Planted autumn king carrots too close together?

[josie33]

Hi,

Yesterday I pricked out and planted my autumn king carrot seedlings into their permanent spot under a poly tunnel. I read the spacing was 3" but have pretty much followed this in each direction, e.g. between plants and rows (maybe closer to 4" between rows). Should I thin them out or will they be ok?

[bario1]

Leave them be, and pull alternate rows as baby veg, leaving the remainder to grow on to full size with plenty of room?

[lottie dolly]

am going to sprinkle a few seeds every 3 or 4 inch,with a foot between rows,that gives a reasonable space for them the grow,also you will see better where they are as they germinate,

[Scarlet]

Yesterday I pricked out and planted my autumn king carrot seedlings into their permanent spot under a poly tunnel.

Carrots don't normally transplant very well - the tap root gets damaged and can fork badly as a result.
It may be worth you sowing some more now just in case...

[Jonnyt]

You will be very lucky to get anything other than forked monstrosities by transplanting carrots.
I plant mine not in rows but in areas with 2 inch between seeds. Get loads of beauties without thinning.

[Alison]

Carrots are much better sown direct . I will be sowing mine next weekend, little pinch (approx 3 seeds) every 3+" along the row and 6" between rows. Gives me lovely big carrots come autumn. My early carrots were sown a bit back in the tunnel at slightly closer spacing as I pick them smaller.

[Two_Sheds]

Isn't it a bit early to sow the autumn standing carrots?

*wonders if they'll last all summer*

[Alison]

Isn't it a bit early to sow the autumn standing carrots?

*wonders if they'll last all summer*

I always sow mine mid April so they'll go in at the weekend. Never pull any until Septemberish then dig them up as I need them over autumn / winter. Still have a few in the ground now which will probably get eaten at the weekend.