Growing carrots after potatoes?

[mich]

I'd like to increase the number of carrots I grow and wondered if they can be put in after potatoes. The fine soil would, on the surface of it, be an ideal medium but would you recommend it? If so, is there anything I should add to the soil before planting? Haven't grown them much in the past.

Cheers, Mich.

[ferdzy]

I have planted carrots after early potatoes, and they have done okay; the big limiting factor being getting them mature before winter. But something like Amsterdam, or other 60 day carrot should be fine.

What carrots really like is manure that was applied 2 years ago. Manure applied this year makes them forked and hairy. Even last year is pushing it.

[richardw]

Knowing what your climate is like Mich you have enough time left to get a good crop of carrot,also can see no reason why they cant be planted after a crop of spuds,not that i have ever sown carrots after potatoes as i have a dedicated area for spuds only

[mich]

Thanks very much both of you - I'll jump in the deep end then and get some going where my early potatoes came out from.

Seeing how many potato plants keep cropping up in my beds unexpectedly, I've been thinking about a dedicated potato area, too, Richard.

Cheers, Mich.

[steev]

Why am I thinking a dedicated spud area is just asking for problems? I realize it makes sense, as you can never get out every spud, but have you no disease issues?

I suppose, on the farm, I'd not have to worry much about fungus, though; even in wet years, it's dry in the air.

[rowan]

I also have a dedicated spud block and have never had any disease problems. As long as you originally use clean soil and never bring in suspect seed potatoes you should be fine.
My potatoes are harvested twice a year and as soon as the bed is harvested it is imediately replanted with some of the spuds that came out of it.

[richardw]

My dedicated spud area is to the right of the path,main garden to the left,its made up of four sections,closest will be next summers potatoes and is currently in Fava beans,the two sections in the middle is made up of this summers plantings (closest) and leftover/volunteer from last summer, the last section down the far end which you cant quite see is the leftover/volunteer area from the year before, its currently been cleared of all remaining potatoes this summer and next summer it will go into Fava beans and wheat,this will be the potato patch 2015-16

[oxbowfarm]

Jan 28, 2014 22:39:47 GMT -5 steev said:

Why am I thinking a dedicated spud area is just asking for problems? I realize it makes sense, as you can never get out every spud, but have you no disease issues?

I suppose, on the farm, I'd not have to worry much about fungus, though; even in wet years, it's dry in the air.

They can probably get away with it better because they don't have the pest and disease pressure. No Colorado Potato Beetle, no late blight.

[littleminnie]

Yes with the soil being cultivated after potato digging, carrots would grow well. A test for adequate P & K would be advisable. Then lots of water. My deadline date for carrots is 7/20.

[trixtrax]

One thing that might happen with carrots following taters is the proliferation of certain nematodes that can proliferate with potatoes and spread to other crops like carrots. The nematode Ditylenchus destructor is a common nematode where one would run into problems with the carrots getting munched on, too. In my rotation schedule I try to follow John Jeavons advice of following a heavy taker with a heavy or light giver like legumes.

[mich]

Thanks for your advice everyone - very much appreciated. I'm in awe of all the collective knowledge on this site.

Richard, your photo's great. What an amazing garden you must have.

Cheers, Mich.

[richardw]

Thanks Mich