Planting Summerthyme, carrot help please!

[twohats]

Summerthyme, a LONG time ago you posted instructions on starting carrot seeds with paper towels. I'm looking for that post and am just not finding it. We're dusting off the greenhouse a bit early, since all predictions are pointing to a chilly, wet summer in our neck of the woods.

Limner (using Hubby's computer )

 

[summerthyme]

Hi, Limner!

It's simple... just spritz a paper towel with water to thoroughly dampen it. Sprinkle the seeds lightly (how thick depends on whether you're going to pick the sprouted seeds off the towels and plant them individually, or plant the paper towels as sort of a giant seed tape... you'll want to space them an inch or do apart if the latter) on the damp towel.

Lay another towel over the seeds, and spray it with water to thoroughly moisten it. If you're wanting a "seed tape" to make a wide row of carrots, you can make it several towels long.

Roll up *loosely* and stash inside an OPEN plastic bag... this helps the seeds remain moist, but allows plenty of oxygen and prevents mold growth. Place in a warm (not hot... carrots refuse to sprout at soil temps above 85 degrees) spot.

IF you are just using this to presprout seeds you will then plant individually (this can be a great way to use old seed with lower germination percentage, as you only plant the seeds that show life), check daily after 3 days or so, and transplant as soon as you see tiny rootlets starting to show. If you wait too long, they'll grow into the paper towel and will be damaged when you try to remove them.

If you're going to unroll the paper towels like a giant seed tape, you can let them go a bit longer, but be careful the roots don't start growing through more than one layer of towel.

Unroll the "seed sandwich" over a well prepared growing bed, and sprinkle a thin layer of soil over it. Keep well watered until the tiny plants get established...

Summerthyme

 

[twohats]

THANK YOU very much! I have never had much luck with carrots, but I remembered Hunny saying she had had great success with your method. We're setting up large heavy totes in the greenhouse this time. Researching soil additives, etc. Are Parsnips very like growing carrots? I'm kinda wanting to try them, but our soil is so clay heavy that they seemed impossible.

 

[summerthyme]

Dunno about parsnips.

But... totes? Are you doing Earthbox clones? If not... stop! I'll see if i can find the plans for how to make a "clone" of those expensive Earthboxes they advertise... and they work wonderfully. They take half the soil a full tote would, are self watering and keep the plants from suffering from "wet feet".

BRB... gotta look for a link...

Summerthyme

 

[summerthyme]

I haven't found the exact link to the one I used (and its been 8 years... the ones we made are still holding up really well in the greenhouse. I suspect the UV would have broken them down if they were outdoors, though).

Here's one... http://thehotpepper.com/topic/40135-cheap-diy-earthbox/

Here is a PDF which seems to have several options
http://www.postoilsolutions.org/doc...Vaw2OwfHr6u0f2ezxE9aAWamf&cshid=1553255962588

Or, you can just Google "Earthbox clone plans"...

The one i used called for "pond baskets" (perforated plastic baskets used for planting water plants) but I used Dollar store plastic colanders. But it's been so long, i can't remember how they went together! I need to empty them this year and refresh the soil, so I'll get a refresher course in building them...

Summerthyme

 

[Limner]

Thanks! Off to look! We're using sturdy plastic totes from Rural King, and filling them with dirt (after drilling drainage holes). But I'm sure open to ideas.

 

[Illini Warrior]

THANK YOU very much! I have never had much luck with carrots, but I remembered Hunny saying she had had great success with your method. We're setting up large heavy totes in the greenhouse this time. Researching soil additives, etc. Are Parsnips very like growing carrots? I'm kinda wanting to try them, but our soil is so clay heavy that they seemed impossible.

that's going to give you problems with all the below ground bearing crops - loose as a goose soil is what you need - almost to the point of being unpackable into a ball - plenty of gritty sand mixed in - some gardeners are big into vermiculite ....

 

[twohats]

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that's going to give you problems with all the below ground bearing crops - loose as a goose soil is what you need - almost to the point of being unpackable into a ball - plenty of gritty sand mixed in - some gardeners are big into vermiculite ....

YUP. BTDT. That's why we're going with the boxes this year.

 

[ericha]

I also have heavy soil. I built raised beds with hauled in compost. Now carrots work great, one of my favorite crops.

 

[fish hook]

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that's going to give you problems with all the below ground bearing crops - loose as a goose soil is what you need - almost to the point of being unpackable into a ball - plenty of gritty sand mixed in - some gardeners are big into vermiculite ....

danvers half long or danvers 126 will do well in heavy soil.Might be a pain to harvest.This is a highly productive variety even in good soil.They taste good as well.

 

[Publius]

Carrots like lose soil wereas heavy clay soils or soils with rock and shale will not work well with some root crop's like carrots.
Importing sand to till in or making rased beds with lots of sand and adding amendments to it you will have better luck.

 

[Illini Warrior]

another carrot pain to get around is seeding - if you don't have a planter, you're bound to plant thick in places and need to hand thin out the extras ...

I went to wintertime prepared seed rolls for the tiny seed crops - I use cash register roll paper - some people use TP - run a glue stick down the center and you can seed space eazy with a hand dispenser >>> lay the roll down in the garden row and add a layer of sand ....

 

[fish hook]

YUP. BTDT. That's why we're going with the boxes this year.

The variety is important as well.I have had much success in clay with Danvers half long.Makes a fat sweet carrot,great for canning.I have had germination problems and plan to try Summers paper towel trick this year.

 

[Martinhouse]

Just popped into this forum to check and the mention of planting carrots mae me think of something I learned when I was 8 years old.

It was in the second Bobbsey Twins book and the children were out in the country in a garden and to plant radishes, the seeds were mixed with sand so they could be strewn along the row more easily. I would think that if this really works, it would work with just about any small seeds.

Wow! Sometimes I wonder how these things stay in my mind for so many years and then suddenly something brings them to the surface. I got the first three Bobbsey Twins books for the Christmas that I'd just turned eight. I was in second grade and got a set of six books. The other three were Five Little Peppers, Little Women and Alice in Wonderland. That was 68 years ago and I think it's possible I still have those books and they are crammed in a closet somewhere. I must have read those books several dozen times through grade school, since I had no access to any others except for the little Golden story books and one big book that had five novels for youngsters in it. Hans Brinker, Heidi, Black Beauty and two others I can't remember.

Oops, sorry to get so off track there. Betcha I think of the two other titles in that big book if I stay awake any later tonight!