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  • #1

    Should I fleece it?

    So... last weekend, after some lovely sunny days, I planted some carrot, radish and turnip seeds on the allotment. They are covered with a plastic cloche tunnel. The temperatures are set to drop below freezing this week. I'm going up to the allotment later - is it worth taking any fleece up with me? I am assuming nothing will have germinated yet, so if the seeds are still under ground and they have the cloche over them, will the fleece make any difference?

    Presumably, if there are any green flashes already (I highly doubt it), I should cover them with fleece under the cloche for double protection?

    Thanks for any advice.
    Likac66

    Living in her own purple world

    Loving gardening, reading, knitting and crochet.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Your carrots are unlikely to germinate, in cold wet winter soil. Sorry.
    Fleecing now won't warm the soil up: you'd have been better to warm the soil before sowing, by leaving the plastic cloche on the soil during a couple of weeks sunshine, or waited until April (like I have to). Carrots need warmth
    Last edited by Two_Sheds; 09-03-2013, 10:01 AM.
    All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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    • #3
      I'd be inclined to take it along, just in case. 2 layers of protection can provide a big increase in frost protection. Not the end of the world if they don't come up/ survive though, plenty of time to re-sow

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      • #4
        I did put the cloche down first to warm the soil. I know they might not germinate this early but the seeds are plentiful so if I have to sow again next month so be it.
        Likac66

        Living in her own purple world

        Loving gardening, reading, knitting and crochet.

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        • #5
          Good luck!

          I knew nothing about growing carrots so when my early nantes seed kit told me to plant in February I did just that! Never mind though I've still go plenty of seeds left.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by sammy_roser View Post
            my early nantes seed kit told me to plant in February
            I don't understand why they do that (they do, I know).

            "carrot may germinate at low temperatures but ...a soil temperature of at least 10 ºC is ...recommended"
            Carrot Growing - In depth guide to growing carrots
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              I sow some early carrots in my polytunnel every year in mid March (will be doing it in the next few days) and get a nice early crop every year before the outdoor ones are doing anything much. I'm not sure how well it would work under just a cloche but its definitely viable in a full sized tunnel so all may well not be lost and as everybody says, the seeds were pretty cheap and plentiful anyway.

              Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

              Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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              • #8
                I sowed some under a cloche in the polytunnel in February. They are through, but no way would I sow on the plot until we have some decent weather.
                Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

                Blog - @Twotheridge: For The Record - Sowing and Growing with a Virgin Veg Grower: Spring Has Now Sprung...Boing! http://vvgsowingandgrowing2012.blogs....html?spref=tw

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                  I don't understand why they do that (they do, I know).

                  "carrot may germinate at low temperatures but ...a soil temperature of at least 10 ºC is ...recommended"
                  Carrot Growing - In depth guide to growing carrots
                  Or if it doesn't feel cold to a bare bum! Personally I don't try this at the allotment but invested in a soil thermometer. The back of the hand is quite a good thermometer too.

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                  • #10
                    i have also sown some carrots as the packet said March, i have put a glass cover on top of the tub, fingers cross that they will pop up, if not i will try again in April.
                    Rita

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                    • #11
                      Hi Likac. I planted a few seeds in the tunnel recently - mainly salads I think, but also some carrots (following packet instructions like you!), and half a dozen remaining beetroot. I'm still fleecing the seeds even in the tunnel, using 2 layers AND a layer of bubbewrap when it gets really cold! No, there's not much poking through yet, just a few brave lettuces and plenty of weeds (how come they're so much stronger??), but I live in hope! It's not as if I needed the space for anything else at the moment, and it's fun to try things out isn't it .
                      sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by kathyd View Post
                        plenty of weeds (how come they're so much stronger??)
                        Because they've adapted to the conditions they grow in: they are ideally suited to the space you find them in, whereas your plants (veggies) are not
                        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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