thinning carrots

ckernsgarden 3/15/2010, 4:26 pm

A question about thinning out carrots. Please help solve a dilema. We followed the directions for planting carrots (All New SFG book, page 201) and are pleased that 2 short varieties are now showing up. I say it is nearly time to thin them down to one sprout/sprig per hole (16/square) following the instructions around page 37-39. My dear husband says that nowhere in the book does it say to specifically thin carrots (esp on page 201 under carrots) so we shouldn't thin them. I don't see how 30-40 carrots can grow where 16 are plotted. Who wins this one?
Thanks C in So Cal

gridgardener 3/15/2010, 4:42 pm

you don't need to thin. you can plant at final spacing

ckernsgarden 3/15/2010, 4:59 pm

In response to "You don't need to thin; plant at final spacing" I am unclear. We are new to gardening and can follow written directions. Under Carrots (All New, page 201) it says to "plant 2 or 3 seeds in each of the 16 spaces in a square." That's from Mel's book so we did. Now when 2-3 appear in each space, do we thin down to just one in each space?? C

ayanefan 3/15/2010, 5:25 pm

What you do is to plant the 2 or 3 seeds in each hole, so you would get 16 holes with 2 or 3 seeds each. When the seeds germinate, you will get the first leaves; if you have more than 1 plant from one of the holes (ex: if you get 2 plants coming out of 1 hole), use scissors and snip the head off the weakest stem so you end up with 1 plant per hole. You will end up with 16 carrots (1 from each hole) after you thin it out.

ckernsgarden 3/15/2010, 6:05 pm

Thank you so much! That's just what I thought was proper procedure. (grin) C

boffer 3/15/2010, 7:38 pm

Say what they will, carrot seeds are a booger to plant one to a hole. There's all kinds of ideas and gizmos for making the task easier, but I don't know if they do.

I use scissors in my gardens more than a trowel. Like ayanefan suggested, just snip off the unwanted carrot greens. I usually wait till they're 2 inches tall, it makes it easier.

Planting carrots in a tabletop SFG makes it easier yet!

ckernsgarden 3/15/2010, 10:08 pm

Thanks for the help for our back porch tabletop SFG. It is waist high and visible from our kitchen and back door. We currently have 3 2x2' boxes with outside handles on two sides for the rare moving of boxes. I am prepared to snip the carrot tops with scissors as stated in the All New book on page 37-39 but am glad to know that I should wait until the 2" height before snipping. Timely help on this forum.
Guess I won this debate (grin). C

boffer 3/15/2010, 11:03 pm

I think you did!

Snipping carrots at TT height is actually kinda fun. It's like giving a haircut and looking for any wispies to snip off!

ckernsgarden 3/16/2010, 12:21 am

A haircut? I can do that! I am the haircutter for the family. Husband (flattop- very tough to get it perfect), grown son since he was a teen, and occasionally my own (esp between perms). Thanks Boffer! I know I can trim 2" carrots with scissors. C

gridgardener 3/16/2010, 1:17 am

well mel himself suggested in first book" you don't need to thin. you can plant at final spacing. if the seeds does not sprout you go back and fill gaps. the only problem with this as mel states on page 38 is that it hard and tedious to single seed sow small, and irregular shaped seeds.

there is also issue of compound seeds such as beets.
for most seeds except celery and poppy seeds a tweezers will help place seeds.
the seeds that are exception i go by mels method on thinning on page 38.

ckernsgarden 3/16/2010, 10:18 am

We are new to gardening and purchased Mel's All New SFG book but have checked out and read the previous version from the library. From a newbie perspective it would have been nice to have read some kind of reference or sentence under Carrots on page 201 at least referring to the thinning process after carefully following the directions there to "plant 2 or 3 seeds in each of the 16 spaces per foot". When you've never done something at all, you tend to follow directions and not guess. Too bad it wasn't clear to this new gardener straight from the new book. Thankful for this forum and all of your help. C
P.S. For Gridgardener- How do you know which seeds are the exception? What page is that written? Or is it the learning process in your own garden? I really am trying to learn, not just guess.

gridgardener 3/16/2010, 12:49 pm

the reason i know is one read book and two i been gardening for over 15 years.
seeds that are exceptions that need to thinned since they are very small hard plant one at time (celery,poppy, cole crops) seeds. Seeds that are compound like most seeds for most varieties beets need be thinned since more one seed may sprout.
most of rest of veg seeds are easy to plant do not need to be thinned since that are easy to plant at final spacing.

Sponsored content

thinning carrots

thinning carrots

Re: thinning carrots

final spacing?

Re: thinning carrots

thank you

Re: thinning carrots

thanks

Re: thinning carrots

haircut anyone?

Re: thinning carrots

only have new book

Re: thinning carrots

Re: thinning carrots


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.