Re: Carrot Week 2013

CapeCoddess 2/16/2013, 1:29 pm

I'm in the same boat as QB on this one...my cupboard boxes are already 12" high rises. This one is 3' x 1' so hosts 3 squares: Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 100_2210

This made me wonder about something...I have a newer short box at 8" high. Once the cardboard underneath has disintegrated, wouldn't carrots grow down into the earth if they are bigger than 8"?

CC

**gwennifer** 2/16/2013, 1:42 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:...I have a newer short box at 8" high. Once the cardboard underneath has disintegrated, wouldn't carrots grow down into the earth if they are bigger than 8"?

Only if the earth under the carrot box is very soft and fine. Carrots are notoriously lazy and will stop or turn if they encounter any resistance.

**Turan** 2/16/2013, 1:53 pm

I have no need of high risers, even if in the low beds they have no problem growing deep as needed, and I sow carrots at about 36/square, not 16 (most carrots only need about 1-2" between them). This year my carrots are being companion planted in the garlic bed.
I am looking forward to trying out these rainbow blend carrots also. And Purple Sun, how cool to grow all purple carrots! They are a long season carrot though, going to be interesting taste the difference. I still have Nantes for comparison with all. I am kind of stoked about carrots this year Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 370856013

**RoOsTeR** 2/16/2013, 2:01 pm

Whoa, check out these great purples from Territorial! bounce

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/12052
Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 12052_10

**RoOsTeR** 2/16/2013, 2:07 pm

I am looking forward to trying out these rainbow blend carrots also. And Purple Sun, how cool to grow all purple carrots! They are a long season carrot though, going to be interesting taste the difference.

We must be browsing the same catalog at the same time Razz

I just came across the Purple Sun myself. Still not black, but the closest I've found yet. Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 3170584802

Lindacol 2/16/2013, 2:10 pm

gwennifer wrote:
CapeCoddess wrote:...I have a newer short box at 8" high. Once the cardboard underneath has disintegrated, wouldn't carrots grow down into the earth if they are bigger than 8"?
Only if the earth under the carrot box is very soft and fine. Carrots are notoriously lazy and will stop or turn if they encounter any resistance.

I don't use risers either. I have one deep bed and the rest have 2x8" sides. I have grown carrots on all of them, including the table tops. For the shorter beds I look for stubbier carrots that are not expected to get longer than 8". Some in my table tops were huge - only 7-8" long but almost 3" in diameter.
I tried a top hat for potatoes last year but for me it was a pain to work with and around and then the ants got my potatoes.

**Turan** 2/16/2013, 2:22 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:
We must be browsing the same catalog at the same time I just came across the Purple Sun myself. Still not black, but the closest I've found yet.

Thats the one! Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 998388915

I got my seed order yesterday, including the Purple Sun carrot. It says 90 days! When I add on the extra month carrots need here anyways then it will be Fall. So I am thinking they will be great keepers for winter. Carrot week carrots will be the Rainbow blend with a couple of these purples seeds added for early sampling.

**RoOsTeR** 2/16/2013, 2:26 pm

I'll order the same ones and we can compare how they do. Very Happy

**gwennifer** 2/16/2013, 2:39 pm

Turan wrote:...I sow carrots at about 36/square, not 16 (most carrots only need about 1-2" between them)...

Funny you should bring this up. I just read an article last night on planting carrots in the latest issue of Fine Gardening magazine (Mar/Apr 2013), written by a carrot farmer. He said plant one to four seeds per inch - the thicker the seeding, the smaller/shorter the carrots. He does his at 4 per inch, but of course he's doing a single row, with rows spaced 14" apart. He recommends one to two plants per inch for larger carrots.

Two per inch would give you the 36 per square like you're doing. Do your carrots get nice and fat? I like to use vegetable cutters to make cute shapes from carrot slices, so always look for carrots to get at least 1" in diameter.

