THIS IS WHAT SAVED MY CARROTS!

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Just imagine a bountiful carrot harvest saved from disaster! In this episode, Curtis Stone reveals the lifesaving secrets that turned our carrot crop into a thriving success. Learn from our experience as we share essential tips and techniques to keep your carrots healthy and robust. Don't miss this valuable insight into preserving your precious crops. Watch now and unlock the secrets to successful carrot cultivation!
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About Curtis Stone:
Curtis is one of the world’s most highly sought-after small farming educators. His book, The Urban Farmer, offers a new way to think about farming𑁋 one where quality of life and profitability coexist. Today, Curtis spends most of his time building his 40-acre off-grid homestead in British Columbia. He leverages his relationships with other experts to bring diverse content into the homes of gardeners and aspiring small farmers from around the world. Learn more at FromTheField.TV.
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[@spincitiesfarm7862]

At the other farm I worked at before starting my own, we used burlap potato/coffee bean sacks much how you used the shade cloth. Cut them in half (resulting in a single layer). The burlap retains moisture well, resulting in a once/every other day watering. Had well over 90% germination. I will do this technique next season, as I had less than acceptable germination rate.

[@donnasouthwood]

Your baby is adorable! She was just mesmerized listening to you talk :-)

[@lonehorntoad7319]

Donna Southwood she sure does love watching daddy talk about farming.

[@69Phuket]

She's taking it all in;) But frustrated at no eye contact maybe

[@jimclaire7996]

Curtis, what type of tarp would you recommend putting over new gardens where you are going to kill the grass. We have about 2000 square feet that we want to kill, till and then just plant hence forth. Thanks for your input.

[@farmerrick1201]

My biggest value crop is August planted carrots in 1 inch top dressed with germinating mix, $800-$1000 per 50ft bed, 30 inch wide, harvested in late November. Over 90% germination, row covers and overhead timed watering.

[@jardinsglenelm]

Compost for carrot beds works extremely well! We had huge carrot germination issues in previous years due to crusting on our heavy clay soil - but a thin layer of compost simply raked in has made a massive difference, in comination with overhead irrigation. We found drip didn't work well even with row cover on top to provide even moisture. We've also had sucess with sprinkling peat over the seeds instead. Anything to prevent crusting!

[@jamesbell1606]

This is how I plant everything. Bed prep with broad fork and tilther, spread seed (hand scatter method) then we press the seed in and light water, then cover with compost with a drop spreader and press it again lightly and water again. Water every evening.

[@eightdragonkings]

I just wanted to comment on the method you use for your carrots. I was having difficulty getting my carrots to germinate as well. The technique I now use is very similar to what you're doing. I pre-soak the carrot bed and make sure it's saturated before dropping seed. I use a Parmesan cheese shaker to drop carrot seed on the bed and then cover with a thin coat of compost and water the bed again carefully. what really helped in my situation was that I covered the beds with landscape fabric that didn't have holes punched in it. What I found was the combination of heat because of the fabric and humidity because of the presoak lead to quick germination, taking usually a week. Not sure where I pick that up but it might've been from you. If it was, thanks!

[@ForgingFreedomTV]

Here's how I do carrots 🥕 prepare beds, Water bed well. Make a slight depression every where you want a carrot. Put pinch of seed in every depression. Sprinkle 1/4" compost or soil over the seed. Cover with burlap. Hand water through the burlap daily. After germination, put burlap over the seedlings during the hottest or windy part of the day until they get strong. Use single layer of burlap or coffee bean hemp bag

[@ryanwillett728]

I've never seen you as calm as you are in this video. Usually you can sense the urgency and speed in your voice, today.. Very chill. Kids look good on you man!

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Ryan Willett thanks

[@TheMrAHead]

You should just get some rolled sheet metal flashing and install above your gutter to give you the slack needed to attach the bottom edge of the poly.

[@ryanwillett728]

AAron what does this have to do with Curtis and his awesome daughter? Put it elsewhere.

[@tkomla]

Well that is just about the most adorable little farmer I've ever seen. And a good student little student as well! ... Thanks, as always, for valuable guidance.

[@johnwright8440]

Hey Curtis, I too get my seed from Mumms and excellent it is too. However, I used to have real problems with Sunflower hulls and ended up hand picking them off, which took forever. Recently, they sourced their seeds from somewhere in the USA rather than Canada and everything changed! The shoots were bigger and thicker and the hulls just fell off so easily. It now takes me less than a third of the time it used to - which is huge! So I would say the variety is a major factor.

[@itsno1duh]

I had a perfect generation in my small garden but it might be replicable in a large amount. Wet coffee grounds mixed equal with damp sand add your seeds in the density you want so that as you pour out the seeds they are thinned naturally. Keep this mix bagged up in a burlap or seed milk/paint strainer. After a damp warm week/+ THEN spread them into your light soil. Almost a week or two less irrigation guaranteed! Mine germinated in a few days under cover because they were READY to bust out when they were planted. Hope you have a great crop and I enjoyed your winter harvesting video!

