Carrot seed germination problem

**sarraceniac** · 14-06-2009, 12:55 PM

The only thing I can think of is that something is eating them. If it were mice or rats I would have thought your neighbours would have problems as well and it would not be confined to carrots. If anybody knows the answer I would love to see it myself. Stoatally mystifying and not weaselly answered.

**squashman** · 14-06-2009, 01:19 PM

I'd bet the farm on slugs.

I really HATE slugs.

**Twinkle** · 14-06-2009, 02:24 PM

Yes - I'd say slugs as well...

I had a massive raised bed of carrots all of which had germinated to the 2 leaf stage, then overnight.... there were none.

Replanted and used the Growing Success Organics slug pellets.... lo and behold...carrots.

**zazen999** · 14-06-2009, 03:00 PM

slugs.....

**solway cropper** · 14-06-2009, 10:34 PM

That's interesting. I sowed some carrots in a deep tub in the greenhouse in March and I've got a fantastic crop. The same seeds put in the ground a month later have struggled and germination is very patchy but it's not slugs because i'm one of those nasty people who put slug pellets down.

**Snadger** · 14-06-2009, 10:38 PM

I sow mine very thinly to avoid thinning so they take a bit of seeing when they eventually do come through!

**Victoria26** · 14-06-2009, 10:40 PM

sorry but i think carrots are the same as parsnips...low germination rate and need fresh seeds every year.
Maybe they're just not viable?

**sarraceniac** · 15-06-2009, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by squashman View Post

I'd bet the farm on slugs.

I really HATE slugs.

How come the neighbours don't get slugs? Territory minded slugs perhaps? I hate slugs too (what gardener doesn't?) but in this case, I just can't see it (or the carrots)

.

**Two_Sheds** · 15-06-2009, 06:52 AM

I'd say slugs.
The neighbour may well have them too, but they may be attacking something else on his plot.

I sowed a few lines of carrot seed and they all came up with the exception of a few patches ... these were right near some areas of long grass, in which the slugs were sheltering. Out they came at night to eat-as-much-as-you-can.

**Two_Sheds** · 15-06-2009, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by solway cropper View Post

I sowed some carrots in a deep tub in the greenhouse in March and I've got a fantastic crop. The same seeds put in the ground a month later have struggled.

So you can grow them in multi purpose compost, but not in the ground?

If so, try sowing a drill and topping it with MCP, not soil (which tends to form a hard crust/cap after rain).

**sweetiepea** · 15-06-2009, 06:59 AM

I definately agree ...... SLUGS

**Edwardo82** · 15-06-2009, 09:44 PM

Not sure if this would help but I covered my Carrots and Parsnips up with horticultural fleece straight after sowing and they seemed to do well.

**Storming Norman** · 15-06-2009, 10:25 PM

I always failed at carrots each year, this year was my last bash.

They must have known, I have great quantities in both beds and containers now. There are bare patches in the beds [just one variety though] - so it has to be slugs lurking there, although the dry spring has seen a lot off this year - slugs are far fewer than normal.

The beds are covered in fleece - which I feel has helped. But if it rains I put pellets down - even under the fleece.

My lottie neighbour says the organic slug pellets are a minor miracle as far as his potatoes go - he has much less damage this year.

I have also heard that comment about fresh carrot seed being more viable.

Ann

**King Carrot** · 16-06-2009, 06:44 PM

I'm doing well with last years carrot seed from T&M - the packets never even got opened last year due to the weather

Announcement

Carrot seed germination problem

Carrot seed germination problem

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts