My carrots are ready!

[Mtn.man]

Viagra.

[jhood001]

Merl, Cofi -
I did a handful of things differently this year:


First, beyond my normal bed prep, I dug 8 inch deep trenchers where my beets and carrots were to go. Then filled them by alternating an inch of dried lawn clippings followed by an inch of soil. Even though my beds start out really soft and loose, I've found that they're pretty solid by mid to late grow season. Layering in the clippings may have provided less resistance or more aeration. I don't know. I'm not an expert and just try stuff as I go.

The second thing I did was put my seeds out much later than I normally do. In previous years, I planted as soon I was somewhat confident that we wouldn't get a frost. Early May depending on the forecast. This year, I planted everything else and then held off on my root vegetables until the very last week of June.

Third, I planted my root vegetable rows in between much larger plants that got a head start on them. This wasn't intentional, but I noticed that they only got approximately 60% of the sun they received in previous years. Maybe it was less sun, or maybe moisture was holding in the ground better because the larger stuff around them was keeping it from burning off.

Last, I fertilized this year. Nothing crazy. Just some Alaska Fish Fertilizer. 3 tablespoons per 5 gallon bucket about every 15-20 days. I've always turned my beds over in the fall and tilled in manure in the spring, but I decided to do a little more this year.


Anyway, the beets ranged from baseball to softball size as well, so I could be on to something. Or I just got lucky. I'm just happy they turned out well after being so crappy in my past attempts.

[Gman]

We did get some pretty regular rainfalls this year as well.

[jhood001]

We did get some pretty regular rainfalls this year as well.

Very true and that could have been it. I water regularly, but I also live in the city. I've read about how horrible city water is for growing and how some serious growers let their city water sit for 24 hours before applying it. I'm not sure I'm ready to take my back yard growing to that level, but natural moisture may have been just what they needed this year.