Your comments and tips

24 Oct 15, Jo Christensen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

With carrots you need very deep loose soil. If your soil becomes hard packed at any stage the carrots can't grow deep, hence the short fat carrots. My father grew amazing and huge carrots, he would break up the soil at least 30 - 40 cms and work in heaps and heaps of cow manure

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23 Oct 15, eric (Australia - tropical climate)

mine was the same and then I read do not plant carrots in cow manure and what had I do yep so my carrots were small and curly and the tops lush and green so I figured it musted of been the cow pooh that did it.

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03 Jun 15, dadpad (Australia - temperate climate)

Branching of carrot is usually associated with excess nitrogen. Don't feed/fertilise the soil prior to planting carrots or during growth. If you havn't fertiised, the soil may naturally have too much nitrogen. Plant carrots last as part of a rotation such as leafy greens followed by fruiting plants followed by root vegetables then fallow to give the soil a break. Fallowing will give the soil time to regenerate available nitrogen and you can start your rotation over again.

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02 Jun 15, Jackie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have the most deformed carrots the colour is good they taste good but my my they have several branches [arms] poking out, some twisted, I could always enter them in the most bazzare looking things I just would like to be able to have straight ones .Hoping someone will be able to help straighten my problem out Thanking You Jackie

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06 Jun 15, Noel (Australia - temperate climate)

over fertilized soil is probably the cause

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04 Jun 15, sharon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have notice in the past if I don't dig the soil deep enough to make it less impacted for the carrots to grow they will twist and grow side way. So I now always make sure I dig a little deeper so the soil is less impacted and the carrots grow deeper in the ground and I have straight ones. I hope this helps you.

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04 Jun 15, Michelle (Australia - arid climate)

Hi jackie it sounds like your soil might have some lumps and bumps in it. As soon as carrot reaches even a tiny "barrier" that is a little hard for it to grow through it will change direction and sprout off to the side. Try sifting your soil or really working through it to a good depth to break up even the tiniest lumps before you plant next time. They often even go tangly like that in just potting mix with the barky bits from my experience!. Sandier soil better I think. Glad to hear yours taste good... Mine are straight but never flavoursome

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03 Jun 15, Flo (Australia - temperate climate)

They apparently grows arms and legs when they hit a rock/hard bits when growing.

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17 May 15, John. Mackney (Australia - temperate climate)

Could you tell me please.What is the best mix of soil for carrots ? I am haveing trouble with them not growing down it is like the soil is to hard .I end up with bent carrots. I have nice garden beds to work with but no luck . I am thinking maybe soil not draining. Or to much water they get 25 min every day by water system If you can help thank you. I am 72 and email help is better for me Regards John Mackney

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31 Aug 15, Steven Mackney (Australia - arid climate)

Dad put some gypsum in the garden bed before planting and mix it in :)

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