Your comments and tips

17 Apr 17, Julie (Australia - temperate climate)

carrots not that great. what is my soil lacking? Rgds Julie

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19 Apr 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

To grow good sized carrots you need soil that is friable and worked down to 20 or 25 cm. If you have enriched your soil with manure it is better to grow at least a leaf crop before sowing carrots. If your soil is shallow or very hard try some of the small round varieties like 'French Breakfast' or 'Paris Market'. You could also plant baby carrots aand hrvest them when they are small. Trust this helps.

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11 Apr 17, Rena Fraser (Australia - temperate climate)

when planting carrot what is apreplantig fertiliser

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11 Apr 17, Ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Being a root vegetable, carrots don't need much nitrogen so if you are using chemical fertiliser use one with a low 'N' number in the N:P:K. If you are growing naturally plant them in an area that has been manured for a leaf crop and also grown a fruiting crop such as beans or tomatoes. This would give you a friable soil with reduced nitrogen.

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10 Apr 17, Al Fry (Australia - temperate climate)

Some say cover carrot seed with old carpet etc to help germination. Is this correct.

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11 Apr 17, Jonno (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

This is correct. Carrot seed is very fine and can dry out easily. This is critical when the new plants are germinating as a hot or windy day can dehydrate the emerging seedlings causing them to die. The carpet will keep the soil damp. People also use old sacks and sometimes boards. Check them each day and remove when the seedlings have emerged. If you also have trouble with ants sprinkle pepper along the row after you have sown the seedlings to keep them away.

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03 Apr 17, Catherine (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Thank you. My soil is very free draining and deep as it is on a hill and has sands with it. I will plant next season's carrots where this season's peas were.

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28 Mar 17, Kate (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

I sow carrots every year but since living near the sea most of my biggest carrots split. I can make soup of the split carrots as they are tender but that is all. I do not put them in manured areas although I generally have grown a green crop in the winter and have it well dug in before I sow. Should I save an area from the green crop?

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30 Mar 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)

Splitting carrots in fruit and vegetables is generally an indicator of too much water suddenly. The skin of the fruit or vegetable that is affected can't handle the increase in water intake and will split. I have seen tomatoes, carrots, apricots, capsicums and oranges affected. In your location extra rainfall can't be controlled so ensure that drainage is good. Fresh manure causes forked and twisted roots as the decomposers working on the manure can damage the growing root tip causing it to fork. A leaf crop followed by a fruit crop (beans, tomatoes, etc) then a root crop is a good rule of thumb to follow.

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15 Mar 17, Joel (Australia - temperate climate)

Tip: Carrots are best grown in sandy soil and work best in pots

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