disappearing carrot seedlings

bookmonster

I started my carrots off indoors in coir pots, and had a good germination rate. I hardened them off when the roots were growing out of the bottom of the coir pots. However, survival rate has been small. I haven't seen a lot of slug trails around them. Any general tips for starting carrots? Size of coir pots to use? If I direct sow the mice/birds/slugs get there first...

Pete.8

I've tried starting carrots off in plugs etc and not had much luck.
If I sow thinly outside about 1/2" deep (water where you're going to sow them before sowing, then just brush over some soil to cover the seed) they're usually up in about a week.
I've not had problems with anything nibbling them - maybe slugs will have a go when they're just up, so I put down just a few pellets to give them a chance, but then they're on their own.
If you sow thinly, then you wont need to thin them out. When you thin them the smell often attracts the dreaded carrot fly.
I've grown carrot Flyaway the last 2 yrs and had no carrot fly problems

Dovefromabove

I've always sowed carrot seed direct ... never had a problem that way.  I don't start any root crops in pots ... I find they're all best direct sown. 

bookmonster

Oh well, i'll have to find some non carrot things to try and grow, I direct sowed 2 or three batches this year and just one has come up.

Dovefromabove

Was the seed fresh?  Carrot seed doesn't remain viable very long    

bookmonster

It was. I've just done another sowing, we'll see

LauraRoslin

Have to admit I gave up sowing carrots after a couple of seasons of none of them growing.