Your comments and tips

16 Apr 16, Helen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Not replying to Gene. I live at alt 750m, 100kms northwest of Melbourne, Good rich volcanic soil. Is it too late to attempt to plant carrots now to grow over winter? We have vicious frosts when they come - down to -6 somenights but not constanlyt. First frost could be anytime now. Brassicas and garlic planted 3-4 weeks ago all growing well.

Reply or Post a new comment

27 Apr 20, Stephen Parkinson (Australia - temperate climate)

Whats the best type of sand to mix in with our raised vege bed soil to make it softer for growing carrots ?

Reply or Post a new comment

05 Jan 09, Kelli (Australia - temperate climate)

i recently found some carrot seeds that have an expiry date of four years ago? Are they likely to germinate? I also found a mixture of other veggie seeds with different expiry dates, are any of them likely to grow? Thanks for any help... im new to the idea of veggie patches but since i have a young daughter i would really like her to eat the good stuff :)

Reply or Post a new comment

05 Feb 11, Kt (Australia - arid climate)

Kelli some seeds will germinate years after the expiry date and some wont. The only way to tell is plant them and give them a try! Make sure you find the best time of year to plant them for your area though! I have had success planting cabbage seeds 2 yrs past their use by date. Almost all of them came up. Some cold weather vegies will germinate in the fridge during hotter periods and they can be transplanted when the weather gets cooler. I haven't tried the fridge with carrots yet though. Maybe I will try that next ;-)

Reply or Post a new comment

21 Jan 09, Adrian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

My preference is to grow carrots after I have harvested my first crop of potatoes, usually in January. The reason for this is that the crop matures in around late May and can be eaten all winter. I have found that the carrots sweeten up with a touch of frost. I grow then quite close in rows 20 cm wide so that I get a strip of carrots of about 2-3 metres long. My favourite is Manchester Table, but I hear that Tip Top is the best tasting carrot - I haven't found the seed anywhere as yet. Anyhow, there's nothing like a solid plot of carrots over winter, They are the most versatile and tasty vegetable around.

Reply or Post a new comment

19 Feb 09, Alice (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

well when planting carrots to make sure theyre planted evenly you can mix the seeds with a handful of sand and then plant them to make sure they're evenly planted! :-)

Reply or Post a new comment

22 Feb 09, zena (Australia - temperate climate)

try companion planting. lettuce is a good companion plant to carrots and vice versa.

Reply or Post a new comment

10 Mar 09, Elise (Australia - temperate climate)

I am in the south east of south australia i have had good success with most other vegies but my carrots just wont germinate any time of year for 3 years maybe bugs?

Reply or Post a new comment

17 Mar 09, rowan barker (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

my girlfriend and i would like to grow, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes. we live in the northwest of tasmania and have no idea when to plant what or how to go about it. if anyone knows the best time to plant these plants on the northwest coast of tassie successfully please email me so we can make a start on our first vege patch. thanks

Reply or Post a new comment

18 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)

Elise: I had the same problem, until I lightly watered the seed bed 8am & 3pm everyday until the seedlings appeared (about 10-14 days). Now I can germinate carrots all year round Rowan: follow the planting guides on this site, they are a pretty good guide until you work out what works for you / your (micro) climate / your soil.

Reply or Post a new comment