I've been experimenting and trying new veggies this year. I've aldo started a shade bed for my peas and have decided to duplicate some of the sun garden veggies in the shade bed to see how they do so that, hopefully, it will make more room in the sun garden for more variety. I realize I goofed by not paying attention to what day it was when I planted my radishes and carrots, because I am so used to above-ground veggies and just seeing when they are ready to be harvested. Thankfully, I have been keeping a blog, and was able to see what day I planted the seeds. Here is the question or, actually, multiple questions: Why do the carrots still look like baby seedlings? If I planted the seeds on March 10th, when should they be ready to harvest? Did I mess up by starting the root veggies in a seedling tray? Did I mess up by putting them in the shade garden? The seedlings I started in the seed tray actually look the same size, if not smaller, than the seedlings I directly sowed on May 3rd, and they are at least a month and a half older but are still in the same shade bed. Please share your thoughts and experiences. Thank you.
Beeker, as a general rule, any root vegetable like beets, carrots, etc. are direct sown, and not started in a tray and transplanted. Since you are in New England, it isn't too late to plant carrots directly into your garden. That may be why the direct-sown seedlings from May 3rd are as large or larger than your transplants.Depending on your soil type (heavy=Danvers Half-Long, loamy=Chantenay, and so on)select the type best suited to your garden, mix the seed with sand or radish seed (this saves a whole lot of thinning later, believe me!) and plant. Here in Texas we plant carrots in the fall for a spring harvest, and again in early spring for an early summer harvest. All our carrots are in full sun. I don't know how shady your shade garden is, but carrots like a bit of sunlight. Rainbow carrots ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) This is a photo of some of our spring harvest of carrots. Direct seeded; fertilized with composted cow manure when they started to show growth, and harvested over a period of a month.
Thank you! I have the Danvers Half Long. The bed gets morning sun and dappled sunlight in the afternoon. The trees are very tall so it is bright and breezy. I also am putting the finishing touches on my sun garden plot which will include some purple bean bushes and more carrots. I can't decide if I want to put the celery in the sun plot or the shade. Which do you thing will be best? I might try both. I have 3 stalks started. (I rooted the bases of the store bought celery bunches and potted them. They are growing quite well! I'll probably buy some organic seeds next year.)
Oh, wow! About celery--which we grew in upstate NY. It is a cool season crop, so we planted it as soon as possible, which was usually about early-to-mid-May. Our garden was in full sun (as much as full sun as possible in upstate NY!) but your idea of trying some in the shade garden and in the sunny area sounds good. That way you will know what is better and can use your experience for next year. If you plan to start your own celery seeds next year with potting soil and grow lights, buying organic seed is a good idea. If you aren't going the "start your own" process, buy starts and transplant them. You'll be pleased with the Danvers Half-long carrots. They are very sweet, practically coreless, and keep well in the fridge for quite a while.
Thank you for the info. Did you start the seeds in early to mid-May, or starts? How do you harvest it? I would prefer to just take a few stalks at a time to keep the plant growing through the season. Can I do that?
We planted starts. We always just harvested a celery, never tried just a few stalks. Since it is a "core" vegetable (outer tougher stalks, inner more tender) I think perhaps the plant wouldn't regenerate stalks. Being a cool weather crop, celery will bolt (form seed heads) when it gets warm, in the 80's or higher. Guess why we don't grow celery in Texas!
