Sowing carrots for tubs - trays or direct planting?

[allmytimeonmumsnet]

I've got some early carrots (amsterdam) that I am planning on growing in tubs (they have a short root). On the packet it says early sowing under glass. Wasn't sure if I should be putting them in trays for later transplanting or whether I should be putting them directly in the larger tubs?

Hi. Not sure what the official line on this is, but we grow carrots in tubs and sow them directly with some perspex balanced over the top to keep them warm early on. One thing I did read recently is not to sow too thickly, because if you have to thin them later, the smell of them being pulled up attract carrot fly!

do not attempt to sow carrots in trays and transplant them unless you plan to enter the competition for the wierdest/stumpiest/rudest carrot at your local veg show. Carrot tap roots are incredibly sensitive and fork at the slightest excuse, so just sow them out into your tubs. Early Sowing Under Glass means give them some protection (although I have grown them in greenhouse beds) so the perspex-over-the-tub route is a really good idea. And motherONN is right, it's better to sow them thinly - I hate thinning out and throwing away perfectly healthy baby seedlings, feels like genocide!

Thanks for that. I will definitly use the perspex trick. Could even just stick the larger pots in the greenhouse. Bit concerned about sowing thinnly as I need to do half with the school club. Think I might try mixing the seed with some compost first