I feel REALLY silly asking this but...

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 11:44 AM

Not a silly question at all - I reckon there's a ton of people out there who are dying to know the same thing.

With larger seeds it's easier to sown one by one, but as you say with smaller seeds such as carrots it's far more difficult.

This is where "thinning out" comes into play - a phrase you will undoubtedly encounter.

Sow the seeds as thinly as you can (whilst not being to exact about it) and then as the seeds germinate remove the weaker looking ones and gradually you will end up with a line, or row of well spaced seedlings that will continue to grow.

Some folk (including myself) feel a little harsh casting aside these weaker seedlings, but it's all for the greater good.

Not a daft question at all. Good luck.

**Flummery** · 12-07-2010, 11:47 AM

I wouldn't sow carrots in a hole, but in what is called a drill. You make a shallow groove and sow them as thinly as you can. Take a few between forefinger and thumb and sprinkle them along the drill. This means, of course, that somethimes you get them too close together. In this case you 'thin them out' by gently pulling out the ones you don't want. Try to leave an even space between the ones you leave, and gently press the soil around those you are keeping when you pull up the spares, so as not to disturb the roots too much. You can eat the thinnings if they are big enough.

It's only a basic question the first time you do it! We all started knowing nowt!

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 11:48 AM

I'm pretty sure you can buy seed applicators that allow you to sow really thinly (some maybe even one at a time) but I wouldn't bother.

Precision Seed Sower

Oh, and there's always seed tapes...

Carrot : Early Nantes 2 Seed Tape (Seeds)

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by Flummery View Post

I wouldn't sow carrots in a hole, but in what is called a drill. You make a shallow groove and sow them as thinly as you can. Take a few between forefinger and thumb and sprinkle them along the drill. This means, of course, that somethimes you get them too close together. In this case you 'thin them out' by gently pulling out the ones you don't want. Try to leave an even space between the ones you leave, and gently press the soil around those you are keeping when you pull up the spares, so as not to disturb the roots too much. You can eat the thinnings if they are big enough.

It's only a basic question the first time you do it! We all started knowing nowt!

Like wot Ma said. Everything is built on basics.

**RobbieJam** · 12-07-2010, 11:51 AM

That's great, thanks for that!

When you say sow them thinly do you mean close together in their rows or just a few in each hole, ideally one?

**RobbieJam** · 12-07-2010, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by RobbieJam View Post

That's great, thanks for that!

When you say sow them thinly do you mean close together in their rows or just a few in each hole, ideally one?

Sorry I finished typing this then realised there were more replies.

Thank for for all the advice, I shall now go away and give it a go!

**RobbieJam** · 12-07-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by HeyWayne View Post

Oh, and there's always seed tapes...

Carrot : Early Nantes 2 Seed Tape (Seeds)

Just looking on the internet at seed tapes, they look great! Might be aimed at kids but will probably ease me into growing

**Bigmallly** · 12-07-2010, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by RobbieJam View Post

Sorry I finished typing this then realised there were more replies.

Thank for for all the advice, I shall now go away and give it a go!

With regards to carrots, you can also broadcast sow them. That means scatter the seeds on the soil as you would with grass seeds then just cover them lightly. You may also need to thin them.

**RobbieJam** · 12-07-2010, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post

With regards to carrots, you can also broadcast sow them. That means scatter the seeds on the soil as you would with grass seeds then just cover them lightly. You may also need to thin them.

Thanks Mally, that sounds like an easy way to do it!

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by RobbieJam View Post

Thanks Mally, that sounds like an easy way to do it!

Just make sure you know what a carrot seedling looks like - otherwise weeding could be fun.

**RobbieJam** · 12-07-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by HeyWayne View Post

Just make sure you know what a carrot seedling looks like - otherwise weeding could be fun.

Haha good point! I better learn the difference, fast

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by RobbieJam View Post

Haha good point! I better learn the difference, fast

Or sow in rows. I soon learned that one - every day's a school day.

**Alison** · 12-07-2010, 12:13 PM

I sow my carrots in pinches not by scattering so I make the row as Flum says and then put a small pinch of seeds at the required eventual spacing. When they've grown on a bit I thin out to one per location and sorted. I can't do broadcasting easily as there are too many weeds in my beds and it can be hard to work out what's a weed and what's a required plant when the seedlings are very small so straight line rows help.

**HeyWayne** · 12-07-2010, 12:18 PM

You could of course try sowing carrots in loo roll centres - but that's another game.

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