After prepping my bed I draw a grid all over the bed with 2" squares by indenting with the edge of my yardstick. Then I plant 2 carrot seeds 🥕🥕 at each intersecting line and lightly cover with soil. Water it in, and cover the whole bed with wood boards until they start germinating. This method is easier to thin because they are perfectly spaced out from the start and I get HUNDREDS of carrots from a 4 by 11 foot bed!
I am trying this but it’s painstaking. I realized a few minutes ago I could take a piece of fencing that was about a 2” square configuration and it would be a lot easier. Thx for the ideas.
I like the greenhouse option, it let's you leave it on just a little longer so more seedlings pop up. Most impressive part of the video was how clean your stove is!
I sow carrots differently and have had excellent germination and no thinning. To start, I made what I call a "multi-dibbler." This consists of a piece of plywood in which I inserted & glued 1/2" pegs every 3 inches. Mine has 7 rows pegs with about 12 pegs each. I painted the dibbler to prevent soil from sticking to it. I lay down about 1 to 2 inches of a peat-based seed starting soil, wet it it thoroughly and then press the dibbler into the seed starting soil, creating perfectly spaced divets. I place 1 seed in each divet and then cover the seeds with finely sifted seed starter soil. I gently wet them well and cover with cardboard. The peat-based (could be coconut coir, too) holds the water well, keeping the seeds moist, so I typically don't have to water more than once a day or every 2 days. When the seedings begin to appear, I remive the cardboard and voila - carrots begin. I estimate my success rate is about 95% and now, I never thin them.
Thank you for the video. Really liked the different ways of trying to start carrots. Last year was my first time growing carrots in a raised bed and several hundred of them! We bought a seeding square to help keep the carrots to the correct spacing. It worked very well! I got mine off of Amazon for around $20. I'm pretty sure we had about 70% germination and had a very good crop for my first time growing carrots.
I have made the gel. It's easy and not hard. You really can see the seeds. I covered with damp cardboard and kept the soil moist. Oh and I grew in a resin barrel with holes drilled from HD with very fluffy dirt. Carrots don't like hard, compacted dirt! They were amazing!
I am due to start my main carrots and will be sharing my methods Jenna and maybe something that you and your viewers may try. I do the same for parsnips and carrots. First I space my carrots at 6 inches apart using a dibber to make a deep hole filling with coco coir and topping off with compost to ensure good germination and no tap root disturbance so the carrots and parsnips don't fork. 3 seeds per station and cut off two that are smaller when they show. Using the top off a large yogurt pot as the marker and then adding a juice bottle as a mini greenhouse which fits nicely into the yogurt pot top give the seedlings the best chance here in the UK. Enjoyed watching and listening Jenna. 🥕Happy gardening, Terry King.
I like this concept, but I have a few questions. 1 why 6" apart seems very far apart for carrots. 2. I don't understand the last part with the yogurt cover and juice container and the cover fitting the juice container?
I watched CB try your method and I hope to try it some day as well! For anyone else reading, here's the link to that video: ua-cam.com/video/Q50E23sZmNw/v-deo.html
Amazing how carrots have survived this long in nature because they are such a pain in the rear to grow. I’m subscribing so I can see how these test methods work. I use cardboard until they come up, and yeah, thinning is also a pain but better than nothing coming up. Thank you for testing and sharing!
I have a suspicion uncultivated carrots were much easier to grow! Also- like so many crops, if we were growing them in their ideal environment they wouldn't be such a struggle. My climate and soil are definitely NOT optimal for growing carrots!
Thank you for an informative video. I have been making seed tape for several years and find it to be very relaxing . I usually put one seed and get good germination .
I often make the seed tape in January or February and store in a dry cool place and get good germination. I am in Zone 5B. I sow my seeds in April/May.
I can't wait to see the results! This is my first time spring sowing carrots in KY and I used a paper bag but found it would dry out too quickly so I opted for the board method. Maybe there's an easier way. It's also getting hot so soon so I may be too late already.
Thank you, I'll give anything a shot at this point. Been gardening for decades and have all but given up on carrots. I can grow almost anything but roses and carrots. Tell NO ONE!🤫 I'm gonna try every suggestion and see what works. Gratitude from, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ✌️
And for me it peonies and beets. I bought a couple new peonies last year and we’ll see. Just get leaves never a flower. Placing a cover of some sort over carrots really helps germination.
Me too, Miss Thang! With Jenna's information and grim determination I, once again, put carrot seeds into the earth (in pots, this time) with great hopes for something edible to come of it all. Yes, decades of gardening and no carrot harvest...ever. Good luck to you, this season. Do not give up on the roses.
Great video, thank you! I've used hessian (burlap) a few times now and I find it easier than the board. It keeps the moisture in better and is easier to monitor the growth. Wood also often has chemicals impregnated in it so I avoid wood pieces.
Thanks so much Jenna. I have tried a few of these options with varying success. As we all know though, there are so many variables in a planting/growing season it is difficult to isolate the point, or cause , of disappointment or success. My now tried and trusted method is to make indents in the soil with my mini muffin tins and plant one seed per indent - that spacing seems perfect. Like you - I don’t ever want to have to thin carrots again in my life. Important to note: I plant in a raised bed. A question though: How do you prepare your garden soil? Additives and how you schedule (beginning of planting season, end on planting season, intermittent during planting season) would be most appreciated. Thank you! Happy gardening from northern Canada where our ground is still very frozen😏
You make a great point, Donna! There are SO many variables when it comes to anything gardening related. I wish I would have tried the muffin tin trick- maybe for my fall planting- thanks for sharing that. Regarding soil prep, this video touches on my process for my in-ground beds: ua-cam.com/video/WHWSA1QiRm8/v-deo.html But I don't have a set schedule per say. I do try to add compost or aged manure in the spring or fall, and I'm always adding natural mulches (grass clippings, leaf mulch, hay etc) throughout the year. I also focus on the use of cover crops/green manures. I generally feed with an all natural fertilizer (I like Gardens Alive's brand) at transplant time, or when direct sown seedlings are up a couple of inches (if I remember), but try to keep my use of plant food to a minimum. I've had a lot of questions about this, especially the my fertilizer 'routine' and I hope to address this in more detail in a soon to come video!
