CARROT GROWING MADE EASY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 30

CARROT GROWING MADE EASY

[ Next to the potato the carrot is the j most widely grown and most largely | used vegetable, and no amateur's ( garden is complete without a succesj sion of carrots coming on. ; Soils I Good carrots can be produced ou | any land, but to get the large, deep j roots without any forking, which are j always so much admired on the table, it is necessary to have a somewhat 1 light soil, the nearer it approaches to j a sandy loam the better. A good ! depth of soil is, of course, imperative, j The soil should he well drained and I broken up, and as free from gravel and other similar objects as possible. Manure Like all root crops, carrots do well ! on land which has had a heavy manuring for a former crop, the ground being well worked over before sowing. Fresh manure, or, for that matter, any animal manure at all, must never lie used on the bed before sowing root crops, as it causes the roots to fork or grow uobs. If the soil is considered insufficiently rich, work some bonedust or superphosphate, and sulphate of potash well down below the surface, at least a foot deep. Seed Sowing I Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart for such varieties as Early Short Horn, 15 inches apart for such varieties as Intermediate, and about two feet apart for the large growing varieties. Thin the Rows When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin out the seedlings to about two inches apart for the smaller varieties, to four tc six inches apart for the largest growing sorts. A few rows may be left with the plants standing thickly, as the smaller roots so produced may he used for soups, stews, etc. Time to Sow Solving seed should commence and continue right through till March. A row every other week will prove sufficient for most home gardens, with an extra row thrown in occasionally for soup, etc. As carrots keep in good order in the ground for a long time, you can depend upon a good sowing about February to keep you going till the spring sown seed is ready to pull. For this sowing, sow some of each of the early, intermediate and late or main crop sorts. A Tip When Sowing Have you ever looked carefully at a carrot seed? If you have you will have noticed that there is a little hook at one end of the seed, which makes the seed inclined to stick together. So before sowing rub the seed between your hands so as to rub off the hook. As thick sowing in the row is to be avoided, mix a little soil with the seed when sowing so as to help space it out more.