growing carrots in containers
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
Just thinking of sowing some Early Nantes carrot seed in an empty, deep 12/15" plastic crate in our cold GH. If you have grown them this way I would value your advice.
We have a quite heavy enriched soil, which isn't ideal, so I thought of mixing it with some gravel to help with the drainage.
My OH has always grown the carrots in the past, but they have been to put it kindly - RUBBISH, those that have actually grown have been forked and stunted, partially eaten etc, more miss than hit.
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Carrots do well grown in containers. As you realise, it's the soil that's important and, yes, the sandier, the better. Sand or fine grit rather than gravel
H-C
Also - it helps guard against carrot fly if the container's tall enough. Yours sounds ideal GD
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes and as HC says, sand or fine grit rather than gravel or they will fork. They will grow in pure sand if you give them a regular liquid feed but I usually grow them in 50/50 sharp sand and used compost.
Last edited: 06 February 2017 18:48:39
Thanks Bob, Fairy & Hortum. It seems like I have10/10 for the container, but I will have to try to source some sharp sand or fine grit. The packet says I can plant during Jan/Feb under cloches so I had better get my skates on!
Great idea GD i think i may just pinch your idea and try some carrots in containers, we both better get our skates on ?
o.k. Loana, I'll post a picture of mine when they germinate and you can do the same, compare notes, and finally taste. Good Luck!
don't be tempted to add much nutrient to the sandy compost mix. It's not only the texture that helps the carrots, but a low food content also reduces the forking - Bob's sand and used compost would be much less effective it was, for example, sand and new compost. Or worst - manure.
Yes raisingirl, it would be no good taking the soil from our veg patch to use for the carrot container, which is probably why my OH's carrots have been such a disaster. You see we pile the contents of a compost heap on the veg patch every winter, and add quite a bit of manure too, then fork it all down before planting crops such as courgettes, beetroot, squash, lettuce, radish and a few potatoes,
Ooh! I'd not thought of container carrots before! I was wondering how to grow some as my soil is rather manure laiden with my over enthusiastic efforts to feed the weeds.
Now to find a suitable tub... Well I have been meaning a trip ton the antiques quarter...
Please do let us know how you get on!
My neighbour grows his in an old bath tub. Seems to work
Last edited: 07 February 2017 09:28:22