Carrots

[Matrix34]

Only started growing carrots this year and decided to pull up the 1st one which was growing in a raised vegatable bed containing a mixture of compost and top soil.

As you can see in the picture the greenage is healthy and abundant but the carrot itself is small (1 inch) and seems to have started to twist.

Anybody out there give me feedback on what you think could be the issue please?

[johnmichael]

Twisting can be caused by seeding to thickly and not thinning out in time.

[Matrix34]

Thanks for the reply but it's not the thinning out. I grew the carrots in seperate propogator cells then potted them up in the greenhouse until they were big enough to plant outside.

I think it maybe the soil as I've just pulled out another 3 and they are all similar shapes.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Matrix, carrots are best when the seeds are sown direct into the ground as their tap roots are able to grow straight down, undisturbed. When carrots are transplanted their tap roots are disturbed and can't be planted the same way as the carrots were originally growing. This is one reason why you have curly carrots.

[Husker]

Hi Matrix. The thing I would ask is if you spaded up the soil before placing your raised bed. It doesn't take much to cause a carrot to twist, even a pebble can sometimes do it and if the root hits a layer of hard dirt it can really cause a carrot to become twisted. I know the carrot in your pic isn't the harvest you're after but it is a pretty little thing. Good luck with the garden.

[Pot man UK]

I grew carrots in large containers this year as i have never had alot of success in direct due to stoney ground and carrot fly. This ment that I could sieve the soil and as a result have had lots of lovely straight long carrots! Also sowing direct is essential I think for carrots, beetroots are fine transplated tho.

[airconednightmare]

my grandad used to transplant carrots with a reasonable success rate, i can't remember the whole process but something to do with useing a dibber to make carrot shaped holes then planting the root in sand...seemed like a lot of work compared to throwing a packet of seed into a big container of sieved, sandy compost.