A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Carrot Problem

Ok... We have never had much luck with carrots before, and I am really gonna try to get it to work this time. So, all I need to know is...EVERYTHING!!! How deep to till, fertilizer?, spacing, etc. Oh, the soil is a bit like clay... I've heard that's bad? I'll really appreciate your help!

-Sarah

Yes, hard, clay soil is not good at all for carrots. They like very loose, deep soil to grow well formed roots. You should start by amending the soil heavily with compost or some other organic material and maybe a bit of sand. Carrots should be direct seeded only and covered with a starting mix that won't crust up before the seed germinates. Thin plants to about four to six inches. If you have room, think about making a small raised bed in your garden solely for root crops with very loose, fertile soil. Good luck.

Thanks John! I appreciate your help. But I have another question. When I tilled up the ground yesterday, I only went about half as deep as I could have because that seemed to work for the other veggies. Do I need to go back over my "carrot spot" with the blade as far down as it goes?

Thanks again! -Sarah

PS. How do I figure out my zone to post after my name?

Yes, I would. Depending on the variety you were planning on planting, ideally you want a minimum of 8" of loose soil. Try varieties like Nantes or Danvers half-long that only get to 5-6 inches until you can get a nice deep root patch.

Its called a signature. Click Profile/Messages link above, edit profile, and add what you'd like to your "Signature"

Yep Compost!!
And light soil....

ok. Thanks again, guys. But I still don't know how to figure out WHICH zone I'm in...?

Chad, here is the USDA hardiness zone map for your area

ps
my friend in Beaverton, MI is in zone 5.
If thats close to you or not, i dunno'.

Wrennie, a fellow weed lover???? Me too ! You will never see me pulling out dandelions, sourgrass, or mustard !!!
And I WISH my violets (viola odorata) would take over every empty space there is !

Wooo! Im glad I read this! I have a bag of sand sitting out there that I was getting ready to spread.

You do hear that all the time though.

Hey, can I ask a carrot question too? I got some organic humus and manure, 40# bags, any idea how much to use on a 3'x5' area? I dont want to use too much or too little

Karen

That's not exactly true. Sand will not turn clay soil harder. There must have been something else at work to cause that. Pure physics will dictate that mixing sand and silt will create loam. Of course, compost will create GOLD.

Karen, use it all!

I just talked with my dad. See, I thought I had heard him saying that our soil was a bit "clayish", but I asked him again anyway. Good thing. He says it's more of a "sandy loam" whatever that is. Anybody?

Sandy loam is great for carrots,
usually those have a depth to them,
and easily drain and things like carrots can
dig down deep...

Only you do have to watch for watering if it's loamy...as if it's fast draining, *and not much compost added to retain a wee~bit of moisture*
any root crops can be hot *like raddish's* and woody *tough*...
Just keep slightly moist...
and they'll be fine...

And I love weeds too...
*did you know that dandelions are actually very good for the soil, as their roots dig very far down and break up soil...
and you can eat the young leaves...

I didn't always have luck with my carrots because when they started coming out, they looked so good that I found it a shame to thin them, thinking I would have more carrots. WRONG! The result in the end was carrots which were mostly tops, but no carrots underneath. Now, I do get the nerve to thin them, and find I get big carrots with a bigger harvest.

Sarah, I loved your Scripture ! I really enjoy Bible verses. How lovely to include this one here.

Thanks guys, for all the help!!! I believe that I am ready to give my best shot at growing big juicy carrots!!! Thanks!