Growing Organic Carrots
Growing your Own Organic Carrots in Downpipes
Have you ever thought about growing your own organic vegetables? Believe it or not it is surprisingly easy to grow your own organic carrots. This enables you to avoid paying extortionate supermarket prices for a rather average product. Instead you can reap the benefits of superior products grown on your own doorstep. I’ve developed a technique of growing carrots in special containers that reduces the instances of disease and pest damage. The containers are fixed together into units which makes them compact.
After several seasons of poor carrot crops in the ground I began planting them in deep containers. This led to the development of a carrot growing system that is easy to replicate. I use sections of squareline downpipe cut to short lengths. The actual length depends on the variety that you intent to grow but 10-12 inches is generally adequate. It is important to cut the pieces to the exact same length using a suitable saw. (note: not all saw blades can be used for cutting plastic).
Downpipes (aka drainpipes) are made from a brittle plastic that can be extremely sharp. I suggest that you file the edges to remove any sharp edges from both ends. I learnt this the hard way by slicing my hand open but you don’t have to. It may be possible to get off-cuts of drainpipes from a local tradesman, handyman or builder.
To connect the sections into units simply line them up into 2 rows of five and tape them together with gaffer tape (or any other suitable weatherproof tape). Then put the two units of 10 side by side and tape them together to make a unit of 20 growing tubes. Use the gaffer tape again to fix a sheet of polythene over the base of the entire unit. It does not matter what type of polythene or plastic you use for this as long it is water resistant and will contain the compost. Make drainage holes in the polythene layer to allow excess water out. This will prevent your carrots getting diseases or rotting if you accidentally let them have too much water. Use a suitable sharp implement to do this (like the end of a sharp knife blade) but be careful not to rip the polythene. If you find this part too difficult it is possible to cover each tube individually before taping into units but this takes longer and uses more materials. There are lots of ways to cover the base and make drainage holes if you want to be inventive – the main point being that water can drain out!
Planting and Germination
Carrots prefer fine light sandy soil. To recreate this environment you need to sift the compost to ensure it contains no lumps, stones or fibrous material. This is very important because a carrot is very easily deformed in the ground. The carrot can fork (separate into two) or twist from hitting obstacles in their path. Add some sharp sand to the refined compost approximately two or three handfuls per growing tube. Carefully fill each growing tube with the compost and sand mix and press it down to make it fairly compact. It is important that the compost is compact but try not to go over the top as the carrots will not be able grow easily if it is like concrete! Gently add a small amount of water to each growing tube and add more compost mixture until all the tubes are full to the top and the mixture has settled down. It is now time to plant the carrots. Note that watering first will allow the carrot seed to germinate as close to the centre of the tube as possible.
Seeds
Carrot seeds are very small and you will need to be very careful when sowing them. Generally carrots have a germination rate of 60%. This means that on average for every 10 seeds planted only 6 will grow. To compensate for the germination rate it is recommended that you double sow the seed. This means that you place two seeds in each growing tube. Use a dibbler (the blunt end of pencil is perfect) to make a small hole in the centre approximately 1cm deep. Drop two carrot seeds into the hole and cover with compost. There is no need to add more water immediately after sowing. Place the units in a suitable position outdoors. “Pinch out” the weakest of the double sown plants to leave a single plant in each growing tube.
Carrot Fly
Carrots have one major pest and it is called Carrot Root Fly. All gardeners have had plenty of problems with this pest. Luckily this growing technique is already a good way of reducing the chance of Carrot fly. To reduce the chances further always use fresh new compost. Put up a physical barrier around the sides of the units approximately 12 inches high. This can be made of any suitable material, some people use cardboard. The top can be left open because this pest flies just above the ground.
Aphids
Also keep your eyes open for Aphids in the warmer months. Aphids can do a surprising amount of damage to your plants in a short space of time. Green aphids are difficult to spot on carrot plants because they like to congregate amongst the tips of the new leaves. An organic way to remove aphids is to spray them with a mild solution of soapy water. If you have the temperament and patience you can remove them by hand. Good eyesight and vigilance is required to succeed with either of these methods.
Carrots are susceptible to the usual garden pest of slugs and snails. There are lots of ingenious methods of preventing attacks from these types of pests. It is possible to obtain organic slug pellets which are reported to be very effective. I have not tried them myself and as such would not be able to recommend them or endorse their use. I am planning to try organic slug pellets next season and will soon be able to offer my opinion.
Keep the plants watered but take great care not to over-water them. This may cause the carrots to split in the ground. Carrots are a vegetable that is known by gardeners to be notoriously difficult to grow. I have found that this technique makes success much easier to achieve. If you attempt to grow your own carrots using this technique and for some reason, it does not work, please do not be too hard on yourself. On the other hand if you try this and get a good crop of organic carrots you should be very proud of your achievement. There is nothing more satisfying than pulling your own organic carrots from their growing tubes. Home grown organic carrots will taste better than other carrot that you have ever tasted.
Marvin Africa
Organic Gardener
Read my previous post on recycling cardboard
Have you ever thought about growing your own organic vegetables? Believe it or not it is surprisingly easy to grow your own organic carrots. This enables you to avoid paying extortionate supermarket prices for a rather average product. Instead you can reap the benefits of superior products grown on your own doorstep. I’ve developed a technique of growing carrots in special containers that reduces the instances of disease and pest damage. The containers are fixed together into units which makes them compact.
