Andy wrote:
"Ade" wrote in message
...
My first allotment, my first failure (and I've only sowed 4 things!).
Carrots. I sowed 2 types (Early Nantes and Flyaway) but not a one has
germinated. The Early Nantes were seed tapes, the Flyaway were normal
seeds, and I followed the packet directions. Is there a secret knack to
growing carrots or what?

My onions and shallots are doing well, as are my spuds. Oh, spinach, I
just
remembered I've also sowed spinach and I haven't seen them either.

I'll sow another couple of rows of carrots and spinach, so if anyone has
any
tips please let me know!

Ta!
Look at the 'Carrot Disaster' thread two days back. It's a common problem,
and as for spinach, I had two germinate out of an eight foot row. You have
clay soil? You have neglected the slug/snail threat? Sometimes the weather
doesn't help germination and they rot off.

Where the packet says "sow thinly" for carrots, I don't. I don't reckon
the germination rates are that high a lot of the time and if I really do
get too many then the thinnings can always be used in salads. Old seed
seems to be quite unreliable IME, too -- I have rows of new Autumn
King 2, Parano and Maestro, all of which seem to be doing reasonably
well interspersed with rows of Autumn King Improved and Amsterdam
Forcing left over from last year which I sowed rather generously, but
have not germinated anywhere near as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if the spinach had fallen prey to the slugs and
snails, I have to admit. I started my early ones off in pots this year
and have just planted them out under cloches (slugs are a problem here,
but rabbits are a major issue). Also planted a couple of feet worth of
seed directly into the soil, so we'll see how they do.

James