By witty vic

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
08 Aug 2008 15:24

Help! I'm a novice veg gardener and need some advice. I have just dug up my carrots and they are twisted and curled. Other than that they looked fresh, orange and smell like they should. I think my soil is sandy loam. Any suggestions? witty vic

Replies

By Crafty Cookie

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
08 Aug 2008 19:08

Maybe before you plant anymore make sure you dig in loads of compost where you are going to plant them next year.

Or failing that dig a trench and put all of your fruit and veg peelings, a little newspaper, hair, leaves and anything from the garden bar weeds. Then cover it up with soil. Let the frost do it's work over winter and you should be able to plant out next spring.

By witty vic

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
09 Aug 2008 08:02

Thanks CC will try that. I'm so disappointed with them! x

By Crafty Cookie

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
09 Aug 2008 19:13

Don't worry, my first effort I religiously wattered the carrot, talked to it etc. Pulled it out and it was a weed!!!

You did a lot better than me.

By Tabby

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
09 Aug 2008 21:43

My carrots always came out looking like a pair of trousers,split but joined at the top. My Mum said it was because the soil had too much lime, could not grow Azaleas either & apparently they are lime haters.
Don't know if this helps.

By Honey

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
09 Aug 2008 23:39

Vic, your soil sounds just right for growing carrots... deep sandy soil is perfect. You need a finely tilled soil with no stones or lumps for growing carrots and parsnips. What happens is that they grow down, hit a lump of something and then divide and get redirected. I had the same thing happen to me... my parsnips and carrots looked like something the aliens had left behind. I realised that I'd sown them in a bed that had had my compost added and I should have put my beans in there. This year my carrots have been absolutely fine because I've not added any compost to the soil. I'm hoping for a good crop of parsnips too. Don't be disheartened, they will be fine next year.

Cookies tip for digging a trench and filling with newpaper etc. is excellent for runner beans.

Honey :-x

By witty vic

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
11 Aug 2008 11:37

Thanks everyone, Honey, my soil is stoney, perhaps this is the problem. On a positive note, runner beans and courgettes have done very well!! I'll keep trying. witty x

By DHL

Re: Curly carrots!!!!
22 Aug 2008 10:53

Try growing carrots in drain pipes filled with lump free compost. Keeps them straight and long.