I planted my carrots yesterday...saw this video today...bummer. I had never heard of the cornstarch method of planting carrot seeds. Looks like fun! I would like to have tried it this year. c'est le vie...next year.
Take a toothpick and touch it to your tongue. Touch a seed and it sticks! Don't need much moisture, it will pick up alot of seeds until you need to remoisture. Works on all tiny seeds. Love your videos😊
I make carrot seed tape in the winter, something to do in January. When I plant out in the garden I found that leaf mold holds the moisture better than anything else. I am sure there are worm castings in it because my leaf mold bin is always full of worms. Enjoy your videos! Stay Well!!!!
Nice job Jenna. I have used the corn starch gel method. And interestingly we pre-germed the seed prior to adding to the gel. Worked well, but I have found a lot of these methods time consuming. Now back to simply sowing the normal drill and thinning as necessary. I have to admit that the fall back method is more testimony to how disorganized I can be. I will have to rethink and revisit some of these techniques.....Thanks!!
Such great video Julia, it is so thorough and so helpful. I’ve tried growing carrots but never really new what I was doing and always failed to germinate. Your helpful tips and methods seem like a good place for me to start and try again! Thank you🙏
Can't wait to see the results! I'm planting mine soon and need the best method cuz I have really struggled in the past. My plan was to try the pregermination. I did the cornstarch slurry last year and had the best germination ever but still needed to do a lot of thinning
I can't wait to see the results from the germination. I'm in Illinois and it's getting close to when I will plant my carrots. I'm thinking of trying the cornstarch thing, but also using the cardboard on top since I don't have extra boards lying around.
The soil you are planting those carrots in must be pristine and deep, those 8 inch carrots came out easily with a little wiggle and tug...I'm so jelly!
I filled my raised beds with carrots in mind, so the soil mix is much sandier/looser than my in-ground beds! My in-ground carrots don't come out like that.
Lol, I made seed tape this year. After awhile I was wondering if thinning would be easier😅We’ll see how it goes. Look forward to seeing your results. I’ve used vinyl siding to shade rows and it worked, but they can slide around. So hopeful we will get to irrigation and using leftover PEX line. This would be the single most important time and work saver for me and my sand. I use rain from collection tanks when we have it and put a filter screen on pump. It takes me a long time to water and the heat of the day sets in before I can finish. Those hot days zap the moisture faster than I can put it down.
Smart idea shading them. I’m starting to think I should’ve hooked up my irrigation system now. This weather got really warm, really fast and now I’m struggling to keep the carrot bed watered!
@@GrowfullywithJenna yes, it gets hotter earlier every year. However, we are going back to freezing and possibly snow by Monday in WI. Sigh. We never get a proper cool moist spring. Very difficult to grow cool weather vegetables and found broccoli does better as a fall crop. I’ve planted onion seedlings in hooped beds because I need the GH space, but I caution everyone to hold off even though we will have late June weather. I didn’t put potatoes in yet because I want to harvest later, but they need to go in as they have really sprouted. I’m trying not to let this crazy weather trick me and then I will be crazy running around covering everything. Reason I’m going back to long rows with hoops to easily cover, in which I’m digging cover out today. Every year we would plant potatoes on Good Friday and every year we would be chasing to cover and still some froze. So maybe wait for irrigation or at least don’t run it yet so it doesn’t freeze.
I was into my raised beds today and, hallelujah! ...my soil looks great! I thought I over-did-it when I added quite a bit of mulched maple leaves last fall. I plucked out a few raggedy, leafy clumps and dug around a little with a trowel. It looks like much of it has broken down enough to just leave it there. There were loads of worms! Evidently, they loved the leafy matter through the winter. I'll need to thin my carrots this year. Maybe next year I won't have to if I try the cornstarch method. Looking forward to your thoughts on it once it has all germinated.
Great ideas! Thank you for sharing! I use a Sow Perfect Seeder and cover seedlings with a strip of old ag fabric and keep it moist. The sow perfect seeder really does space them perfectly and quickly! One of my favorites for direct sowing. Looking at those neat little rows makes me happy. My garden could fit on a postage stamp compared to yours though. May not be as useful in a huge garden space with thousands of carrots.
@@GrowfullywithJenna Hollis and Nancy in FL use a seeder and pelleted seeds. They grew beautiful carrots. Of course the Black Cow, bone/blood meal and irrigation helps, but they have pure white sand. They make all their gardening look so easy.
Thx you, I love your experimental contents. Can't wait to see the results. I have only successfully grown carrot 1 time. I think it was first time garden fluke.
The corn starch method sounds logical because it retains moisture, but does corn starch attract or detract slugs? I don't know, just putting it out there! Another great vid, thanks Jenna.
I like to use composite boards over anything I plant from seed outdoors, as they don't mold or absorb moisture. I like plastic bucket lids for other things like beets that I plant in groups. Very nice videos, I'm going to sub.
Interesting technics you have there Jenna .. especially the corn starch. I think thinning is good therapy lol. I've been planting in late July and early August for my winter crop and have had good luck using a shade cloth to help them germinate in the summer. I don't have too much problem in the spring. Good luck and don't forget to share your test results. Thanks.
Great timing! I just prepped beds for potatoes today and found over wintering carrots in my cold frame. There were good enough for a side dish, but we had plans to go out so I fed them to my pet rabbits. Hey, I have to thank my bunnies because they give me plenty of cold fertilizer to amend my beds every week. 😊
Hello Jenna, (my daughters name)! I'm trying out the board and cardboard method. I'm in Florida, zone 8B and planting a Fall garden. Thanks for the information.
I use a small old piece of reemay or agribond on top of the carrot bed . It helps keep the soil wet but the sun is also able to shine through . I can also see that the seeds have geminated without having to lift the board to check.
@@GrowfullywithJenna I do fold it over. It holds some moisture but I do need to water it every few days. Primarily it keeps the soil from getting a “crust” that makes carrot emergence more difficult. The board likely is better for keeping things moist, but the reemay is a bit more forgiving of you forget it for a few days.
