Branching Out's Seeds and Sprouts

[digitS']

Advice from left field, okay?

That ¼ inch planting depth presents difficulties for carrot seeds. If the soil settles too much, they may have too much to  climb through to reach the light. Their slow, slow germination speed (Cornell says 1 - 3 weeks) adds to the possibility that, by the time the seed sprouts, the seed isn't where it was placed.

My carrots are vulnerable to the soil drying over the weeks it takes them to emerge. During that same time, the soil surface can become compacted with irrigation water inefficiently applied. Pamper the fragile things !

Steve, who has significant problems harvesting carrots if they are longer than the tines of his spading fork

 

[flowerbug]

...
I have a LOT of straw right now to use, and my biggest problem, besides direct planting seeds and never seeing most of them again (even when fresh) is pulling carrots out of the ground and watching them break.
Any advice is appreciated!!

dig a hole next to them and then lift them from below.

 

[Branching Out]

Do you think that mixing in straw with the soil could loosen it up?
I have a LOT of straw right now to use, and my biggest problem, besides direct planting seeds and never seeing most of them again (even when fresh) is pulling carrots out of the ground and watching them break.
Any advice is appreciated!!

I've never tried straw so can't offer an opinion on that, but carrots do like loose or sandy soil. I would think that lifting the carrots from the ground using a garden fork could do the trick as well, as long as you stay far enough away so the carrots aren't impaled by accident.

 

[ducks4you]

Thanks, @Branching Out I appreciate your advice, since you are officially a carrot GODDESS!!