The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: GaryB1123 on August 05, 2015, 11:48:21 pm

Title: Growing carrots
Post by: GaryB1123 on August 05, 2015, 11:48:21 pm

I live on a mountain, it's gets real cold in winter....the ground is frozen solid.
 Should I be growing my carrots in a poly tunnel?

Thanks
Gary

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: Cosmore on August 06, 2015, 11:57:45 am

Quote from: GaryB1123 on August 05, 2015, 11:48:21 pm

I live on a mountain, it's gets real cold in winter....the ground is frozen solid.
 Should I be growing my carrots in a poly tunnel?

Thanks
Gary

gets real cold in winter....the ground is frozen solid. Permafrost? :o . ;D .

Hi, Ummm..if it's that cold, would a poly tunnel make any difference? I would think a heated greenhouse would be more use? :innocent: .
If you're on a mountain, I would worry about the wind, I imagine that it could be quite strong at times, certainly enough to damage a poly tunnel?
Good luck anyway - I don't envy you growing carrots! :) .

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: Jukes Mum on August 06, 2015, 01:18:45 pm

Where is your mountain?
Can you not grow carrots in summer?

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: pgkevet on August 06, 2015, 03:51:40 pm

The idea has to be to sow them early enough and then dig and store...or spend a fortune on soil warming cables.....

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: SallyN on August 07, 2015, 11:37:42 pm

how about making yourself a hot box and sowing into that? would stay warm most of the winter even if it is freezing outside...

I'm thinking you're either living on the top of Snowdon or Ben Nevis, or you're in a different country ;D

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: devonlady on August 08, 2015, 08:12:54 am

Were you thinking of harvesting your carrots as and when you need them as we can in the "Soft South"? If so, then no, you can't. You would need to grow your main crop carrots throughout the summer, dig them up before the first frosts and store them in sand/peat in containers in a frost free place. Hope this helps!

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: GaryB1123 on August 10, 2015, 11:22:38 pm

Thanks follow.. A few replies include 'storing carrots'...how do. Store them and keep them fresh?

Thanks,

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: devonlady on August 11, 2015, 11:33:17 pm

When you dig them look them over carefully. Any that are damaged use up in soup or stews or puree and freeze. Get a container, put in a layer of one third sand two thirds peat and put in carrots, not touching each other, another layer of peat and sand, more carrots and so on.
You must make sure that the carrots don't touch each other in the  rows or in the layers. The store them in a frost free place.

Is this a WU?

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: GaryB1123 on August 14, 2015, 11:07:51 pm

 :roflanim:thanks for the reply, What is a 'wu'?

Title: Re: Growing carrots
Post by: cloddopper on August 16, 2015, 12:26:29 am

There is a type of carrot known as a ball carrot . the name gives the game away.
 
They take 21 days or more to germinate and become carrot balls about 30 mm in diameter as well as having very little root. The ball forms 2/3 rds  in , 1/3 rd  out the soil .
The variety of ball carrots I have in the gardens has been there for over four months and is just about ready for harvesting .


You can grown them in home made 1 mtr square trays of 6 inch deep quality soil or large 40 litre plus pots that have not been fertilized or manured for at least 18 months . They also grow very well in " cold frames " as do normal carrots if the soil is deep enough