When to try re-sowing?

[Hike&homestead]

This year I've decided to direct sow everything after realizing last year I don't have time for the starting inside. I know some veggies are best started inside but, I'm trying direct sowing.

With that being said I fear I may have jumped the gun as pushing three weeks later I'm not seeing any signs of peppers or carrots.

I tried to get in right after the last frost date with the peppers knowing they need a long growing season.

My question is, do I wait out the seeds as the weather warms or do I assume they're not going to germinate and re-sow the crop?

[imafan26]

It depends on where you live. For me carrots are not practical to grow in summer they like temperatures below 75 degrees. They do have to be direct sewn for the most part because they really don't transplant well. They have to be kept evenly moist .

Peppers on the other hand are a warm season crop. They will germinate best with temperatures at least 68-80 degrees. Hot peppers like it closer to 80. Bell peppers will germinate in cooler temperatures.

As for resowing, it depends. I sowed some kai choy cabbage three times one year, because they failed to germinate. Turns out the seeds were waiting for the right conditions. They came up like weeds after that. If the seeds are viable in the ground, they will come up in their own good time.

[TomatoNut95]

I always start my peppers indoors in December in foam or plastic eggs cartons, and they'll germinate within 3-4 weeks. I NEVER direct-sow them.

[digitS']

Hike&homestead,

You picked 2 very late germinating species. Age of seed may add days.

As was said, pepper seeds require warmth.

Carrot seed often take 2 - 3 weeks to emerge. They are small seeds and so cannot be planted deep. My problem is maintaining soil moisture in that top fraction of an inch so that drying doesn't kill the seedlings over so many days. There are ways to overcome the problem if you decide that is what limits germination. Pelleted seed is an easy one if those are available to you.

Bush beans are a second crop option that I will take advantage of right up to the first week or so of July. However, if you are only 3 weeks out from last frost date, it is likely that you have lots of options.

Steve

[Gary350]

Plant carrot seeds any time from 2 months before last frost to a month after last frost when conditions are right seeds grow. Plant seeds minimum of 1" deep, no deeper than 1.5" deep in soft soil. If you sprinkle seeds on the soil surface or cover them with 1/4" or 3/8" of soil seeds tend to germinate then die when soil dries out between rains. Let carrots grow until after first frost they get sweet in cold freezing weather. Let carrots continue to grow they are good down to 12 degrees F but don't trust the weather man or your thermometer pull them before they freeze in the soil. I have gotten out of practice growing carrots I use to grow a good crop from time to time and keep trying new things 1/2 long carrots do best for me. My carrots have done very well down to 17 degrees in the past, pull them up before they freeze in the soil or you can't pull them up. One year my carrots froze in the ground so I covered them with 12" of straw and left them until spring when soil was no longer frozen I harvested carrots. This year I tried a new carrot, Chantenay 1/2 long. I bought a 1 ounce package of seed & planted them all in a 3 ft x 10 ft lowered bed. I tilled lots of organic material and 1 lb of 15/15/15 fertilizer into the soil then put the wooden bed frame in to keep special soil for carrots in the lowered bed. I did the lowered bed idea once 25 years ago it is a lot of work tilling soil 12" deep for full length carrots. This years carrot tops are 8" tall, tops make a good salad also good flavor cooking lots of foods. If you plant too many carrots pull some early to eat, hot weather carrots are woody & bitter, 2 weeks of freezing weather carrots get soft & sweet again.