Wow, lots of awesome ideas... But I think the seed and sand method will be my go-to-method in the future. Great video. Many thanks, from South Africa...
Huzzah!!!! You tried the cornstarch method. It is so satisfying! For the paper towel method, maybe a select-a size paper towel cut in half to make strips, and then put them on a small plastic cutting board? If you're doing a whole raised bed with only carrots, you can water and then tarp the whole thing with the same 6mm opaque plastic sheets you would use to cover in the winter. I clamp mine on top so it hovers above the seed,, so even if some take longer to sprout, it won't touch them.
I read a comment in a fb group to mix your carrot and radish seeds together in a bag then plant them out. As the radishes mature in 20-30 days you harvest those giving more room for your carrots to grow.
This year I just sprinkled some carrot seeds across a area of my raised bed and didn't even cover them and so far i see a decent amount of them sprouting. it has been raining a good amount here.
First time carrot growers here!! Hubby and I are having the best time setting up our forever home gardens in zone 8a NC. We want to grow carrots for a fall crop so fingers crossed!! I think we are going to try the cardboard cover. Can’t wait to follow along with your experiment.
great, absolutely impressive! This year we made seed tapes with 53 different carrot types. it works great. But it helps a lot, to cover it btw. because we had a very hot and dry spring. The seed tapes which you can buy are definitely crap.They are not equal and accurate. So you have still work with thinning them out. We made more than 22.000 seeds on seed tapes 😊 put them in a distance of 2,5 cm / 10cm in the row. So you get a great result. Even if the germination rate is bad. If it is good, ( we had 97%) you take every second out for to eat them fresh if they are thick as the smallest finger. 👍 At the end you can harvest on 125sqm up to 2000 kg carrots. 😍🤗🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
Wow Jenna. I'm in Florida and planted some carrot seeds in Feb. Some did very well while other's were teenie weenie. I think it's too hot now. Can't wait to see how yours do.
Wow pretty good idea's! I germinate in baggies on paper towels this year...I had some beet seeds sprout right into the paper towel and the green beans have sprouted and will put out in the next few days; watching you from Colorado front range...we are to get down to 30 degrees overnight Friday!! Look for ward to your growth and wall as mine! God Bless you and yours.
Yes however, you need to make sure when you see the roots come out plant them in what ever you have...if they have grown into the towel cut around the seedling and plant the whole thing! This is the first time on beets; bush beans sprouted very well and quickly; happy gardening folks! :)
Wow, love your presentation and your garden tips. You have a very kind and welcoming spirit. I’m in MN so I follow you and the MIgardner for tips and tricks. I’m jealous as my wife of 25 years has no interest in gardening. So I’m giving up this year. Your husband appears to be a very lucky man.
I planted some cabbage starts into my raised beds the other day and was so pleased that the soil was full of worms! When I started gardening several years ago I had no trouble with growing carrots, for some reason I seem to have a hard time germinating carrot now. I will try covering them with a board this year and see if that helps.
I'm glad to hear you have worms 😄! I seem to have good years and bad when it comes to carrots- a lot of it has to do with whatever my spring weather decides to do in a given year!
I look forward to your results, especially your germination methods. I make my own carrot paper using those cheap 12"x12" napkins you see at a potluck dinner. To help speed up the process I put the paste mixture (I make my paste a bit runnier then Jenna's) in a small 1 ounce squeeze bottle. Using 1.5" spacing I could quickly put 64 paste drops on the napkin. Then I would use a toothpick (I'd break off the tip if it's the sharp ended type) to transfer the seeds to the drops. If you "wet" your toothpick with the paste mixture beforehand it easily picks up multiple seeds which then easily transfer to the paste dots on the napkin. I found it a relaxing winter time activity which saved lots of work in the spring.
I have had success with the cardboard method. My biggest problem is carrot flies. This year I plan to plant in a large tote. I will simply use the cover to prevent it from drying out.
Ben with GrowVeg mentions about carrot flies in a video. He said they aren’t very bright and tend to fly close to the ground and won’t generally go up over a raised bed. Also heard to thin when raining as the scent of carrots brings them in. And of course netting would help. Not sure, but I think I had a problem one year as something burrowed into them.
This is helpful I’m giving carrots a try this year so I think I’ll try the starch method in my raised beds but keeping things cool will be the hard part for me
I use white row cover and garden staples. I double it. Allows for water to go through yet keeps the ground moist. Allows 80% of the sun warming the ground yet not to warm. Keeps weeds down while germinating.
Hi. I'm only repeating this, because I thought that you'd get "a kick" out of my angst. Went to the store, bought "corn MEAL" and followed your instructions. Ughh. Not even one carrot germinated! I suppose that's what I deserve for only "kinda listening" to you! Thanks again.
Thank you so much for doing this video! I'm off to get my carrots in replicating your "normal sowing method" based on the results of this study as seen in the follow up upload!
I don't have final results yet, but you can see an update in this video: ua-cam.com/video/BwibWX4rkrU/v-deo.html at 05:15 Also to encourage root development, make sure you're not over doing it on the nitrogen and make sure carrots are given proper spacing. More tips in this video: ua-cam.com/video/_M29VIk6FaI/v-deo.html
@@GrowfullywithJenna cool! Know anything about rutabaga? I have a had slow time of it. Sown in February and just slowly slowly. Everything else is doing fine in that bed.
Just subscribed today! I'm working the soil outside today listening to your videos, thank you! I ordered some blue hopi corn seeds so watched a video earlier you did on corn. Planting some barley today, I'm in Ohio also 😁
I am trying carrots in fabric pots this year because I'm having low success in my beds and having sunlight issues I'll be able to place them in a better location.
I think I like the toilet paper the best. I was thinking of straining my soil too just in that gully. My carrots look like little elves with their legs crossed. Just learning more about them so when I do it, I'll have the best chance for success. I do like to experiment with seeds too. I like the plastic bag one for okra for sure.
