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carrots
wrinkly1
Posts: 50
in Fruit & veg
i seem to have no luck growing carrots. so this is plan b. i am trying pellet seeds this year.. has anyone ever tried these .and what results. i thought it would save thinning . hence carrot fly.
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Carrots tend to be fairly slow to germinate anyway (though better than parsnips). I suspect that what we perceive as failure to germinate could actually be slug-munching.
You're quite right that thinning attracts carrot fly and pelleted seed allows thinner sowing, but them b*ggers can smell 'em anyway.
i thought pellets could be spaced out so no thinning needed which attracts the fly. thanks for input.verdun.
Yes, they can, as above. But they'll smell the foliage anyway.
My lack of luck manifests itself in forked specimens. I know it's my fault but I've decided it's less frustrating to buy them from the farm. They know how to grow them!
Forking is caused by the root tip dying and being replaced by lateral meristems, like pruning to axillary buds on the stem. So the trick is to avoid killing off the root tip - fresh manure will do it, as will hitting a stone or being disturbed by transplanting. Avoid those and you shoud be OK.
That's what they do.
Thank you, Steve; now I know, I might have yet another try. Wish me luck!
Verdun!!