My carrot seedlings will not germinate

[GardenerDom99]

Hi guys, I am new to this forum, and it has been about 4 weeks now and my carrots have not germinated. I keep my carrots in a cold frame and the soil is kept nice and warm - I know carrot seedlings like that. I was wondering if I should take them indoors at night. I did compress the soil quite a bit when sowed into seed trays. Please can you let me know if you have any other suggestions.
Thanks!

[rainbowgardener]

You might just wait a little longer. My carrots directed seeded in to cold soil early in the season took over a month to germinate; I was about to give up on them. As Mg noted, they are a cool weather crop, so no, don't bring them in at night. They are difficult to transplant, if you were planning to take them out of whatever they are in now. What we want of the carrot is the root, so you don't want to be disturbing it. That's why I direct seed.

" I did compress the soil quite a bit when sowed into seed trays." I'm not sure exactly what that means, but it doesn't sound like the right thing for carrots, which want the soil light and fluffy.

[GardenerDom99]

Ok, thanks for both of your suggestions. I live in the South East of England where it is about 15 degrees at the moment. I shall wait another week until I will try replanting them in softer, more fluffy soil.

I did try carrots indoors on the sunny windowsill about 1 month ago and found that the soil was not pressed down enough and started to droop down and the were very weak. This is. My third attempt at planting carrots this spring.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

[applestar]

When I sow carrots, I sow them outside where they are to grow. I typically sow in 12 to 18 inches x 2 to 4 foot or so area at a time.

After prepping the bed, I smooth out the surface, then sprinkle the carrot seeds that have been thoroughly mixed with sand and screened compost in an even layer. I don't cover but thoroughly slap the area flat. Then I lightly scatter grass clippings taking care not to clump them so that I can always see the surface of the soil. (Some people say scatter the mulch first, then the seeds, but I haven't tried that yet.)

I water the carrot seeds separately with a full 2 gallon watering can with fine rose every morning and evening to keep the carrot seedbed moist, using collected rainwater or tap water that have been set out overnight or all day to outgas the chlorine. Adjusting for rain, until they begin to germinate.

[GardenerDom99]

Ok thanks.
So is there any chance of the carrots germinating if they are in a cold frame where the air is humid and the soil is kept warm and moist and if I carefully transplant them into the ground (when they are strong and healthy)?

[rainbowgardener]

I agree that it is a lot easier just to direct seed carrots where they will grow. But if you already have them started, it is possible to transplant them. Here's a thread where applestar talks about her technique for transplanting carrots:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... p?p=111867

[GardenerDom99]

Thanks. I will try to direct seed them in around 3 weeks. Is that too late? I need to find time to get rid of weeds and move bushes before I even start to think about direct seeding them.
Thanks for the advice.