**Turan** 2/16/2013, 3:52 pm

gwennifer wrote:
Turan wrote:...I sow carrots at about 36/square, not 16 (most carrots only need about 1-2" between them)...
Funny you should bring this up. I just read an article last night on planting carrots in the latest issue of Fine Gardening magazine (Mar/Apr 2013), written by a carrot farmer. He said plant one to four seeds per inch - the thicker the seeding, the smaller/shorter the carrots. He does his at 4 per inch, but of course he's doing a single row, with rows spaced 14" apart. He recommends one to two plants per inch for larger carrots.

Two per inch would give you the 36 per square like you're doing. Do your carrots get nice and fat? I like to use vegetable cutters to make cute shapes from carrot slices, so always look for carrots to get at least 1" in diameter.

Hmmm, a square foot is 12"x 12". 2 per inch would be 23x23= 529.... I am aiming for 6x6, but I tend to be too impatient and sprinkle thinking that much and do a little thinning. I usually have radish seed mixed in to help me keep from over seeding. I meant to get myself one of those tiny seed sowers with my Territorial seed order and then forgot at the last moment.

I am guessing the article writer meant he sows seed at that rate, then when the carrots are up drags a harrow through to thin.

I get thicker carrots when growing Danver half longs than with the Nantes. I am guessing these Purple Sun carrots will be thicker too. The thickest carrots I know of are Oxheart. That is an old breed and I have not seen the seed in a long time.

**gwennifer** 2/16/2013, 5:18 pm

Turan wrote:Hmmm, a square foot is 12"x 12". 2 per inch would be 23x23= 529....

Turan, my figure of 36 came from the SFG plant spacing method described in the ANSFG book, since this is the Official SFG forum. The SFG method uses the "thin to" rate on the seed packages like this: You start with 12 (the number of inches in a foot), divide it by the "thin to" rate on your seed package, and then square that number for your plant spacing per square foot. So if I were planting carrots with an ultimate goal of 2 per inch:

12 divided by 2 = 6.
6 squared = 36.
36 carrots per square foot

Turan wrote:I am guessing the article writer meant he sows seed at that rate, then when the carrots are up drags a harrow through to thin.

Actually the author specifically says he doesn't thin, only weeds, and so his four per inch is his non-thinned planting rate! I wonder what they look like - wish the article had a picture.

Turan wrote:I get thicker carrots when growing Danver half longs than with the Nantes.

Thanks for the recommendation on the variety. I'm sure I've seen those and I'll pick them up next time I'm out. Did you see my picture earlier on this thread of my rainbow carrot blend harvest? For some reason one of the yellow carrots grew nice and fat. Random.

**llama momma** 2/16/2013, 6:29 pm

I don't have a top hat either. I put the carrots in my original three year old 4x8 bed that is 12 inches deep with MMix. This year I have 2013 "touchon" variety and some older atomic red and nantes from one and two years ago.

**Turan** 2/16/2013, 6:57 pm

gwennifer wrote:
Turan wrote:Hmmm, a square foot is 12"x 12". 2 per inch would be 23x23= 529....
Turan, my figure of 36 came from the SFG plant spacing method described in the ANSFG book, since this is the Official SFG forum. The SFG method uses the "thin to" rate on the seed packages like this: You start with 12 (the number of inches in a foot), divide it by the "thin to" rate on your seed package, and then square that number for your plant spacing per square foot. So if I were planting carrots with an ultimate goal of 2 per inch:

12 divided by 2 = 6.
6 squared = 36.
36 carrots per square foot

You have confused the math, and the math and the biology is the same weither in ANSFG or not. If you are planting 2 per inch that means 2 seeds with in an inch. 12"x2=24 (minus one that would be stuck on the edge is 23 , which seemed more practical to me). I now see that you meant a seed every 2 inches which is indeed 6 seeds and then squared to 36. My seed packets of various carrot varieties all say thin to 1-2", which translates to 36-144 per square.
Maybe that is what was in the article as well? Or maybe the carrots in the linear row sorta move sideways as they grow to give themselves extra room? Also if he is growing for baby carrots he will plant thicker and then pull early.

