So, like an idiot, I planted carrots seeds in trays and transplanted them....

[TheDietStartsTomorrow]

And I only bothered to Google afterwards. Realised that transplanting carrots is a complete no - no. Why didn't anyone tell me this before??!!

Anyway, I've just spent two whole afternoons carefully transplanting my seedlings. So what do I do? Shall I pull them all out and start again? Or leave them and just make do a bath of stunted, deformed carrots this year and sow directly next year?

really? all the books told me this is OK. gardening books that is.

I would leave them and see what happens. My Dad grows carrots in gutters and then very gently puts them into the ground, and they are fine. You might get away with it! Will be exciting to see what happens.

The great thing about carrots is that they benefit from succession sowings - so you can do your next lot straight into the ground and then compare.

You can buy seedlings in the garden centre to pot on........

Fromparis, really? I looked through mine and didn't see it bring advised like that anywhere. Even online, everyone advises to sow straight into the ground.

Shovetheholly, I can't be asked doing anything but leaving them now. I might end up with a pile of stunted, mangled, and deformed carrots but that's better than nothing I suppose. And I'm sure it'll teach my DC exactly what NOT to do in future. I'd do successive sowing but don't have the space. This was my one and only lot.

Juggling, I looked online and on one particular forum there was a lot of sneering and scoffing going on at amateurs who were daft enough to buy carrots and parsnips seedlings to plant on.

mighrt carrots have done jack shit growing, so you might well be right!!!! so annoyed, I am not cut out for farming

I had a total fail on carrots in the autumn, Paristoberlin - don't despair. Maybe try a second sowing in the same ground in a couple of weeks if nothing appears?

Yes the presence in garden centres of carrot, beetroot, etc seedlings for transplanting has always puzzled me as I have always been led to believe that root veggies can't be moved once sown. But some people must manage it, or are garden centres laughing up their sleeves?

Anyway, you may be lucky OP. FWIW, I have tried growing carrots on numerous occasions and never ended up with anything worth having.

sincereky this is HARD work. I thought it would be a fun hobby- but I work FT and am exhausted!!!!

and dont get me started on drying bloody egg shells so they can be an eco friendly slug barrier

Or making nettle juive to be an aco friendly composter

FromParis
I guffawed out loud at your post. This is exactly how I feel. Gardening is bloody hard work and with a demanding job and the DC it's sometimes exhausting. Then when you spend so long planting something in a way that it was not supposed to be planted, or your seeds just rot and die, it's takes a lot of determination.

But I do enjoy it. And I have never been so aware of the changes in weather and temperature and so amazed by the tiny seedlings that do break through.

I have done this too!.... I too didn't know any better! BUT.... I tried to grow carrots outside last year but they didn't make it past the seedling stage (frost or slugs, not sure), which is why I tried starting them indoors this time.
I have recently been told to cut them out of the trays to avoid too much disturbance x

I think the scoffing at carrot seedlings to transplant is more that one seedling gives you a single carrot, so you really are wasting your money.

I grew parisienne carrots once, they were lovely little fat carrots!

I am sticking with flowers , my carrots will be worth five quid each