Growing Together: Open Forum

 View Only

  • 1.  Growing Carrots

    Posted 07-03-2023 11:30:00 AM

    Hi everyone!  This is our first year of maintaining a garden at our Early Education Facility.  We started all our plants from seeds and they are doing fantastic!  However, our carrots are not.  They were doing great, but then the squirrels came around and ate most of the green tops.  I built a netting around all our raised garden beds to deter the squirrels.  I just checked this morning, and the green tops that were left are now completely gone.  The netting is all still intact, so I'm not sure what happened.  So, my question is, will they continue to grow or did I learn a very valuable lesson?



    ------------------------------
    Cassandra Treese
    Selinsgrove PA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Growing Carrots

    Posted 07-04-2023 04:09:00 PM

    Did you notice any swallowtail caterpillars around your carrots?  Carrot tops (as well as parsley and fennel) are swallowtail favorites in the garden and they can eat quite a lot.  The eggs are very small and the young stage is a black fuzzy little caterpillar that you may not think is a butterfly.  Here's a website that talks about growing carrots for swallowtails.

    Carrots and Swallowtails



    ------------------------------
    Erin Lichty
    Hinkletown Mennonite School
    Ephrata PA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Growing Carrots

    Posted 07-05-2023 11:10:00 AM

    Thank you for responding to my question!  I haven't noticed any Swallowtail caterpillars.  Actually, I haven't noticed any insects, but I have noticed a lot of flies/gnats.  I'm guessing they are there due to the warmth of the soil.   I have the carrots in an extra-large fabric basket.



    ------------------------------
    Cassandra Treese
    Selinsgrove PA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Growing Carrots

    Posted 07-05-2023 11:08:00 AM

    Last year was our first year planting carrots and all the tops were eaten. When we turned the dirt over this spring we found some small carrots!  What a pleasant surprise.



    ------------------------------
    Terri Kosik
    Early Childhood Development Center at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame
    South Bend IN
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Growing Carrots

    Posted 07-05-2023 11:17:00 AM

    Thanks for responding!  That gives me a bit of hope!  Thank you!



    ------------------------------
    Cassandra Treese
    Selinsgrove PA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content