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Carrots

victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
in Fruit & veg
Good afternoon every one!  This is my first year of growing fruit and vegetables.  Our soil is a clay soil and is also extremely stoney, so we are not putting the seeds of root vegetables straight into the soil, as advised by many.  They have started their way in seed trays and 
I have used a propagators.  Many of the seedlings are about 4cm high and some of the seed tray 'cups' have four or more seedlings in.  Regarding the multiple seedlings in the seed tray 'cups', should I now separate the seedlings and re-pot them in their own individual cup?  




Should I separate them carefully now, retaining what soil bank they can, apply root gel and let them continue on their own, or leave them as they are.  I hope to plant out in a fortnight, weather depending.  

I look forward to any replies.  Thank you.  Vicky

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I would leave them as they are Vicky as some root veg, like carrots and parsnips, can be damaged by repotting.  The bit you eat is the tap root if you damage this when handling them you will have no carrots I'm afraid.

    If you want to start root veg in containers I would be inclined to sow straight into the trough/tub so you don't disturb them.

    Alternatively start them in root trainers (I use newspaper or cardboard tubes) which can go straight into the ground. These are my peas but the principle is the same.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    Thank you for your advice.   That's one less thing to worry about!  Enjoy the rest of your day.  I am going back in the garden to remove more stones!
  • Captain_ChaosCaptain_Chaos Posts: 60
    herbaceous said:
    I would leave them as they are Vicky as some root veg, like carrots and parsnips, can be damaged by repotting.  The bit you eat is the tap root if you damage this when handling them you will have no carrots I'm afraid.

    If you want to start root veg in containers I would be inclined to sow straight into the trough/tub so you don't disturb them.

    Alternatively start them in root trainers (I use newspaper or cardboard tubes) which can go straight into the ground. These are my peas but the principle is the same.

    Please excuse the stupid question, but are you planting one seed per pot?  The 'freebie' carrot seeds we got with this month's mag said to scatter the packet on soil in a big pot, then thin out later. I like your plan better :)
    Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Carrots hate. being transplanted carrot fly in the other hand love it, sowed mine straight into a deep pot
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Yes @Captain_Chaos one per 'tube' and the biscuit box now looks exactly the same but has a parsnip in each tube.  Carrots always get sown straight into a raised bed with a layer of sand under them, can't be asked to piddle about trying to sow one seed per pot and then (as @Nanny Beach points out) try and hide them from the fly.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I just sprinkle them thinly in a pot keep the rest for next year
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    Thank you both .... interesting!  I put 4 or 5 seeds in each pot of compost.  Most of the seeds have grown into seedlings, but some have knotted together.  I did not know whether I should separate, apply gel and re-pot singularly.  It seems I should leave well alone!  Thank you for the advice re; the sand and the furrow.  
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    You may have to thin them you can pop them in a salad,don't need rooting gel,and they will most likely die off if you try to move them
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    Have a look n Charles Dowding no dig web site he grows carrots, parsnips, beetroot and chard spinach in modules and plants them out when ready, I grew mine like him and had a very successful crops I just thinned them when ready to harvest them.
  • victoriacadamsvictoriacadams Posts: 57
    I am impressed indeed. 

    Thank you for signposting this to me!  

    I agree that the date ranges are unhelpful for a beginner.  I will rely on the conditions and juggle other crops if needed.  I have mapped out time lines, so hopefully there may be some order.  

    Thank you again!  
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