I have been trying to get a fall beet and carrot bed going. I can't seem to keep the soil damp. I decided to lay newspaper on top of the bed and wet it down. I was thinking it would hold the moisture in. That worked for a day. Went to water it and poured a whole watering can on the paper hoping it would go through and moisten the soil. Wrong, dry soil under. Okay, remove the paper and water again. Now it's mushy. I watered and laid it back on best I could. Went to water tonight and the paper is dry and crispy. Now it is torn up and decorating my compost pile I saw beets coming up, covered the bed with bird netting before the sparrows want breakfast tomorrow and decided to just water twice a day until it's mostly up. Some experiments are better than others. At least the beets are coming up. I'll get back to you on the carrots. I have yet to have a nice carrot bed. They hate me

Hey David, have you ever tried using a thin layer of those pine shavings they sell for pet bedding? I've just spread a layer of it over top of my hopefully-soon-to-be-germinating fall beet crop to keep the soil underneath damp (I hope). Of course I just put them in yesterday and we had a 1/2" of rain come down in about 15 minutes a little while ago, so we'll see what happens with that.

I also have it on good authority that using only pine shavings (no soil) as a cover over carrot seeds works much better than using soil. Stays moist, doesn't crust, is easy for the seeds to break through; untested, but a gardener client told me it works well for him.

Hi Liz, thanks for the ideas. I am trying just spreading the carrot seeds on top of my compulch and let the water push them in a little. We shall see. I don't have many pine trees here. I have lots of redwood mulch, but it's pretty coarse.

Carrots hate me too!
I was going to try and start some indoors and carefully transplant outside. I know they don't like that but they don't like coming up outsidfe either!

I like that idea Liz. I have been trying to get fall beets going and having a terrible germination rate. Like Dave, I can't seem to keep the ground moist enough. I had been thinking of trying the newspaper approach, but from Dave's experience I think I'll try something else. Maybe I'll five the shaveings a try. I was also thinking of covering the plot with a floating row cover for shade and see if that would keep the sun from drying it out as badly...

I seen a picture of a man who is growing carrotts in long pipes.They grow to 3 feet long in big black pipes that he had sticking outa the ground,one carrott to a pipe.Just an idea,I know you like to try different ideas.
Mavis

Littelfrog, that has got to be a funny site. I may actually give that a try (then the neighbors will really think I have lost it).

Rocket launchers!

I've been planting my fall carrots and beets too. I put fine mulch then boards over the rows to keep them cooler and moist. Beets are pretty quick to show so I need to check under the boards a couple days after planting. Carrots take a long time.

We're leaving for a long weekend and expect my carrots to start coming up while we're gone. I soaked the beds good then propped the boards about a couple inches off the ground using bricks. Hope the shade helps to keep them from drying up. Good luck with yours.

Someone suggested toilet paper to me. I tired it with lettuce seed and it worked great. I need to build a shade tarp for some of my plants, as it gets dry as well.

Keep on testing!

Allen, how did you use the toilet paper to help plant the lettuce?

David, I always soaked my newspaper in a big plastic tub before placing it. I don't know if you have rows or broadcast the carrot seeds...I also put some straw or something and then wet it too, to hold the paper down and help keep it wet. I have read on here about planting radishes along with carrots. They sprout up so fast that they are ready before the carrots really get started well. They also catch the wireworms and keep them off the carrots according to Major.

Same problem here - too hot and too dry to get anything to germinate. I tried newspaper too, with the same results. I keep reading about using a board over each row, so I think I'll try that when I plant again tomorrow. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by oh2fly:
I don't have many pine trees here.

It's sold as pet bedding at a farm supply store or even wally-world. About $6 for all you're likely to use this season (and more!).

Thanks Liz, I will look. I am weaning myself from Wallyworld. 8 months sober so far

I got mine at Tractor Supply. Closer.