Carrot Bed

Gary Burgess · March 2020

After 3 years of having a nightmare with carrots in my main beds (too rich etc) I have decided to start a new raised bed for just carrots. Can anyone recommend a soil combination.

raisingirl · March 2020

I tend to collect my old spent multi-purpose compost (not if the plant that was in it before showed any sign of disease, especially damping off) then mix it about 50/50 with sharp sand for carrots. No idea if this is 'right' but it seems to work for me so far. I do grow them in deep pots though, not in open ground or beds. Every creature in the county wants to eat carrots/carrot tops and tubs are easier to protect. That means my carrots are not in that 'soil' for the long term, season after season.
A sharp sand mix is probably a good place to start in your raised bed though

BobTheGardener · March 2020

I agree, 50% sharp sand and 50% 'spent' MPC works here too in 50cm high raised beds.

I mix-in a light sprinkling of fish, blood and bone fertilizer every year to provide a bit of nutrient but carrots don't need much at all in the way of feeding. Many years ago, there was a programme on TV about an island lighthouse keeper and he successfully grew carrots in what looked like almost pure sand (and, given it was an island, probably some salt in it too, so don't worry about any comments you may come accross when searching which mention that there may be salt in in some sharp sands!)

Smudgerii · March 2020

I use a 50/50 mix of MPC and used coffee grinds in a raised bed. Worked great

NewBoy2 · March 2020

This is what mine is made up of with the pebbles at the bottom

each layer was 3 inches.

Top soil
Manure
Top soil
Manure
Top soil
Pebbles

My thoughts were that the pebbles would allow drainage and the worms in the manure would aerate the soil and make their roads whilst the top soil would allow easier passage of the roots.

Mine is 30 inches deep and grew 18 inch long parships in year one

Happy Growing

Carrot Bed

Posts