Chill, BonnieÂÂcause thatÂs what your seeds are doing! I planted mine on 04.15, and theyÂre not up yetÂand youÂre a whole lot chillier up there than we are down here. HereÂs a link to a site that gives you germination info based on soil temperatureÂbut, remember, the seeds canÂt read! In the meantime be sure you keep the soil moist since carrot seed it sown shallowly.

I think you need to take up a hobbyÂbesides gardeningÂso you donÂt have so much time to worry about your garden! Either that or a day job!

A watched pot doesnÂt boil! I think your seeds are just paranoid!

Hmmm! Maybe a blindfold!
;-)
Skybird

P.S. Thank you to whoever posted that germination chart last year. I think it's really helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Veggie germination info!

Let me repeat here my success with watering carrot seeds, then covering with a plank to keep that moisture in there. Just remember to check it every day. I haven't planted mine yet.

I planted a row of carrots two weeks ago, then another row a week ago. So far, nothing. I also planted spinach and lettuce at the same time, and so far I've got one little red mesclun putting in an appearance, and that's all.

Three weeks ago in another bed, I planted peas, spinach, and lettuce. So far, only one pea has sprouted.

Am I on schedule? Or should I replant?

Ouch, Skybird! That was kinda harsh. Besides, you've met my three kids, how much free time do you REALLY think I have?

Maybe I will take your advice David and find a piece of wood to place over the area.

Lilacs, my peas took a month to start to come up, so don't give up on those yet, but your spinach and lettuce should be up by now. I sow mine in recyclable containers, then transplant to the garden.

Bonnie

moisture & warmth
moisture & warmth
moisture & warmth

digitS' on the copy key

"Is it just taking longer because I sowed them a little earlier this year, and the ground is cooler? Are the "fancier" carrots more finicky about germinating than the cheapie seeds I got from Wally World last year? Or is my usual impatience showing?"

I noticed you're in Western Colorado, Bonnie. If you've had the horrible winds we've had, I'd replant the carrots. The worst thing that can happen is both sets of seeds germinate and you'll have to thin them latter.

Last year, I had to replant carrots three times to get them to germinate and I still didn't get many carrots. I figured the winds dried out the soil just as the seeds were beginning to germinate so they died.

This year I planted mine April 22 and they've been up for at least a week. I finally got smart enough to out wit the wind. This year I put a small PVC pipe & plastic cold frame over the bed with my carrots and early salad greens. This is that cold frame's 5th spring so the plastic is pretty tattered and doesn't provide much protection from the cold. It is still freezing most nights here at 7800 feet but everything in that bed is doing great because the cold frame is keeping the moisture in.

Who isn't impatient to see their garden grow? I know I sure am. I check my garden babies several times a day just to see who has poked their little green head out since the last time I checked.

Gail

Last year I planted some carrots late. After three months, in October, I harvested a row of carrots. They germinated for the most part, but none of them grew very big. I basically harvested some orange pencil stubs, if they were that big.

I'm succession planting my cool weather veggies, and if the lettuce and carrots in the first rows haven't germinated by the time I plant the last row, I'll start over and replant.

Gail, we have had lots of wind this past month, and I was debating on trying David's board technique, or following your advice of resowing. Then this morning when I went out to water the area, I noticed the back of a couple of "necks" showing, so I think I'll hold off a few more days to see how many are going to poke their little heads up. Yippee!

How appropriate to have new babies on Mother's Day!

Happy Day to all you moms out there!
Bonnie

Yes, Happy Mothers Day!

Steve's digits (and all the rest of him)

Excellent news on the carrots, Bonnie.

I like David's board suggestion too and will try it in one of the larger beds that I don't have a cold frame for. I think the board covers Digit's advice of warmth and moisture nicely. The wind is still blowing and blowing up here so maintaining soil moisture is difficult if not impossible without covering the finer seeds one way or another.

Mother's day was always planting day for me when I lived in Salt Lake City. Up here in the sticks and woods of Colorado at 7800 feet, I have to wait an entire month longer to put out tender plants. Last frost last year was June 8th.

Gail