Carrots - what went wrong?

[apocalipzs]

So they looked like really big juicy carrots in the soil but pulling them up they became laughable. What did I do wrong?

 

[DirtMechanic]

I assume they were in the ground not in a raised bed?

 

[apocalipzs]

They went into a raised bed. Is that where it went wrong?

 

[DirtMechanic]

I was just curious about your soil formula. Was it all compost or some other mixture and if so what exactly?

 

[apocalipzs]

Soil and manure mix.

 

[Chuck]

To me it sounds as if they were improperly thinned and/or had too much nitrogen from improperly composted green manure.

 

[headfullofbees]

They were also pulled too early.
Your carrot tops should be at least 30cm in length.
No manure for carrots.
Raised beds are great for carrots, but new raised beds are difficult to get precisely right.
Try working in a handful of woodash psqm, if you have it, or feed with tomato food, (preferably a seaweed-based one if you don't, and try again.
Your raised bed will be far easier to manage when it is established, and when you're on a crop rotation programme.

 

[apocalipzs]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Will know now for next season.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Did you direct seed or did you transplant? The roots are forked?

 

[apocalipzs]

Direct plant

 

[DirtMechanic]

What about water? How deep are the beds and what is the drainage\water pan setup like?

 

[Leeski]

What variety were they ?raised beds are good for carrots as carrot fly only fly at low levels have you had really hot weather?

 

[Durgan]

Those carrots look fine to me. They were obliviously crowded. Color is fine IMO.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Those carrots look fine to me. They were obliviously crowded. Color is fine IMO.

It was probably just hot manure, but I would think the more traditional carrot shape would be what one is after, and not everyone has your eye for edibles!

 

[headfullofbees]

Don't feel bad, especially if it's a new bed, as getting it precisely right for everything would just be blind luck, and poor enough for carrots, even more difficult.