I enjoyed your video ☺️ I have been wanting to grow delicious carrots for a long time 😋 I am going to try some of these methods. I have seen an herb growing video, of how to dry out the green tops for your spice rack. Crushed carrot leaves sounds delicious to me . Have you done that before? Well, I just subscribed and am happy I found you!! Thanks so much.🥰
my pap, my dad, and myself included (before moving to raised beds for my carrots) used boards in the carrot section of the garden but they never went over the seeds, they went between and outside the carrot rows because it was believed walking in those rows caused compaction of the soil and ruined the carrots. I love the cornstarch paste idea and will be trying that for sure this year. I always have good intentions of thinning, but never follow it up.
I have tried the board method, but have problems with attracting earwigs who devour the emerging seedlings. I do will with putting carrots in buckets with pre-sprouted seeds.I cover the bucket with a circle cardboard till the come up. I dont get a huge harvest, but it does work, and I get maybe 10 good sized carrots per bucket.
I'm not suggesting my method is best...just that it works fine for me. I pre-sprout between paper towels. Once germinated I place the towels in a vessel of water to free the seeds, strain the seeds, put the seeds into a cup with a bit of water, then fling seeds onto the soil, then cover the seeds with soil and straw. This only works well if the sprouts are small. Big sprouts are too difficult to handle without damaging them.
Love the ideas but looking at how tedious you place the seeds on the napkins seems like it would just be easier to be that tedious when planting in the ground! The gel and sand method look great tho! Thanks for sharing!
It definitely is! I'd say the only advantage is that you can do it indoors, ahead of time (say, during those dreary winter months when we're dreaming of gardening) 😄
So far my carrots that I planted about 10 days ago have yet to emerge. I've been trying to keep them watered, especially since it's only rained about twice since I planted them and there's no rain forecast here in MA until next Monday! Unfortunately, my drip irrigation system hasn't been set up because I'm still working on my plumbing, and rainwater collection pond with the pump to feed it. Eventually I plan on drilling a well, as that may help if another drought emerges here like last Summer. I'm thinking of just building my own little low tunnel with some plastic sheeting and other materials I have on hand! Anything to keep more moisture in the soil!
Your carrots may pop up yet- they can certainly take their sweet time in less than ideal conditions. Shortly after I shot this video it got very warm here and no rain in sight… I’ve been hand watering every day and regretting not hooking that irrigation system up now! The only ones that have sprouted so far are the seeds I pre-germinated.
@@GrowfullywithJenna With the religious hand watering, I finally have sprouts starting in the last few days! I'm hoping to have my irrigation system up within the next couple of weeks!
What were the results? Planting my second round of carrots soon & was hoping for an update since my first patch was very spotty germinating. Thanks so much.
For better germination litely press the soil down. Bend the 4 fingers on your hand to 90 degree and press down soilcovered seeds litely with your 4 fingers so that seeds make good contact with the soil and no airpockets are left. You can also do this twice; once after dry seeds have been sown and again after they have been covered with soil. Previous generations have always used this method. When grass seeds are sown they get 'rolled over' to make better contact with the soil for the same reason.
After prepping my bed I draw a grid all over the bed with 2" squares by indenting with the edge of my yardstick. Then I plant 2 carrot seeds 🥕🥕 at each intersecting line and lightly cover with soil. Water it in, and cover the whole bed with wood boards until they start germinating. This method is easier to thin because they are perfectly spaced out from the start and I get HUNDREDS of carrots from a 4 by 11 foot bed!
Tiny?
@@SimonHaestoe very
Sounds great!
I am trying this but it’s painstaking. I realized a few minutes ago I could take a piece of fencing that was about a 2” square configuration and it would be a lot easier. Thx for the ideas.
@@AAB463 many blessings everyone.
I like the greenhouse option, it let's you leave it on just a little longer so more seedlings pop up. Most impressive part of the video was how clean your stove is!
It's only clean because it's a new stove top 😆... my old one was a crusty mess!
I sow carrots differently and have had excellent germination and no thinning. To start, I made what I call a "multi-dibbler." This consists of a piece of plywood in which I inserted & glued 1/2" pegs every 3 inches. Mine has 7 rows pegs with about 12 pegs each. I painted the dibbler to prevent soil from sticking to it.
I lay down about 1 to 2 inches of a peat-based seed starting soil, wet it it thoroughly and then press the dibbler into the seed starting soil, creating perfectly spaced divets. I place 1 seed in each divet and then cover the seeds with finely sifted seed starter soil. I gently wet them well and cover with cardboard.
The peat-based (could be coconut coir, too) holds the water well, keeping the seeds moist, so I typically don't have to water more than once a day or every 2 days. When the seedings begin to appear, I remive the cardboard and voila - carrots begin. I estimate my success rate is about 95% and now, I never thin them.
Clever! Thanks for sharing!
@@GrowfullywithJenna By the way, Jenna, I love your UA-cam channel and videos! Thank you!
Thank you for the video. Really liked the different ways of trying to start carrots. Last year was my first time growing carrots in a raised bed and several hundred of them! We bought a seeding square to help keep the carrots to the correct spacing. It worked very well! I got mine off of Amazon for around $20. I'm pretty sure we had about 70% germination and had a very good crop for my first time growing carrots.
I have made the gel. It's easy and not hard. You really can see the seeds. I covered with damp cardboard and kept the soil moist. Oh and I grew in a resin barrel with holes drilled from HD with very fluffy dirt. Carrots don't like hard, compacted dirt! They were amazing!
I am due to start my main carrots and will be sharing my methods Jenna and maybe something that you and your viewers may try. I do the same for parsnips and carrots. First I space my carrots at 6 inches apart using a dibber to make a deep hole filling with coco coir and topping off with compost to ensure good germination and no tap root disturbance so the carrots and parsnips don't fork. 3 seeds per station and cut off two that are smaller when they show. Using the top off a large yogurt pot as the marker and then adding a juice bottle as a mini greenhouse which fits nicely into the yogurt pot top give the seedlings the best chance here in the UK. Enjoyed watching and listening Jenna.
🥕Happy gardening, Terry King.
I like this concept, but I have a few questions. 1 why 6" apart seems very far apart for carrots. 2. I don't understand the last part with the yogurt cover and juice container and the cover fitting the juice container?