I saw and admired your picture. I wonder if that yellow one was big because of the variety or some random variable we can only hope to redo. I hope all your carrots this year grow that big and vibrant.

**gwennifer** 2/16/2013, 8:12 pm

Turan wrote:You have confused the math...

*LOL* Turan, I was upstairs and suddenly realized what I'd done! I had to run down to apologize but you've already called me out on it. Yes, I was thinking every two inches, not two per inch. silly me

Sorry about that!

**Turan** 2/16/2013, 8:27 pm

Pepper 2/16/2013, 10:54 pm

I also do not need a top hat with my 12 in deep beds. Now that I have 3 of my 6 loaded with MM things should start growing like they are susposed to 'round here. Laughing

Goosegirl 2/17/2013, 7:01 am

I don't need a top hat either. My 6" beds are on top of what used to be my Lasagna Gardening beds (sheet composting layered with peat) so I have several inches of friable compost/peat below my boxes. Now, if only spring would come! Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 950477

High of 37F forecast for today, high of 1F forecast for Tuesday!

GG

**RoOsTeR** 2/17/2013, 8:01 am

Sorry to be a downer, but this thread is about Carrot Week, not about needing or having a top hat. Gwennifer was nice enough to purchase some carrot seeds for members who may not be able to find multicolor carrot seed in their area, but would still like to participate. She suggested the top hat not only to support the sfg method, but also to help ensure that the receiver of the seed would put forth the effort to actually plant and participate in the fun. .
If folks would like to discuss top hats and the use of them in the garden, please start another top hat thread. This thread is about Carrot Week. Thank you Very Happy

quiltbea 2/17/2013, 10:28 am

I just went thru all my veggie and flower seeds saved from last year and got them all alphabetized and charted. I have so many carrots, I'm really surprised. I'm glad I bought some colored ones this year tho; Rainbow and Atomic Reds. I'll be participating in this challenge tho most of mine will be sown weeks sooner than Apr 15th. They take a long time to grow here in Maine.

plantoid 2/17/2013, 1:28 pm

Just been reorganising my seed records and also found loadsacarrots , I didn't realize there were at least five nantees carrot types
IE Nantees Nantees 2 , 3 ,4,& 5

Is it still to be Nantees types for carrot week or any type ?

For during the re jigging of the lists I see I have a couple of " flyaway " carrot fly resisting varieties , judging from some of the manky fly blown csarrots I've discovered whilst clearing out the beds this last few days I need lots of flyaway types instead.

**RoOsTeR** 2/17/2013, 1:30 pm

plantoid wrote:Just been reorganising my seed records and also found loadsacarrots , I didn't realize there were at least five nantees carrot types
IE Nantees Nantees 2 , 3 ,4,& 5

Is it still to be Nantees types for carrot week or any type ?

For during the re jigging of the lists I see I have a couple of " flyaway " carrot fly resisting varieties , judging from some of the manky fly blown csarrots I've discovered whilst clearing out the beds this last few days I need lots of flyaway types instead.

David, this year we will be doing multi-colored carrots! So pick some colors Very Happy

plantoid 2/17/2013, 5:50 pm

Boss , I got 1500 mixed coloured Nantes seeds to play with for less than one of your dollars and they are all brown .............. what should I do Laughing

gskannen 2/18/2013, 10:29 am

I'm IN!!

This is my 2nd attempt on planting carrots! First time here!! cyclops

**gwennifer** 2/18/2013, 12:31 pm

Welcome to the forum gskannen! Let me know if you want any of the free packages of carrot seeds I've got - no strings attached: Carrot Week 2013 - Page 3 Carrot12

Anyone who wants some, just say publicly here which packet you'd like, then send me a PM (there's a button under the info under my avatar) with your address.

gskannen 2/18/2013, 1:02 pm

How generous are you!! Thank you! clap

I would love the rainbow blend!! I will pm you!!thank you thank you thank you!! I just hope 2nd times a charm!! silly me

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