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Post by shmack1 on Mar 17, 2018 7:36:38 GMT -5
As a market gardener, I'm always thinking of ways to make growing carrots for bunching not such a laborious task. They sell really well and grow well without many pest problems (we're I live) but germination and weeding are real killers with organic carrots. I am thinking 2 options, breed a direct seeded carrot that germinates really fast and grows like the clappers to outgrow the weeds or breed one that you can transplant and still get nice carrots. What's people's thoughts on this?
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Mar 17, 2018 13:23:58 GMT -5
I think its a great idea. I am still learning about carrots but here i find i have much better success at carrot germination if i sprinkle carrot seeds over an area in late fall or early spring and DON'T bury them under soil. Since they are such tiny seeds i think it's easy to bury them too deep.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 17, 2018 18:37:50 GMT -5
I chose the out-grow the weeds approach. It would be nice to add a couple generations of selection for quick germination.
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Post by ferdzy on Mar 17, 2018 21:19:34 GMT -5
For either approach, consider using Amsterdam Maxi in your breeding. It is marketed for baby carrots, but gets to be a decent size if you let it. What makes it good for baby carrots is that it turn orange at a very young stage. That may help with transplanting. It definitely is pretty good about being underthinned, and standing a whole lot of crowding (you can over-do it, of course.)
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Post by shmack1 on Mar 17, 2018 23:02:06 GMT -5
ferdzy, is it a hybrid? of what I read basically all carrot hybrids carry CMS
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Post by ferdzy on Mar 18, 2018 19:18:23 GMT -5
shmack1, as far as I know it is not.
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Post by richardw on Mar 24, 2018 13:43:53 GMT -5
Carrots transplant well either as a seedling of half grown root. Did a swoop for two packets of Pusa Asita from Kings Seeds here in NZ, got 6 seedlings in total which i transplanted into root trainers, once a decent sized root i'll transplant into the beds in the tunnelhouse for winter, come spring i'll transplant again outside for flowering/seeding.
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Mar 24, 2018 15:50:39 GMT -5
i like the idea, but to work effectively i think perhaps you should not use aerated potting soil for your carrot starts, but insteead should use the same soil in your garden / farm and compact it. That way you are not accidentally selecting for carrots that only grow well in light soil.
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