Root crop varieties

[cazsudz]

Hi

I'm new to the boards. I started growing veg last year and did fairly well with potatoes, beans, courgettes and lettuce. This year I want to trr some other root crops. Can anyone tell me the best varieties of carrot and parsnip. I've got sandy soil - pretty thin but I dug in lots of manure last year.

Thanks for any advice

Caz

[Birdie Wife]

Hi caz, you'll need to find a bit of ground that hasn't had manure on it for at least a year - grow some potatoes on the manured bit - carrots and parsnips will fork if the ground is too rich. Your sandy soil sounds perfect for growing really lovely long roots.

I've always grown parsnip "Tender and True" and it's never let me down. Sadly I don't have anything to compare it to! I've heard some parsnips have a tendency to woodiness in the centre of the stem, and the thing I like about "Tender and True" is that this doesn't happen as much, so I can leave them in the ground as long as I like and harvest them at virtually any size, and they are delish.

[cazsudz]

THanks Birdie-wife

The piece of ground I was thinking of was manured last spring but nothing since. Its had leeks on over winter, though they didn't do that well ( got rust). Do you think this will be OK?

Caz

[Birdie Wife]

It might be okay - if that's the most suitable bit of ground you have, then I'd say go for it!

[SarzWix]

Lucky you for having sandy soil Caz Mine is quite heavy and my carrots have been a miserable failure for 2 years! I've got a couple of huge troughs to try them in this year - fingers crossed! The only one I had any success with last year was Sugarsnax in pots, and they were really lovely, I'd happily recommend them.

[Cutecumber]

Some good carrots I have grown...

Amsterdam forcing - early/ standard quick and easy to grow
Maestro - good ordinary carrot, supposed to be less attractive to carrot root fly
Autumn King - late maincrop, big roots, big tops.

Remember that carrot root fly is a widespread problem in the UK. Try growing without protection your first year and see how they get on - that's the only way of telling if it is a problem in your area. To second-guess them, cover your new-sown seeds with smoe fleece or fine mesh. It's not pretty, but you should get a healthy crop.

[moggssue]

I grew Amsterdam Forcing last year and they were yummy, though only a very small variety (on stony soil and in pots). I'm sure you could get away with more of a maincrop type on your soil Caz.

[momol]

Hello Caz and wellcome to the vine.
So far I have grown only parmex and Black carrot. The black carrot is ok not as sweet as normal orange one but the parmex is very sweet, cryspy and cute. I am looking forward for growing sugar snack and ox heart carrot this year but has no idea for now .

Momol

[cazsudz]

Thanks to everyone for their help. Will try autumn King carrots and have a packet of early nantes someone gave me yesterday.

Caz

[Nicos]

Hi Caz...welcome to the Vine!!

I tend to grow multi-legged carrots even though I don't add anything to the soil!!
( so you won't be wanting advice from me!!!)

[Two_Sheds]

I apparently grow Slugs Favourite.

I got some Purple Dragon to the table once, in 2005. Nothing since.

[Cutecumber]

Whack some in a container, Two_Sheds, make yourself feel better

[momol]

Hi Caz...welcome to the Vine!!

I tend to grow multi-legged carrots even though I don't add anything to the soil!!
( so you won't be wanting advice from me!!!)

Go for Parmex Nicos, it gives no legs just ping pong ball round...

Momol