Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello all once again,

I would like some advise regarding the sowing of parsnip and carrots together.
I originally thought this would not be a problem, however someone warned me otherwise.
I have sown parsnips already in a bath (filled with compost and riddled clay soil from the rest of the allotment) and wanted the tap end to be brim full of baby carrots.
Any ideas, or other crops worth raising in my bath based raised beds (currently 4 baths waiting to be filled!).

Thanks
Steve

Sorry can't help with this one! Have been told that those who grow parsnips well can't grow a carrot - which is certaintly true for me!

Will watch with interest

Terry

Humm...
Not really had a problem, both on peat nor clay.
Parsnips certainly need warmer soil to germinate but other than that, I've never noticed a difference!
I always use fleece most of the year - if that's a help???
(I have always sown direct into the soil in early/mid May)

Erm... is there any drainage in that bath, or is it likely to get water-logged?

__________________
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I'd be worried about using a bath as a raised bed. Is there enough drainage? Specially if you're using clay soil in it. Having said that, if it's well enough drained you shouldn't have a problem. I would sow carrots at one end and parsnips at the other.

I hope there will be enough drainage...

Lots of stones at bottom, with one (obviously) hole in tub, i made sure it was levelled first! I also put stones by the water outlet underneath the bath.

Can anyone let me know then their best recommendations for germinating carrots.

thanks, steve

The biggest problem I have with sowing carrots direct in my lovely clay soil is "capping-off", where the surface of the soil goes hard when it dries out & the carrot seedling can't break through. To combat this, i now cover the seeds with multi purpose compost, rather than garden soil. Seems to work, then there's only the slugs & snails to worry about!
Good luck!

__________________
Sarah

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I hope that the slugs and snails will be more detered by the scales of the bath.
I also heard that vaseline provides a barrier against these pests, if so i could put a line of it on the underside of the bath lip, therefore protected from the elements too...