What has happened to my Carrot seeds?

[boxy1974]

Hi all. On the 13th of February i put in a packet of Nantes Carrots. Today i have check my raised bed and nothing. Should i have seen some action by now? Do you think it could be a dud packet. Or should i just wait a little bit longer?

[shirlthegirl43]

the soil might still be a bit chilly for them to germinate. or they may have appeared and been nobbled by slugs/snails.

[soyo]

yes I reckon its soil temp, still quite early
i read the soil temp should be at least 7C

[elsie-scot]

When the weeds start to grow in that patch then you know that the carrot seeds should start to germinate

[Two_Sheds]

i read the soil temp should be at least 7C

At least 10c, I read

There is the additional problem of snails & slugs grazing them off as they appear

[Poddington Pea]

Don't worry! I was thinking the same thing. I'd scattered a few over the soil, not really expecting much, but hoping I could get a few started early, popped a fleece over them and waited, waited, waited. Then when I thought they were too early, too cold and not growing I spotted a few weedlings. When I had a proper look I saw many, many seedlings in with all those damn weedlings!
So don't give up hope, just be patient.
x
P.S. SAme with my parsnips. I sowed them ages ago (can't remember precisely, but it was soooooo long ago) and finally they have popped up too.

[Lotsaveg]

wow! I need to get my parsnip seeds in by the sound of things!! I thought it was advisable to wait until April to ensure good germination though .

[Poddington Pea]

wow! I need to get my parsnip seeds in by the sound of things!! I thought it was advisable to wait until April to ensure good germination though .

I think you're right, on the packet mine say you can sow them during January, but I was going to pop some in loo rolls too. I haven't grown them before so thought I'd try a few using the V shape hole- filled with seed compost method, and it worked! YAY!!
It did take a really long time for them to come up and I only sowed 2 per hole to make sure I didn't waist too many (I've found I'm tight like that)
Give it a go
x

[teakdesk]

Hi all. On the 13th of February i put in a packet of Nantes Carrots. ... Or should i just wait a little bit longer?

On 19th Feb I sowed carrots in a 20 inch pot in my un-heated greenhouse.

Last friday (ie after waiting 4 weeks) nothing had germinated but as I needed space in the greenhouse I put the pot outside.

Today (ie only 4 days later) I have little seedlings.

There is the additional problem of snails & slugs grazing them off as they appear

Yup, I doubt this year will bring anymore success than usual if I don't go and buy some slug pellets!!!



.

[Kristen]

wow! I need to get my parsnip seeds in by the sound of things!! I thought it was advisable to wait until April to ensure good germination though

Yup, now onwards is good. They will germinate if sown earlier, but they will wait ages before doing so, and much seed will rot or fail if the ground is cold & wet, particularly if the soil is heavy, so there isn't much advantage in my opinion.

[Florence Fennel]

I sowed my first batch of carrots on Monday. Sitting on my hands to prevent me sowing the parsnip too early. It took me 4 tries before I got some to grow last year!

[fiskies]

I read this thread last night and too wondered what's happening with my carrots sown at intervals from mid feb onwards, a bit worried I had a good inspection of my carrot council tub this morning and a few are starting to pop through, ust be this lovley weather we've been having in my area.

[Jono]

You could try covering the soil with fleece or black tarpaulin next time to warm the soil up.

I did this last year and got a few up. Germination wasn't perfect still though.

[rob the roller]

I have never been able to grow carrots in the ground. After many failures I got them to grow in compost in an old cistern. I am now growing them in raised beds. The beds are actually parts of a square section composter. The sections are about 6" high and I grow the carrots in beds comprising 3 sections, which is about 1'6" high. I am wondering whether to try growing parsnips, which I have also never had any luck with, by the same method.

Best

Rob

[gojiberry]

Will be sowing my carrots this week. We have had a good week of good temperatures and they are continuing until at least Sat so looks like a good time to start them off. I have some tubs that I started in the greenhouse (now outside) in early Feb and they have been up for ages. Have two rows of parsnips out on the lottie but they were started in loo rolls.

Ian