Durgan
Attractive To Bees
Carrot seed may be planted very early in the Spring. The seed will not germinate if the soil surface gets too hot, above 80F, which is very common under a hot Sun.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPRND 16 April 2012 Planting Carrots.
A 25 foot row of carrot seed was planted. Method is to mark the row, rototill, flatten surface, place seeds along row three across insuring no seeds touch,(if seeds touch the stalks will be intertwined) water, place supports and place board over the row.The supports under the boards allows space for the shoots to grow without distortion. The board is removed immediately after the first sign of germination. This method insures the soil surface temperature does not get too high (above 80F) and the seeds tend to remain moist. If it rains the seeds do not get washed out of position. Germination is almost 100% using this method with little care required. Either take care and the effort when planting, or one has to thin later, which is difficult and time consuming.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ADGPB 5May 2012 Carrots Germinated.
The carrots germinated in 20 days using the board method. It has been very cool during this gestation period. But 20 days is fairly typical for carrot seed to germinate. I have had eleven day germination.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JVLZX 2 June 2012 Carrots Growth Germinated under a board.
The board germination method is justified by the successful growth. Germination was very high and no thinning is necessary.
The board method may be used for all seeds and has much to recommend it. Most seeds do not need light to germinate. Heat (proper temperature) and moisture are the requirements.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PPRND 16 April 2012 Planting Carrots.
A 25 foot row of carrot seed was planted. Method is to mark the row, rototill, flatten surface, place seeds along row three across insuring no seeds touch,(if seeds touch the stalks will be intertwined) water, place supports and place board over the row.The supports under the boards allows space for the shoots to grow without distortion. The board is removed immediately after the first sign of germination. This method insures the soil surface temperature does not get too high (above 80F) and the seeds tend to remain moist. If it rains the seeds do not get washed out of position. Germination is almost 100% using this method with little care required. Either take care and the effort when planting, or one has to thin later, which is difficult and time consuming.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ADGPB 5May 2012 Carrots Germinated.
The carrots germinated in 20 days using the board method. It has been very cool during this gestation period. But 20 days is fairly typical for carrot seed to germinate. I have had eleven day germination.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JVLZX 2 June 2012 Carrots Growth Germinated under a board.
The board germination method is justified by the successful growth. Germination was very high and no thinning is necessary.
The board method may be used for all seeds and has much to recommend it. Most seeds do not need light to germinate. Heat (proper temperature) and moisture are the requirements.
Over the past 2 years, I have used up several packets of carrot seeds in futile attempts to grow the darn finicky things. 
I had just about reached the official decision, handed down by the Director's Board of Garden Goof-Balls, that CARROTS HATE ME!! And then, miracle of miracles, I saw tiny feathery sprouts quietly clamoring for my attention.... could it be???? Carrots??? Yep, carrots. Not a lot, but real carrots. They are out there in the garden now, I look at them every day and marvel that they are really there, growing in my garden. Now if I can get them to the size that I can pull them up and eat them, that will be truly marvelous. 
But I won't give up and I'm going to try Durgan's board method next spring. Thanks Durgan.
