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Post by oxbowfarm on Apr 9, 2013 20:29:33 GMT -5
Anyone have much experience growing Flakkee carrot?
I bought some a while back when we were all discussing stock carrots, as it has a reputation for getting large. I ended up planting some in desperation/frustration as my typical non-success with getting carrots to germinate was already repeating itself this year.
So the patch of Flakkee is up and its actually a great stand! I may actually get to thin a row of real carrots like everyone else.
So now my question is what is the quality at smaller sizes? Is it tasteless till it gets up to monster size or can you harvest it immature? Because I would have a hard time selling the monsters except to the juicing people. (I love the juicing people, especially the green smoothie junkies who buy five bunches of kale at a pop)
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Post by ferdzy on Apr 9, 2013 20:46:54 GMT -5
We've grown it for a few years now. It is indeed one of our more successful carrots. As far as I can see, it's an average tasting carrot, which is not a bad thing in my opinion. Not too strong, not too mild. Y'know; carrot-like.
If you want a smaller carrot I really recommend Amsterdam Maxi Forcing carrot, which we get from William Dam Seeds. I don't know if they ship to the US though. But if you can find it, it's great.
It's supposed to be a "baby" carrot. Edwin had a hard time talking me into trying it, because, as I complained, ALL our carrots were "babies". Why do it on purpose? But in fact if you leave it longer than suggested it gets to a good size, long but not too fat, and is really nice and crisp, juicy and tasty at every size. A really good carrot for eating raw, and attractive looking too.
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Post by steev on Apr 9, 2013 23:09:57 GMT -5
I also am having my first reasonable success with carrots. Global Warming? The Apocalypse? Dunno, but if I get carrots, it's cool.
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 10, 2013 16:20:55 GMT -5
I suppose I ought to tally the results of the carrot trial.... I got a good yield out of Flakkee. Here she is now, variety "H". Several forkers in the group. Average taste. Attachments:
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Post by oxbowfarm on Apr 10, 2013 21:27:10 GMT -5
Do you feel that forking is genetic? I don't know how I'd be able to tell a carrot that is genetically prone to forking and one that just hit a rock, odds of a carrot hitting a rock are high for me.
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Post by billw on Apr 10, 2013 21:38:28 GMT -5
I've grown a lot of varieties and rarely get forking, so I don't think that it is primarily genetic. Of course, it could certainly be a combination of traits with environmental conditions that I don't have.
I know a guy who grows carrots on a rocky plot. He uses a ditch witch to prep his carrot planting. Trenches down to 18 inches, kicking out all the rocks, then fills with compost and plants his carrots. I thought that was ingenious. Probably not a solution if you have really big rocks though.
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Post by oxbowfarm on Apr 10, 2013 21:44:45 GMT -5
Kind of hard to justify renting a ditchwitch just to have straight carrots. He must have already owned one?
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Post by billw on Apr 10, 2013 21:50:20 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't think it would work out to rent one just to trench for carrots. Even then, it probably doesn't look that good once you factor in the real costs.
But those carrots are sure nice and straight!
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Post by steev on Apr 10, 2013 22:26:39 GMT -5
I've thought I must rent a ditch witch for a week to trench for irrigation tubes; perhaps when I do, I'll give a carrot trench a shot. Aside from appearance, I don't know why I shouldn't be happy with thick, stubby, toothsome carrots, though. All carrots are gray in the dark, as it were. I'm more focussed on performance, than parade.
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 11, 2013 0:22:02 GMT -5
Leo says that forking is a result of too much nitrogen, or being hot headed.... (wife naysaying I think).
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Post by steev on Apr 11, 2013 1:07:50 GMT -5
I think I've noticed forking coming from hot something, but not necessarily headedness.
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 11, 2013 21:51:51 GMT -5
Steev...Leo says that's what he was saying all around, and he knew that you would know.....
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Post by templeton on Apr 12, 2013 4:06:28 GMT -5
Happy to send anyone some of my (maybe) mixed up LobbericherXBelgianWhiteX3colorspurpleXchantenay seed mix, if its not too late for NH. Really fresh seed, and has germinated well for me and I'm not a great carrot grower - until now.
My budding success was from a pile of reject seed that fell through my Templeton's Patented Stack'O'Sieves - another postworthy project - It rained a bit, thought i should plant that pile of damp chaff just to see, broadcast it over the bed, tamped it lightly, sprinkle with the hose, covered the bed closely with shade cloth. 4-5 days later, presto!
T
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