Friday Rookie Topic: Carrots

sanderson wrote:I'm hit and miss with carrots.  But, I think for our climates, early fall is a good time to sow them.

Anyone else in a hot climate?

countrynaturals wrote:

sanderson wrote:I'm hit and miss with carrots.  But, I think for our climates, early fall is a good time to sow them.

Anyone else in a hot climate?

I planted mine last fall, ignored them ever since, and they're absolutely AWESOME! I planted them in my first ever ANSFG bed. Don't quote me on this, but mine seem to thrive on neglect. They seem to like it better when they dry out a little between waterings.

yolos wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:

sanderson wrote:I'm hit and miss with carrots.  But, I think for our climates, early fall is a good time to sow them.

Anyone else in a hot climate?

I planted mine last fall, ignored them ever since, and they're absolutely AWESOME! I planted them in my first ever ANSFG bed. Don't quote me on this, but mine seem to thrive on neglect. They seem to like it better when they dry out a little between waterings.

I also plant in late fall.  They grow a little, then sit there for most of winter and really take off late winter or early fall.

countrynaturals wrote:I have the perfect spot for carrots, outside the gate of the Salad Bar. Trouble is, every time I plant them there, they sprout beautifully, then I watch them disappear, one-by-one, as the rollies pick them off.  

So, here is my experimental solution:

I have one of those seed-starting kits, with 72 cells, about 2 deep.


What if I turned that puppy upside down, cut the bottoms out, laid it on top of the soil in the bed, and dropped a seed in each hole? Would they get enough light? I'm thinking this would give them a head start, and, by the time they get to be 2" high, so I can take up the contraption, they should be strong enough fight off the rollies. What say ye all, before I waste an afternoon on this project?

I planted these today -- half Tendersweet and half Pusa Asita Black Carrot. Fingers crossed on this one. If it works, I'll try it on onions next time. (That's DE around the outside -- not taking any chances.

countrynaturals wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:I have the perfect spot for carrots, outside the gate of the Salad Bar. Trouble is, every time I plant them there, they sprout beautifully, then I watch them disappear, one-by-one, as the rollies pick them off.  

So, here is my experimental solution:

I have one of those seed-starting kits, with 72 cells, about 2 deep.


What if I turned that puppy upside down, cut the bottoms out, laid it on top of the soil in the bed, and dropped a seed in each hole? Would they get enough light? I'm thinking this would give them a head start, and, by the time they get to be 2" high, so I can take up the contraption, they should be strong enough fight off the rollies. What say ye all, before I waste an afternoon on this project?

I planted these today -- half Tendersweet and half Pusa Asita Black Carrot. Fingers crossed on this one. If it works, I'll try it on onions next time. (That's DE around the outside -- not taking any chances.

Scorpio Rising wrote:I think it’s a great experiment that Just. Might. Work.

plantoid wrote:  Pssst!  what's "  rollies " when they are at home . ?

donnainzone5 wrote:I've also observed that pill bugs/sowbugs/rollie-pollies love small seedlings.

My solution is to sprinkle a bit of Sluggo Plus where needed, preferably, I think, shortly after planting.

donnainzone5 wrote:Suz,

From what I've read, Sluggo Plus is a pretty safe product, if used as directed.  It's OMRI certified (not that that's all so significant).

If sprinkled too heavily, yes, it can harm pets, if they eat it.  I've never had any problems.  

https://www.groworganic.com/products/sluggo-plus-2-5-lb-bottle

OhioGardener wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:Can I start from scratch and dig in that Sluggo Plus down to a couple of inches over the entire bed, then what? Wait a few days and plant seeds as if they might just have a ghost of a chance?

Don't dig the Sluggo Plus into the soil, but just scatter it on top of the soil. The sowbugs and slugs won't go down into the soil to eat it, they just wander across the soil looking for food.

countrynaturals wrote:

OhioGardener wrote:

countrynaturals wrote:Can I start from scratch and dig in that Sluggo Plus down to a couple of inches over the entire bed, then what? Wait a few days and plant seeds as if they might just have a ghost of a chance?

Don't dig the Sluggo Plus into the soil, but just scatter it on top of the soil. The sowbugs and slugs won't go down into the soil to eat it, they just wander across the soil looking for food.

They couldn't have gotten to these plants from the top. The seedlings were surrounded by plastic, and the whole container is surrounded by a think ring of DE. Whatever got those babies had to come from underneath. I don't get it. HELP!