carrots, sow again or give up

[jacob]

So, my carrots have either had poor germination or have been mown down by slugs and snails (a mixture of both, I think). My own fault for sowing a bit late in the first place.

Should I do a resow, or just give up and put something else there (maybe do a few in pots)?

The last time I had carrot issues, in 2012's wash out, I sowed about 4 times, and the snails removed everything the moment if showed its head.

[Scarlet]

I'm much further south than you but I've sown the end June/early July and had a decent crop (autumn King) although if you are plagued by slugs either try something else or use slug pellets. I've nev.er used them as I've got chickens but you can get organic ones or perhaps try beer traps and do the odd collecting with a torch in the evening.

[Scoot]

The first lot of carrots I put in will be ready by the end of June I reckon. I've just sowed some more this past week in the garden and in another pot. Once the first ones are ready by the end of this month I will be re-sowing again.

A couple of years ago I planted carrots in July and harvested them for Xmas dinner.

[cazp]

To prevent slug damage I find that nematodes works well, or else a generous sprinkling of vermiculite over the sowed area - which is viable if the area to be protected isn't to large.

Pots is a great idea as carrots can be closely spaced. I have raised beds and use the "square foot gardening" method growing 16 carrot plants per 30cm square and get really good sized carrots. I used to apply the same spacing for pots before we got the raised beds and had equally good sized carrots.

Carrots (before thinning out) and other veg in flower buckets:

[Greenleaves]

Loads of time for carrots yet, some many varieties to choose from that mature very quickly, normally I would successional sow until late June or as late as mid July.

[Martin H]

You can carry on with maincrop now but after the longest day I would switch to fast-maturing types like Early Nantes.

[Penellype]

I grow all my carrots in pots under veggiemesh (for carrot fly) adn with copper tape round to deter slugs. Carrot seedlings don't like to be dry, so keep them well watered, especially if it is windy as things dry out very fast under conditions like today's. Should be plenty of time for a crop of quick maturing carrots.

[jacob]

Thanks all -- I'll have another sow then.

I don't think I've particularly got a slug/snail problem. Carrot seedlings are the only thing I have issues with (and then only twice is 8 seasons in this garden).

It'll all be a pain as I've planted stuff quite close to the enviromesh, but hey-ho.

Finally, it's not all carrot disaster. I've got a big pot full of then which ought to be ready to start snacking on in a couple of weeks.

[Jay-ell]

Perhaps it's the time, perhaps it's the mood or perhaps it's the amount of alcohol I've consumed tonight but. ...

I put hanging basket brackets at the top of 8' posts the other day. If I hung buckets filled with carrots on some of these do you think that they would be safe from carrot fly?

[Marcusp]

I've had the same problem. 6 rows of carrots and germination is sparse to say the least. I'm just going to start again and sow autumn king

[Snadger]

Perhaps it's the time, perhaps it's the mood or perhaps it's the amount of alcohol I've consumed tonight but. ...

I put hanging basket brackets at the top of 8' posts the other day. If I hung buckets filled with carrots on some of these do you think that they would be safe from carrot fly?

In a nutshell......NO! With the winds we've had lately I can't imagine a carrot fly being able to keep to its supposed two foot maximum height of flying! (Get blown into the hut,climb the hut face, launch off the hut roof and nestle nicely in your convenient carrot buckets!)

[Noosner]

I'd give it another try too, Jacob. If only because we are all gardeners, which means by definition we are both patient and stubborn and we never give up!