, which had obviously eaten some of the carrots not under the board. Whether it also ate all those emerging under the boards, I do not know, but no carrots seemed to have germinated under the board. For England the weather was fairly warm over that week, perhaps 22-25degC during the day.

[Durgan]

Hi Durgan, tried your method but without success. Whereas those sown without the boards tended to germinate, those under the boards didn't. I checked the boards everyday after about 4 days. I didn't find any woodlice under the boards as Odsox suggested I might (I grow the carrots in a 2ft high raised bed and there appears to be no woodlice present) but I did find a big slug, which had obviously eaten some of the carrots not under the board. Whether it also ate all those emerging under the boards, I do not know, but no carrots seemed to have germinated under the board. For England the weather was fairly warm over that week, perhaps 22-25degC during the day.

My board row germinated just fine. But it was hot and sunny. The row is about three inches now, and I estimate a high 80% germination. I also tried wrapping each seed lightly in toilet paper. In this case the germination was poor.

Next year I will use the board method for two reasons, one to maintain moisture at the seed level, and the other to prevent high temperatures on the seeds.

I also have had good germination by sowing and covering lightly and keeping damp until germination.

Luck of the draw, and I haven't really drawn any solid conclusions. One must not overlook poor seed as a problem.