I watched CB try your method and I hope to try it some day as well! For anyone else reading, here's the link to that video: ua-cam.com/video/Q50E23sZmNw/v-deo.html
@@GrowfullywithJenna 👍❤️👍
Amazing how carrots have survived this long in nature because they are such a pain in the rear to grow. I’m subscribing so I can see how these test methods work. I use cardboard until they come up, and yeah, thinning is also a pain but better than nothing coming up.
Thank you for testing and sharing!
nature finds a way!
I have a suspicion uncultivated carrots were much easier to grow! Also- like so many crops, if we were growing them in their ideal environment they wouldn't be such a struggle. My climate and soil are definitely NOT optimal for growing carrots!
Thank you for an informative video.
I have been making seed tape for several years and find it to be very relaxing . I usually put one seed and get good germination .
How far in advance do you make your tapes? I’m curious what the ‘shelf life’ of the homemade ones are.
I often make the seed tape in January or February and store in a dry cool place and get good germination. I am in Zone 5B. I sow my seeds in April/May.
I can't wait to see the results! This is my first time spring sowing carrots in KY and I used a paper bag but found it would dry out too quickly so I opted for the board method. Maybe there's an easier way. It's also getting hot so soon so I may be too late already.
I'm excited for the results too (I've been out there every day checking to see if they've sprouted yet 😄)!
Thank you, I'll give anything a shot at this point. Been gardening for decades and have all but given up on carrots. I can grow almost anything but roses and carrots. Tell NO ONE!🤫 I'm gonna try every suggestion and see what works.
Gratitude from,
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ✌️
And for me it peonies and beets. I bought a couple new peonies last year and we’ll see. Just get leaves never a flower. Placing a cover of some sort over carrots really helps germination.
Carrots have taken me a looong time, and I still have bad years. I hope you try them again!
And I don't even try to grow roses 😆
Me too, Miss Thang! With Jenna's information and grim determination I, once again, put carrot seeds into the earth (in pots, this time) with great hopes for something edible to come of it all. Yes, decades of gardening and no carrot harvest...ever. Good luck to you, this season. Do not give up on the roses.
Very interesting. I have only ever use the board method,so thank you for trying these other methods,it may broaden my horizons.🤗
Great video, thank you! I've used hessian (burlap) a few times now and I find it easier than the board. It keeps the moisture in better and is easier to monitor the growth. Wood also often has chemicals impregnated in it so I avoid wood pieces.
Thanks so much Jenna. I have tried a few of these options with varying success. As we all know though, there are so many variables in a planting/growing season it is difficult to isolate the point, or cause , of disappointment or success. My now tried and trusted method is to make indents in the soil with my mini muffin tins and plant one seed per indent - that spacing seems perfect. Like you - I don’t ever want to have to thin carrots again in my life. Important to note: I plant in a raised bed. A question though: How do you prepare your garden soil? Additives and how you schedule (beginning of planting season, end on planting season, intermittent during planting season) would be most appreciated. Thank you! Happy gardening from northern Canada where our ground is still very frozen😏
Good questions!
You make a great point, Donna! There are SO many variables when it comes to anything gardening related.
I wish I would have tried the muffin tin trick- maybe for my fall planting- thanks for sharing that.
Regarding soil prep, this video touches on my process for my in-ground beds: ua-cam.com/video/WHWSA1QiRm8/v-deo.html But I don't have a set schedule per say. I do try to add compost or aged manure in the spring or fall, and I'm always adding natural mulches (grass clippings, leaf mulch, hay etc) throughout the year. I also focus on the use of cover crops/green manures. I generally feed with an all natural fertilizer (I like Gardens Alive's brand) at transplant time, or when direct sown seedlings are up a couple of inches (if I remember), but try to keep my use of plant food to a minimum. I've had a lot of questions about this, especially the my fertilizer 'routine' and I hope to address this in more detail in a soon to come video!
Can’t wait to see your results I struggle with the same. I got pelleted carrots this year so will see.
Hope the pelleted seed works well for you!
Pelleted carrot seeds sounds like a good idea. I should get some
I planted my carrots yesterday...saw this video today...bummer. I had never heard of the cornstarch method of planting carrot seeds. Looks like fun! I would like to have tried it this year. c'est le vie...next year.
I'm glad to hear you got them planted, Linda!
Take a toothpick and touch it to your tongue. Touch a seed and it sticks! Don't need much moisture, it will pick up alot of seeds until you need to remoisture. Works on all tiny seeds. Love your videos😊
Thanks for the tip, Debbie!
Thank you very much for your video...I followed your advice and now I hope to harvest my carrots...🥰🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
I hope you get a great harvest!
I make carrot seed tape in the winter, something to do in January. When I plant out in the garden I found that leaf mold holds the moisture better than anything else. I am sure there are worm castings in it because my leaf mold bin is always full of worms.
Enjoy your videos!
Stay Well!!!!
That's a great idea!
Nice job Jenna. I have used the corn starch gel method. And interestingly we pre-germed the seed prior to adding to the gel. Worked well, but I have found a lot of these methods time consuming. Now back to simply sowing the normal drill and thinning as necessary. I have to admit that the fall back method is more testimony to how disorganized I can be. I will have to rethink and revisit some of these techniques.....Thanks!!
I debated pre-germing the seed added to the gel, so I'm glad to hear from someone else who's done it!
Such great video Julia, it is so thorough and so helpful. I’ve tried growing carrots but never really new what I was doing and always failed to germinate. Your helpful tips and methods seem like a good place for me to start and try again! Thank you🙏
Thank you- glad it was helpful!
Can't wait to see the results! I'm planting mine soon and need the best method cuz I have really struggled in the past. My plan was to try the pregermination. I did the cornstarch slurry last year and had the best germination ever but still needed to do a lot of thinning
I'm glad to hear the cornstarch worked well for you! My pre-germed seeds are the only ones already up-- which is very exciting!
I can't wait to see the results from the germination. I'm in Illinois and it's getting close to when I will plant my carrots. I'm thinking of trying the cornstarch thing, but also using the cardboard on top since I don't have extra boards lying around.
I know! I'm excited to see the results too!
If you try the cornstarch trick I'd love to hear how it goes for you!
The soil you are planting those carrots in must be pristine and deep, those 8 inch carrots came out easily with a little wiggle and tug...I'm so jelly!
I filled my raised beds with carrots in mind, so the soil mix is much sandier/looser than my in-ground beds! My in-ground carrots don't come out like that.
Wow -- you are REEEEEEALLY patient!
Lol, I made seed tape this year. After awhile I was wondering if thinning would be easier😅We’ll see how it goes. Look forward to seeing your results. I’ve used vinyl siding to shade rows and it worked, but they can slide around.
So hopeful we will get to irrigation and using leftover PEX line. This would be the single most important time and work saver for me and my sand. I use rain from collection tanks when we have it and put a filter screen on pump. It takes me a long time to water and the heat of the day sets in before I can finish. Those hot days zap the moisture faster than I can put it down.
Smart idea shading them. I’m starting to think I should’ve hooked up my irrigation system now. This weather got really warm, really fast and now I’m struggling to keep the carrot bed watered!
@@GrowfullywithJenna yes, it gets hotter earlier every year. However, we are going back to freezing and possibly snow by Monday in WI. Sigh. We never get a proper cool moist spring. Very difficult to grow cool weather vegetables and found broccoli does better as a fall crop. I’ve planted onion seedlings in hooped beds because I need the GH space, but I caution everyone to hold off even though we will have late June weather. I didn’t put potatoes in yet because I want to harvest later, but they need to go in as they have really sprouted. I’m trying not to let this crazy weather trick me and then I will be crazy running around covering everything. Reason I’m going back to long rows with hoops to easily cover, in which I’m digging cover out today. Every year we would plant potatoes on Good Friday and every year we would be chasing to cover and still some froze. So maybe wait for irrigation or at least don’t run it yet so it doesn’t freeze.
You have a very inquisitive mind. Open to new ideas and wonderful sharing all the methods with us. Very grateful and admire you. Thanks
Thank you
I was into my raised beds today and, hallelujah! ...my soil looks great! I thought I over-did-it when I added quite a bit of mulched maple leaves last fall. I plucked out a few raggedy, leafy clumps and dug around a little with a trowel. It looks like much of it has broken down enough to just leave it there. There were loads of worms! Evidently, they loved the leafy matter through the winter. I'll need to thin my carrots this year. Maybe next year I won't have to if I try the cornstarch method. Looking forward to your thoughts on it once it has all germinated.
Great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
I use a Sow Perfect Seeder and cover seedlings with a strip of old ag fabric and keep it moist. The sow perfect seeder really does space them perfectly and quickly! One of my favorites for direct sowing. Looking at those neat little rows makes me happy. My garden could fit on a postage stamp compared to yours though. May not be as useful in a huge garden space with thousands of carrots.
I’ll have to look into that seeder! I’ve tried various other seeders with no luck… but this one might be worth a shot. Thanks!
@@GrowfullywithJenna Hollis and Nancy in FL use a seeder and pelleted seeds. They grew beautiful carrots. Of course the Black Cow, bone/blood meal and irrigation helps, but they have pure white sand. They make all their gardening look so easy.
Thx you, I love your experimental contents. Can't wait to see the results. I have only successfully grown carrot 1 time. I think it was first time garden fluke.
I'm excited for the results too!
So many Jenna facts my notebook ran out of space! Great job.
😄💚
The corn starch method sounds logical because it retains moisture, but does corn starch attract or detract slugs? I don't know, just putting it out there! Another great vid, thanks Jenna.
I can't answer definitively, but I do have slugs in my garden and did not notice any activity on or near the cornstarch area.
I like to use composite boards over anything I plant from seed outdoors, as they don't mold or absorb moisture. I like plastic bucket lids for other things like beets that I plant in groups. Very nice videos, I'm going to sub.
Very smart idea! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this video. Didn't know about the corn starch method,must give it a go.
Thank you, you’ve given me what I think would be a great idea for my carrots, which I will be planting in the next two days.
Happy planting!
Interesting technics you have there Jenna .. especially the corn starch. I think thinning is good therapy lol. I've been planting in late July and early August for my winter crop and have had good luck using a shade cloth to help them germinate in the summer. I don't have too much problem in the spring. Good luck and don't forget to share your test results. Thanks.
It got so warm here all the sudden, I've not got shade cloth over mine!!
Great timing! I just prepped beds for potatoes today and found over wintering carrots in my cold frame. There were good enough for a side dish, but we had plans to go out so I fed them to my pet rabbits. Hey, I have to thank my bunnies because they give me plenty of cold fertilizer to amend my beds every week. 😊
I'm sure your bunnies greatly appreciated it! 💚
Hello Jenna, (my daughters name)! I'm trying out the board and cardboard method. I'm in Florida, zone 8B and planting a Fall garden. Thanks for the information.
We just used the cornstarch method and some without. It will be interesting to see how things go for each of the rows.
I've love to hear your results!
The corn starch method looks interesting. Interesting to see your results. Cheers
I'm eager for the results too!
I use a small old piece of reemay or agribond on top of the carrot bed . It helps keep the soil wet but the sun is also able to shine through . I can also see that the seeds have geminated without having to lift the board to check.
Do you fold it over, or is one layer enough to hold moisture in?
@@GrowfullywithJenna
I do fold it over. It holds some moisture but I do need to water it every few days. Primarily it keeps the soil from getting a “crust” that makes carrot emergence more difficult. The board likely is better for keeping things moist, but the reemay is a bit more forgiving of you forget it for a few days.
I bought carrots seed tapes this year so they’ll be perfectly spaced. I’ve never used them before so fingers crossed!
I hope they work well for you!
Wow, lots of awesome ideas... But I think the seed and sand method will be my go-to-method in the future. Great video. Many thanks, from South Africa...
Great information and so many options! Can't wait until we get the results.
I can't wait either!
Huzzah!!!! You tried the cornstarch method. It is so satisfying! For the paper towel method, maybe a select-a size paper towel cut in half to make strips, and then put them on a small plastic cutting board? If you're doing a whole raised bed with only carrots, you can water and then tarp the whole thing with the same 6mm opaque plastic sheets you would use to cover in the winter. I clamp mine on top so it hovers above the seed,, so even if some take longer to sprout, it won't touch them.
Love these ideas!!
I read a comment in a fb group to mix your carrot and radish seeds together in a bag then plant them out. As the radishes mature in 20-30 days you harvest those giving more room for your carrots to grow.
Oh that’s clever!
This year I just sprinkled some carrot seeds across a area of my raised bed and didn't even cover them and so far i see a decent amount of them sprouting. it has been raining a good amount here.
Nice!
First time carrot growers here!! Hubby and I are having the best time setting up our forever home gardens in zone 8a NC. We want to grow carrots for a fall crop so fingers crossed!! I think we are going to try the cardboard cover. Can’t wait to follow along with your experiment.
That is awesome!
Corn startch does look fun!
It was!
great, absolutely impressive! This year we made seed tapes with 53 different carrot types. it works great. But it helps a lot, to cover it btw. because we had a very hot and dry spring. The seed tapes which you can buy are definitely crap.They are not equal and accurate. So you have still work with thinning them out. We made more than 22.000 seeds on seed tapes 😊 put them in a distance of 2,5 cm / 10cm in the row. So you get a great result. Even if the germination rate is bad. If it is good, ( we had 97%) you take every second out for to eat them fresh if they are thick as the smallest finger. 👍 At the end you can harvest on 125sqm up to 2000 kg carrots. 😍🤗🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
Wow! That is a LOT of tapes! Out of the 53 types, which do you like best?
"Lange Rote Stumpfe ohne Herz" and "De Colmar a coeur rouge 2" are until now the best. Also germinate in the dry weather very quick.
I think I’ll try using old strawberry containers. Thanks!!
This year I tried paper strips on carrots and beets both worked well. Probably do it again.
Wow Jenna.
I'm in Florida and planted some carrot seeds in Feb. Some did very well while other's were teenie weenie. I think it's too hot now.
Can't wait to see how yours do.
I'm glad to hear some of yours did very well!
Wow! I had no idea there were so many tricks to help with this. I have only tried the board method. Can't wait to see part 2!
I'm excited for the results too!
Hello dear,how’re you doing? Greetings from California 😊
Wow pretty good idea's! I germinate in baggies on paper towels this year...I had some beet seeds sprout right into the paper towel and the green beans have sprouted and will put out in the next few days; watching you from Colorado front range...we are to get down to 30 degrees overnight Friday!! Look for ward to your growth and wall as mine! God Bless you and yours.
Great idea doing this with beets!
Yes however, you need to make sure when you see the roots come out plant them in what ever you have...if they have grown into the towel cut around the seedling and plant the whole thing! This is the first time on beets; bush beans sprouted very well and quickly; happy gardening folks! :)
You're at the top your game today, Jenna!
😀
Wow, love your presentation and your garden tips. You have a very kind and welcoming spirit. I’m in MN so I follow you and the MIgardner for tips and tricks. I’m jealous as my wife of 25 years has no interest in gardening. So I’m giving up this year. Your husband appears to be a very lucky man.
So nice of you!
I planted some cabbage starts into my raised beds the other day and was so pleased that the soil was full of worms! When I started gardening several years ago I had no trouble with growing carrots, for some reason I seem to have a hard time germinating carrot now. I will try covering them with a board this year and see if that helps.
I'm glad to hear you have worms 😄!
I seem to have good years and bad when it comes to carrots- a lot of it has to do with whatever my spring weather decides to do in a given year!
Always one of the best and thoughtful channels. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thank you!
Can’t wait to watch the results!!
I’m excited to see how they turn out!
I look forward to your results, especially your germination methods.
I make my own carrot paper using those cheap 12"x12" napkins you see at a potluck dinner. To help speed up the process I put the paste mixture (I make my paste a bit runnier then Jenna's) in a small 1 ounce squeeze bottle. Using 1.5" spacing I could quickly put 64 paste drops on the napkin. Then I would use a toothpick (I'd break off the tip if it's the sharp ended type) to transfer the seeds to the drops. If you "wet" your toothpick with the paste mixture beforehand it easily picks up multiple seeds which then easily transfer to the paste dots on the napkin. I found it a relaxing winter time activity which saved lots of work in the spring.
Thanks for the tips!!
Excellent show. Thank you🥕🥕🥕
I have had success with the cardboard method. My biggest problem is carrot flies. This year I plan to plant in a large tote. I will simply use the cover to prevent it from drying out.
Ben with GrowVeg mentions about carrot flies in a video. He said they aren’t very bright and tend to fly close to the ground and won’t generally go up over a raised bed. Also heard to thin when raining as the scent of carrots brings them in. And of course netting would help. Not sure, but I think I had a problem one year as something burrowed into them.
I'm glad Dusty Flats could offer some advice. Carrot flies are one pest I (thankfully) haven't had to deal with yet.
This is helpful I’m giving carrots a try this year so I think I’ll try the starch method in my raised beds but keeping things cool will be the hard part for me
Great info. Looking forward to seeing the results.
You and me both!
Can't wait for part 2! We use pelleted seeds (bling bling!) and the board method. Thanks for doing these experiments!
Me too- I'm out there every day checking on them 😆
I use white row cover and garden staples. I double it. Allows for water to go through yet keeps the ground moist. Allows 80% of the sun warming the ground yet not to warm. Keeps weeds down while germinating.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi. I'm only repeating this, because I thought that you'd get "a kick" out of my angst. Went to the store, bought "corn MEAL" and followed your instructions. Ughh. Not even one carrot germinated! I suppose that's what I deserve for only "kinda listening" to you! Thanks again.
Oh NO, I'm sorry to hear that!! But I did get a kick out of it 😆
OH, best, and easy! You earned a subscription. And have a spectacular Saturday.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for doing this video! I'm off to get my carrots in replicating your "normal sowing method" based on the results of this study as seen in the follow up upload!
Another excellent video. Carrot planting for me tomorrow.
Happy planting!
Thank you. Great video.
Thank you for all your Great Advice.
I really enjoy your videos and knowledge
Thank you!
Thank you. I'll look for your results. Do you have tips and tricks for root development? Many times if I get germination, the roots don't mature.
I don't have final results yet, but you can see an update in this video: ua-cam.com/video/BwibWX4rkrU/v-deo.html at 05:15 Also to encourage root development, make sure you're not over doing it on the nitrogen and make sure carrots are given proper spacing. More tips in this video: ua-cam.com/video/_M29VIk6FaI/v-deo.html
Fun stuff! I like that pre-germ and place the towel technique. But all of it is interesting. Thanks Jenna! Good stuff.
So far those pre-germed seeds are the only ones up!
@@GrowfullywithJenna cool! Know anything about rutabaga? I have a had slow time of it. Sown in February and just slowly slowly. Everything else is doing fine in that bed.
Great job on creating such an informative and helpful video! 😍😍
Thank you.
Just subscribed today! I'm working the soil outside today listening to your videos, thank you! I ordered some blue hopi corn seeds so watched a video earlier you did on corn. Planting some barley today, I'm in Ohio also 😁
Wonderful!
Digging the Revere Ware pan you used with the cornstarch. 😉 Very nice!
Wow-- good catch!
Great video Jenna. Looking for Part 2.
Soon to come!
I am trying carrots in fabric pots this year because I'm having low success in my beds and having sunlight issues I'll be able to place them in a better location.
Great idea!
Very helpful video- thanks! Love the diy seed tapes, I think I’ll try that.
Have fun with the diy tapes!
I think I like the toilet paper the best. I was thinking of straining my soil too just in that gully. My carrots look like little elves with their legs crossed. Just learning more about them so when I do it, I'll have the best chance for success. I do like to experiment with seeds too. I like the plastic bag one for okra for sure.
I've definitely had made share of those little 'legs crossed' carrots!
I enjoyed your video ☺️ I have been wanting to grow delicious carrots for a long time 😋 I am going to try some of these methods. I have seen an herb growing video, of how to dry out the green tops for your spice rack. Crushed carrot leaves sounds delicious to me . Have you done that before? Well, I just subscribed and am happy I found you!! Thanks so much.🥰
I have not! I'll have to try it- thanks!
Love these videos! So helpful! Thank you for sharing 😊
Glad you like them!
I wish I saw this before I planted my carrot seeds today 😂. I'll try next year
If you're making seed tape, use a toothpick with a tiny drop of water (or lick the tip) and it'll grab seed nicely
Thanks for that tip!
That's a lot of options. Thank you for that!
Happy to share!
@@GrowfullywithJenna
I know, we appreciate you!
my pap, my dad, and myself included (before moving to raised beds for my carrots) used boards in the carrot section of the garden but they never went over the seeds, they went between and outside the carrot rows because it was believed walking in those rows caused compaction of the soil and ruined the carrots.
I love the cornstarch paste idea and will be trying that for sure this year. I always have good intentions of thinning, but never follow it up.
I struggle with slugs. Does the board on top attract a lot of them?
We use a similar technique at my parents, with the boards for walking on!
@Caren McFarland- that is a good question, I've not noticed it yet, but slug issues are minimal here.
I have tried the board method, but have problems with attracting earwigs who devour the emerging seedlings. I do will with putting carrots in buckets with pre-sprouted seeds.I cover the bucket with a circle cardboard till the come up. I dont get a huge harvest, but it does work, and I get maybe 10 good sized carrots per bucket.
And with the buckets, you can really customize your soil mix to make your carrots happy!
Very curious to see the results!
Me too!
I'm not suggesting my method is best...just that it works fine for me. I pre-sprout between paper towels. Once germinated I place the towels in a vessel of water to free the seeds, strain the seeds, put the seeds into a cup with a bit of water, then fling seeds onto the soil, then cover the seeds with soil and straw. This only works well if the sprouts are small. Big sprouts are too difficult to handle without damaging them.
Thanks for sharing!
I may try the pre sprouting method
Hello dear.how’re you doing? Greetings from California 😊
@@markowen3114 good you
So far it’s the front runner!
I need to see results 😭. Can’t wait 😊
I know- I've been checking on them every day... I can't wait to see the results!
Love the ideas but looking at how tedious you place the seeds on the napkins seems like it would just be easier to be that tedious when planting in the ground! The gel and sand method look great tho! Thanks for sharing!
It definitely is! I'd say the only advantage is that you can do it indoors, ahead of time (say, during those dreary winter months when we're dreaming of gardening) 😄
I’ve had good luck covering my carrot seeds with vermiculite!
Oh- smart!
So far my carrots that I planted about 10 days ago have yet to emerge. I've been trying to keep them watered, especially since it's only rained about twice since I planted them and there's no rain forecast here in MA until next Monday! Unfortunately, my drip irrigation system hasn't been set up because I'm still working on my plumbing, and rainwater collection pond with the pump to feed it. Eventually I plan on drilling a well, as that may help if another drought emerges here like last Summer. I'm thinking of just building my own little low tunnel with some plastic sheeting and other materials I have on hand! Anything to keep more moisture in the soil!
Your carrots may pop up yet- they can certainly take their sweet time in less than ideal conditions. Shortly after I shot this video it got very warm here and no rain in sight… I’ve been hand watering every day and regretting not hooking that irrigation system up now! The only ones that have sprouted so far are the seeds I pre-germinated.
@@GrowfullywithJenna With the religious hand watering, I finally have sprouts starting in the last few days! I'm hoping to have my irrigation system up within the next couple of weeks!
Great Video Jenna🙂
Thanks!
What were the results? Planting my second round of carrots soon & was hoping for an update since my first patch was very spotty germinating. Thanks so much.
I don't have final results yet, but you can see an update in this video: ua-cam.com/video/BwibWX4rkrU/v-deo.html at 05:15
For better germination litely press the soil down. Bend the 4 fingers on your hand to 90 degree and press down soilcovered seeds litely with your 4 fingers so that seeds make good contact with the soil and no airpockets are left. You can also do this twice; once after dry seeds have been sown and again after they have been covered with soil. Previous generations have always used this method.
When grass seeds are sown they get 'rolled over' to make better contact with the soil for the same reason.
I appreciate the information and just found your channel and subscribed.
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
Thank you for such great information. Also, I love you hat. May I ask where did you get it from?
Thanks! It was a gift, but it came from here: amzn.to/3ox4lQc