Help with carrots

[fuumarumota]

How do I ensure my carrot seeds will sprout? I have lost several seeds without achieving anything. Do you have any advice to give me about planting carrots?

I put the seeds in a pot with small draining holes to keep soil moistened , and I put a cap so water does not vaporize quickly. Is this desirable?

 

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WRTIC 23 April 2014 Planting Carrots
A ten foot row of Scarlet Nantes was planted. Some mason sand was added to the row to keep the ground loose and rototilled into the soil. The seed was planted by broadcasting in pinches. The seed was patted down and lightly watered. A board was placed over the seeds and lifted with cross pieces so the seedlings can grow without obstruction when first emerging. The board cover prevents the drying of the seeds by Sun and offers bird protection. Expectation is around 15 to 20 pounds of quality carrots, sufficient for my needs.

Carrots germinate in about 12 days. They must not be planted deep. Probably just on the surface and kept damp and warm not above about 80F. I put a plastic bag over seedling pots until they germinate. This keeps the moisture level high. Immediately after germination the bag is removed to flood with light. Carrots will not germinate above 80F and will be severely inhibited if they dry out. I have never grown carrots in pots.

 

[Chuck]

Do not cover the seeds with soil or if you do no more than 1/16". Sprinkle on top of damp soil and pat down and then water in with a light spray. Keep the top of the soil moist until they sprout. For best results mix the seeds with sand. Carrots must be thinned and when you mix the seeds with sand it diffuses the seeds or in other words separates the seeds so they are not as close together as if you just broadcast the seeds. Put an even layer of sand on the soil and you will have an even spread of seed. As Durgan said the soil temp should be about 80F for optimum germination. Just don't let the top of the soil dry out.......at all....................

 

[fuumarumota]

Ooops, haha good advice, I think I was doing everything wrong. I'll start my seeds over and see if they go better this time. Thanks a bunch!

 

[fuumarumota]

Just to update you guys, I did what was suggested here and my seeds have doubled their size now. They'll sprout soon I think. Thank you!

 

[fuumarumota]

Another update, O got some carrot plant sproutlings already, yay! Thanks again!

 

[Autumn_Hearthwitch]

I planted carrots for the first time this year and so far they're doing great considering how iffy the weather has been lately. We had snow last week and a couple of very cold days. I'm curious to know how your carrots are doing now @fuumarumota? I also planted tomatoes, peas and onions which are all sprouting and doing well. I only have a small greenhouse for now so I haven't planted much this year but if everything goes well, I'll be expanding the garden next year with at least pumpkins and peppers. I'll have to think about what else I want to plant and grow.