Autumn Carrots

**Two_Sheds** · 27-10-2011, 02:04 PM

Personally, I think end of July is a little late to be sowing Autumn King (let me check, back in a mo)...

... yep, it's at the very end of the sowing period: Carrot 'Autumn King 2' - Carrot & Parsnip Seeds - Thompson & Morgan

Remember, days are shortening after mid June, and a lot of plants put on their growth in the longer days

**BUFFS** · 27-10-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by Tripmeup View Post

Hi

I sowed "Autumn King" Carrot seeds on 26th July and kept them covered with fleece from then on to avoid the dreaded carrot fly...
All has gone well and they have grown but at this stage (pulled some yesterday) I woudl have expected them to be a bit larger than they were at this point in time....

I didn't thin them at all, but then again I didn't thin my Spring sown ones, and they were sizeable enough after 3 months....

Is it ok to leave these in the ground for another month or so to see if they fill out another bit...??

thanks

i sowed some of the same start of july and now at the tail end of october they are 1/4" thick and1 -2" long,not even worth throwing on the compost bin,i reckon its all down to the weather(lack of any sunlight) as they were brilliant last year,maybe we will get more than 4 days sun next year,not holding my breath as heavy overcast cloud has become the norm...a lad down the road said "pit ponies see more light than we have",and even if joking,he was probably right..

**Aberdeenplotter** · 27-10-2011, 04:17 PM

Sow them in April next year

Seriously

**Thelma Sanders** · 27-10-2011, 04:17 PM

I always sow Autumn King in July or even August, but they've not grown much this year

I'm blaming it on the weather, as usual

win some lose some!

**Ananke** · 28-10-2011, 12:29 AM

Mine are the same. I have mine in bins so think i'll just move them into the greenhouse and leave them over winter, see what happens.

**Aberdeenplotter** · 28-10-2011, 06:51 AM

By July the days are already shortening. If you want a decent crop, you have to give them half a chance.

**Thelma Sanders** · 28-10-2011, 10:56 AM

You may have to sow them earlier in the North, but most carrots can be sown successfully in July further south, even in August sometimes, but the weather has been strange everywhere this year, hasn't it

**oldie** · 28-10-2011, 11:31 AM

Iv'e just had a look at my Autumn King and strangely the June sown ones are not as good as the July ones. As Thelma says weather has played a few tricks this year.

**Tripmeup** · 28-10-2011, 07:27 PM

Hey all.

thanks for the replies ..! Checked my records and whilst the seeds can be sown up to end July, I was close to this sowing them..
Pulled another few today to see if the first ones were just an unlucky grab, but these were weak ones too..even our rabbit looked at me when I offered them to her....!!

But from reading the replies here , I am not alone with this problem, so at least it wasnt all my fault..!!

how long can I leave them there or will they not improve any more at this stage..?

thanks

**oldie** · 28-10-2011, 08:16 PM

I leave mine in the ground mulched with straw and harvest as needed but I don't expect a lot more growth now.

**Two_Sheds** · 29-10-2011, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by Thelma Sanders View Post

most carrots can be sown successfully in July further south, even in August sometimes

That's true for the quick growers that you eat small & sweet, but Autumn King is a whopping big maincrop carrot, meant to stand in the ground throughout autumn (not growing, just standing without splitting). "It is one of the largest of carrots and last to mature"

**Thelma Sanders** · 29-10-2011, 11:14 AM

I know, cos Autumn King is what I grow, and usually succesfully - just not this year

My seeds are from D T Brown, and their site suggests you can sow them as late as August........
Carrot, Autumn King 2 AGM Seeds

so it just depends on your local climate, I suppose

**BUFFS** · 29-10-2011, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post

By July the days are already shortening. If you want a decent crop, you have to give them half a chance.

usually they grow very well and autumn king tastes quite good,maybe next year

**jacob** · 29-10-2011, 12:56 PM

Well, I think I sowed my AK at the end of March and they're still not very impressive. Although that *could* be because I'm the world's worst thinner...

Announcement

Autumn Carrots

Autumn Carrots

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts