25 April 2017 Planting Carrots Board Method

[Durgan]

http://durgan.org/2017/April%202017/25%20April%202017%20Planting%20Carrots%20Board%20Method/HTML/ 25 April 2017 Planting Carrots Board Method
Carrot seed to obtain good germination and spacing some steps can be taken. Encapsulate the seeds to make them larger and easier to handle, and use the board method to improve germination. Adequate seed spacing at planting means no thinning of very small plants is required. Covering the seeds with a board prevents the seeds from drying out due to hot sun and moderates the soil temperature (Carrots will not germinate above 80F), and from getting moved by heavy rainfall until the plant is established. The board covering is raised with cross pieces so the emerging plant has some vertical growing space before being removed. The board is removed immediately upon the plants emerging. The board method improves germination for most seeds.

 

[Chuck]

The way I do carrots is to mix fine sand and the carrot seeds together and put the mix into a pepper shaker that has slightly larger holes. I make the holes with a drill bit into the top of the pepper shaker top.. You can do the same thing with a quart can that has a lid. What you want is a hole just small enough and just large enough (-1/4") to allow a flow of sand that is not enough to over cover the soil too rapidly. If done correctly there is very little thinning. When the planting bed is covered with the sand your done. You want to know about how many seeds you have to start with and divide that into square feet.

 

[Durgan]

<a href="http://durgan.org/2016/June 2016/17 June 2016 Carrot growth/HTML/" target="_blank"> http://durgan.org/2016/June
%202016/17%20June%202016%20Carrot%20growth/HTML/</a> 17 June 2016 Carrot growth
The carrots are thriving justifying the board method of planting.
<img src="http://durgan.org/2016/June 2016/17 June 2016 Carrot growth/HTML/17 june 2016 carrots.0683_std.jpg" alt="" />

<a href="http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/29 May 2016 Carrots/HTML/" target="_blank">http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/29 May 2016 Carrots/HTML/</a> 29 May 2016 Carrots
Two rows of carrots are growing well. The small weeds have to be removed by hand. The soil is loose enough so the carrots can almost touch without entwining as they mature. The ground will be mulched later.
<img src="http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/29 May 2016 Carrots/HTML/dsc_969429 may 2016 carrots_std.jpg" alt="" />

<a href="http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/15 May 2016 Carrots germinated/HTML/" target="_blank">http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/15 May 2016 Carrots germinated/HTML/</a> 15 May 2016 Carrots germinated
Germination took about 18 days from planting. It has been a very old Spring Today a bit of snow is forecast.
<img src="http://durgan.org/2016/May 2016/15 ...sc_879815 may 2016 carrots germinated_std.jpg" alt="" />

<a href="http://durgan.org/2016/April 2016/22 April 2016 Carrots/HTML/" target="_blank">http://durgan.org/2016/April 2016/22 April 2016 Carrots/HTML/></a> 22 April 2016 Carrots
Germinating carrot seed using the board method. The small seeds are planted using a shaker with appropriate sized dispensing holes to get reasonable spacing with minimum effort. The seeds are lightly covered with soil and gently packed into the soil. Watered lightly. Spacer ribs installed to raise the board to allow some space for the emerging plants. Then the board is put in place. The board prevents the seeds from drying out from sun heat, keeps the temperature below 30C, and prevents movement if it rains. The seeds can be watered until they germinate by pouring water on top of the board, enough trickles down to dampen the seeds. The seeds will not germinate if temperature rises above about 30C.