After several seasons of poor carrot crops in the ground I began planting them in deep containers. This led to the development of a carrot growing system that is easy to replicate. I use sections of squareline downpipe cut to short lengths. The actual length depends on the variety that you intent to grow but 10-12 inches is generally adequate. It is important to cut the pieces to the exact same length using a suitable saw. (note: not all saw blades can be used for cutting plastic).
Downpipes (aka drainpipes) are made from a brittle plastic that can be extremely sharp. I suggest that you file the edges to remove any sharp edges from both ends. I learnt this the hard way by slicing my hand open but you don’t have to. It may be possible to get off-cuts of drainpipes from a local tradesman, handyman or builder.
To connect the sections into units simply line them up into 2 rows of five and tape them together with gaffer tape (or any other suitable weatherproof tape). Then put the two units of 10 side by side and tape them together to make a unit of 20 growing tubes. Use the gaffer tape again to fix a sheet of polythene over the base of the entire unit. It does not matter what type of polythene or plastic you use for this as long it is water resistant and will contain the compost. Make drainage holes in the polythene layer to allow excess water out. This will prevent your carrots getting diseases or rotting if you accidentally let them have too much water. Use a suitable sharp implement to do this (like the end of a sharp knife blade) but be careful not to rip the polythene. If you find this part too difficult it is possible to cover each tube individually before taping into units but this takes longer and uses more materials. There are lots of ways to cover the base and make drainage holes if you want to be inventive – the main point being that water can drain out!
Planting and Germination
Carrots prefer fine light sandy soil. To recreate this environment you need to sift the compost to ensure it contains no lumps, stones or fibrous material. This is very important because a carrot is very easily deformed in the ground. The carrot can fork (separate into two) or twist from hitting obstacles in their path. Add some sharp sand to the refined compost approximately two or three handfuls per growing tube. Carefully fill each growing tube with the compost and sand mix and press it down to make it fairly compact. It is important that the compost is compact but try not to go over the top as the carrots will not be able grow easily if it is like concrete! Gently add a small amount of water to each growing tube and add more compost mixture until all the tubes are full to the top and the mixture has settled down. It is now time to plant the carrots. Note that watering first will allow the carrot seed to germinate as close to the centre of the tube as possible.
Seeds
Carrot seeds are very small and you will need to be very careful when sowing them. Generally carrots have a germination rate of 60%. This means that on average for every 10 seeds planted only 6 will grow. To compensate for the germination rate it is recommended that you double sow the seed. This means that you place two seeds in each growing tube. Use a dibbler (the blunt end of pencil is perfect) to make a small hole in the centre approximately 1cm deep. Drop two carrot seeds into the hole and cover with compost. There is no need to add more water immediately after sowing. Place the units in a suitable position outdoors. “Pinch out” the weakest of the double sown plants to leave a single plant in each growing tube.
Carrot Fly
Carrots have one major pest and it is called Carrot Root Fly. All gardeners have had plenty of problems with this pest. Luckily this growing technique is already a good way of reducing the chance of Carrot fly. To reduce the chances further always use fresh new compost. Put up a physical barrier around the sides of the units approximately 12 inches high. This can be made of any suitable material, some people use cardboard. The top can be left open because this pest flies just above the ground.
Aphids
Also keep your eyes open for Aphids in the warmer months. Aphids can do a surprising amount of damage to your plants in a short space of time. Green aphids are difficult to spot on carrot plants because they like to congregate amongst the tips of the new leaves. An organic way to remove aphids is to spray them with a mild solution of soapy water. If you have the temperament and patience you can remove them by hand. Good eyesight and vigilance is required to succeed with either of these methods.
Carrots are susceptible to the usual garden pest of slugs and snails. There are lots of ingenious methods of preventing attacks from these types of pests. It is possible to obtain organic slug pellets which are reported to be very effective. I have not tried them myself and as such would not be able to recommend them or endorse their use. I am planning to try organic slug pellets next season and will soon be able to offer my opinion.
Keep the plants watered but take great care not to over-water them. This may cause the carrots to split in the ground. Carrots are a vegetable that is known by gardeners to be notoriously difficult to grow. I have found that this technique makes success much easier to achieve. If you attempt to grow your own carrots using this technique and for some reason, it does not work, please do not be too hard on yourself. On the other hand if you try this and get a good crop of organic carrots you should be very proud of your achievement. There is nothing more satisfying than pulling your own organic carrots from their growing tubes. Home grown organic carrots will taste better than other carrot that you have ever tasted.
Marvin Africa
Organic Gardener
Read my previous post on recycling cardboard
Labels: Organic Carrots
posted by Marvin Africa at
17:20
2 Comments:
Can I contact you for advice on this subject? Or this there a book you can recommend? :)
I am new to the concept of growing, and I decided to go 'organic'.
Please contact me:
k8ep@hotmail.co.uk
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Thank you! :)
Katie
Hello Katie,
I have honestly never read any gardening books!
I would recommend buying some seeds and following the instructions on the packets. Seed companies often have free detailed information about their products in their catalogues.
you can contact me here in the comments or by email:- (that's not a face BTW) marvin.africa@yahoo.com
...because I don't know where you are in the world my advice might not be relevant, but If I can help in anyway, I will. If not I will try to find someone who can!
Marvin
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