The 30 cell egg cartons are I think 5 dozen double decked packs at walmart. They are the cheapest eggs right now as well. I often buy 6 dozen at a time so it would not be out of bounds for me to buy those 60 packs, keep some 12 and 18 pack cartons, and transfer into the smaller trays for storage in the fridge.

I guess I need to get some fall carrots going soon, I think I will do them in the cartons but on the ground, no moving them...I may pre germinate but easier to get some good weed free potting mix, poke the holes first of course, but then potting mix and a few seeds and cover with agribon or a board. Coroplast works great, I sprouted my onions seeds under that. Just lift, water, and replace daily. Coroplast is the corrugated plastic material that all those ugly cheap signs are printed on. The ones they put up near intersections and cause safety hazards when pulling out? Don't be afraid to get out of the vehicle and make the roads a safer place.

JRinPA wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 11:25 pm
I figured I'd start them like this and see who wants to try some at the comm garden.

I just watched the video. One thing I noticed is that the guy made very large holes. He put the scissors in and twisted it. So the hole is about the size of a nickel. It seems that your hole is much smaller. Maybe there's why you have so many forked carrots?

I plant my carrots in raised beds. First I rake the bed. Then I make 4 thin furrows, 1 foot apart in a 4 foot wide raised bed. I pressed the soil down slightly. Then I carefully drop a seed 1" apart in the furrow and cover it lightly with soil. I water the furrow and put a board over it to keep it damp. Once you see the sprouts appearing, you can remove the board.

I like the idea in the video but it seems too much work for my taste. I don't mind pulling the weeds that will sprout. I don't need much thinning as I'm careful with the spacing. Sometimes there are small gaps in my rows. I will add seeds later to fill any gaps.

It is certainly a lot of work to pre sprout the seeds and tweezer them singly and babysit them before planting out.
I agree my holes were small and I totally forgot the big planting hole for the seed, at least the second time.
The thing is, I get forked carrots just putting seed in the ground and covering it and germinating that way with a board over.
Also forked growing in raised beds that I can push my whole flat hand down 6".
Rarely do I get straight carrots.
I've read reasons as
rocks/obstructions
too much nitrogen
too much water
too little water
uneven watering
too closely spaced

I definitely have rocks, it is a heavy soil, and uneven watering. I feel they would need their own bed of sand.