I planted several different types of carrots. I grow carrots in tubs because of our clay mud aka garden dirt. Every year I get beautiful carrots. The only thing I did different this year, was in a separate tub, I grew rainbow carrots from a tape. Not a single one of my carrots were worth a hoot. Beautiful tops but the carrots themselves were stubby useless things. What happened?

I think you bought the same ones as me @Spike ....

So heart breaking! I simply love carrots and nothing.

I love em too, and planted a lot of carrots last year. But entire beds of carrot seedlings were mowed down by this beast called Black Arion. I did not repeat this year, but they took the cilantro instead. They're especially fond of anything in the carrotty family, as long as it's a wee seedling (or better yet, a LAWN of seedlings).
Spike, maybe you just need to leave your rainbow carrots a bit longer. Carrots do get nice tops before they bulk up the roots. I have pulled more than a few too early, and disappointing size.

The variety makes a big difference with carrots, just like with radishes, it's very important to match your conditions. For me the ones with less leaves work best (Like Nantes, Maestro). The ones that grow many leaves first are usually a tragedy.

@Spike when did you plant your carrot seeds? Carrots have a DTM of about 75 days so possibly you are pulling them too early?

Overcrowding will also lead to underdeveloped carrots.

Or how about nutrition? If your carrots were in pots and we have had LOTS of rain, possibly they ran out of nutrients. I have never grown in containers but I think that fertilizer is needed in them.

Well not all is lost after all! I had forgotten to check on these other two tubs and YEA!

Carrots can grow well in some pretty crappy soil as long as there aren't any rocks to get in the way.
Very forgiving.

Rainbow Hybrid carrots should easily reach a foot long in tubs or deep containers. I've had them 12" long and another 2 or 3 inches turn at the pot's bottom. To get that requires a lot more nutrients than if planted in rows. In rows, the roots can go sideways to feed. Crowded in containers, they have less than in inch to find food. Mine grow in pots 15" deep. Medium is 100% old horse manure. By now, some would be 5 or 6 years old. Each year the used medium is mixed 50/50 with year-old manure. That's where virtually all the nutrients come from as the old medium is nearly totally spent. This system allows me to grow Candysnax, Sugarsnax, and Raunbow, all of which will reach 12" only in similar conditions.

Martin

Same seed tape just different tub right?

Rainbow hybrid carrots are long and slim and various shades of color from yellow to deep orange. They can be expected to grow to a foot long if the medium is light enough.

Martin

Spike wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 2:25 pm I planted several different types of carrots. I grow carrots in tubs because of our clay mud aka garden dirt. Every year I get beautiful carrots. The only thing I did different this year, was in a separate tub, I grew rainbow carrots from a tape. Not a single one of my carrots were worth a hoot. Beautiful tops but the carrots themselves were stubby useless things. What happened?

Not a difference between the tubs or culture, but the old types grew fine and the new rainbow seed tape did not produce anything but tops?

I don't think the tape would have inhibited it. I think the different seed doesn't like the conditions, or was just subpar seed on fancy tape. My brother grew rainbow carrots a few years back, and got almost nothing as I recall, but he is not a carrot growing expert and neither am I.

You did have some of your typical carrots planted though, correct?

EDIT Now I see the pics, they didn't come up before. So two tubs of the old carrots hadn't been checked. I'm glad you transitioned slowly, not all rainbow tape this year. I don't know if it was seed tape or not my brother had tried. I use a dibble for red beets and it seems to work pretty well for spacing. I use 1 ply toilet paper to make seed tape for some seed - dig a furrow, unroll and cover. The TP holds moisture and helps them germinate. But I have never used real store bought seed tape.

@JRinPA In all honesty I am not sure where the seed tape came from. Years ago I bought one and it went poorly for me. Was an experiment I won't try again. Fortunately my tubs produced beautiful carrots and I have plenty put by for this winter!

Wife just asked for some carrots and I opted for the rainbow pot to fill the request. Pulled 8 carrots and all but one was almost a foot long. The exception was one that broke off at 8". In the pots, the carrots are shoulder-to-shoulder for all 5 varieties and maximum size. Give them the nutrientsw and they will grow, same as in the ground.

Martin

What do you feed them @Paquebot

Looks like some replies have gone missing. Not about to try to remember every detail and eyes tell me I'm right.

My carrots get 50% black horse manure and 50% brown. When planted as a single plant, the feeder roots may extend 2½ feet in all directions and the tap root may go down almost 7 feet. Therefore the medium must be very rich when they are growing shoulder-to-shoulder. The "black" manure is what remains in the pot after the season is over. The "brown" manure is from the pile and less than 6 months old.

Water is important early on. Pots are set in the ground several inches and tap roots eventually find the drain holes. First moth requires water almost daily. When foliage reaches close to a foot, water may be once a week. My pots get about a ½" daily during early growth applied by watering can.

Martin

I also had a question that disappeared but I wondered @Paquebot if excess nitrogen makes carrots or salsify get lots of root hairs. I have always thought that it did. I also had lots of branching on my salsify this year? Any ideas on the cause?

Excess nitrogen will cause forking or pa;mating. However that usually comes from fresh manure which contain urea. Hairy carrots come from irregular watering. Since I water potted vegetables almost daily almost daily during early development, no such problem.

Martin

Thanks @Paquebot