I have been a bit early then as mine have just popped up, I wanted them to be the size of the ones I bought in May last year before putting them in the bed. If it's a bit before that I will cover them up to keep them warm. Fingers crossed.
I know I've sown them early, the packets said April, but I live in the second mildest spot in the UK, so I usually get away with sowing a couple of weeks early. Just not with carrots!
After ten years or so of trying, last year was our best ever! We sowed the carrots in a new high raised bed and put lots of sharp sand in the top soil mix. I think the sandy mix just tipped the odds in our favour. Most of the seeds germinated and I had to thin them out. Going to try again this year.
A couple of years ago I bought some play sand for a children's party, since when it's been wrapped up in the garage. Would that be ok to mix with soil for carrots?
I have no experience of play sand, but I'd guess that play sand is rather fine and soft like builders sand which is not going to help break up soil, fine sand (builders sand) will bind particles together making clay soil worse.
Sharp sand or grit is best to open the soil.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I too, have had difficulty in growing carrots in my heavy soil, so no longer attempt to grow them this way. I obtain polystyrene boxes which are often placed outside shops awaiting rubbish collection. These I fill with JI no 2, not forgetting a few drainage holes. This method never fails. Don't forget to cover with fleece later in the season, against the carrot root fly.
Heavy clay for me so impossible to grow in the ground. Only success I had was using a potato bag and filling it with one third multi purpose compost and two thirds sand. Plus fleece over top to prevent carrot fly.
Fine soil with added sand grown early in boxes staggered so you have plenty to pick over a period of time. Once seed sown net on and don't remove and keep at least 18 inches above ground great results
Posts
Sharp sand or grit is best to open the soil.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.