[@itsno1duh]

I know nervy, eh? :-P

[@williamlopez-wagner2989]

I soak and then plant sunflower shoots directly on top of the soil. Over the course of a few days the hulls fall to the soil. Any hulls that remain I gently bush off with a fine hair brush and then harvest.

[@thomasrobson6370]

You can tell your daughter loves you by the way she wants to look at you..:-) you use to save your "ox heart" tomato seeds, the beams look nice, I shouldn't have to worry about compost for a while because my back yard was an old forest and the top soil is rich with organics,

[@kylemullen1139]

It's quite smokey there. It has cleared up a bit here in Calgary. What is needed is a nice big rainstorm

[@chadsorganics1380]

You seem like a great dad. Reminds me of when I took my kids when they were babies in the field or wherever I happened to be. Aloha!

[@eddiejthereal4854]

You should take some of that left over polly and cover your carrot starts for a high humidity effect. just a suggestion saw someone in Arizona doing this to keep moisture on the crop for the first week or so. hope this idea helps repurpose some of your equipment.

[@TK-qu1ht]

Your daughter is lovely... One can tell she loves you!

[@OldesouthFarm]

OMG your baby is soo CUTE! Your baby girl is so absorbing your info! Future Farm Girl there....

[@daletinafloyd8284]

She finds you as interesting as we do! Very cute!

[@Agentstickyfingers]

Congratulations on your audio book Curtis! That's fantastic! I'm looking forward to giving it a listen. By the way! It sure is sweet how your daughter is so mesmerized by you on this video! 😂

[@GreenGrowSpaces]

Great stuff as usual - learning alot from your channel brother!

[@mariayelruh]

Your daughter is growing so quickly. It's nice seeing her so comfortable with you.

[@highlightsbottleflipnbanfl1847]

Shaded areas for summer lettuce has made me quite a crop this year, thanks mostly to the early afternoon overhead cool down method you posted, shear genius. Thankyou you saved my glutes.

[@TheMrAHead]

You should just get some rolled sheet metal flashing and install above your gutter to give you the slack needed to attach the bottom edge of the poly.

[@joshualawson7604]

Not sure of the best place to ask something for Q&A. If Curtis Stone ever retires, what crops would he grow for home production instead of farming? I love your bio-intensive methods and I've heard some good interviews with you and Jack Spirko.

[@DeerParkFarmstead]

Way to go daddio on this vid. So stoked for you and your family. Question: why don't you direct seed lettuce in the warmers months? I can understand colder. All the best, Roman

[@MightyMicrobes-]

Mulching will greatly help with your carrots. I notice you don't mulch, not sure way. Try having a 1 1/2 - 2 inch layer of mulch. In organics down here we are mulching with straw, it will save up to 60% on water. Along with that it will help with weeds and keep soil temps down. Stay away from the mulch that's dyed (obviously). Also, when the soil dries out completely from those hot conditions your organisms go dormant. We always want a moist soil.. Hope all is well!

[@offgridcurtisstone]

commercial farms can't mulch in the same way gardens do. I did a video on that last year. Use the search.

[@ryanwillett728]

Straw builds acid in the soil, keep mulching with it and you'll see what he's talking about.

[@sgrin2300]

you can't mulch a bed of carrots with straw when it has 7 rows in a 30 inch bed! lol

[@cksoutdoorsathilltopacresf1569]

Sorry... did you say something??? I was too busy paying attention to Violet!! Seriously, adorable! ~Kitty

[@landscapes4149]

Quality content sir. Great producing on the Q&A. Listening to DF read your book with that voice might be like a guided meditation, I'm into it!

[@johnjeter1988]

Nowhere Farms is coming to Queen Creek. Can not wait to see you.

[@MrMcSleeps]

How's work on the 'farm management' app? I know you've mentioned it a few times in the past and that you are trialing something with JM, but just wanted to know if it's something to expect for next growing season/etc. I'm really looking forward to having something to help stay more organized as my wife and I are setting our farm. Thanks Curtis!

[@anniegaddis5240]

Wow, if you read my idea on the other vid about the board for pulling weeds... that would work for harvesting Salinova by hand too!

[@davidoyama9753]

Thanks Curtis for this very informative video !

[@PlaceUnderThePine]

We've had a vastly different season in Ontario - very, very wet...so had no problems germinating our carrots and parsnips in our garden.

[@RevBlue50F1]

I just asked the question about the greens harvester on another video. Perhaps a fork similar to what you see on a corn combine; rounded fingers that would draw the plant up and together?

[@joan734]

Your baby will start talking earlier than other kids! Look how she is listening to you!!

[@MrTazHawaii]

That little sweetie is sure fascinated with her Daddy - she's going to be a Daddy's girl for sure....

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Yep. She already is!

[@destariseternis4761]

Thank you for building a toollist with how to. making a video wikipedia sounds like a great solution

[@thesoftgoat1398]

Also living in the same geographical area and had the same carrot disaster, perhaps 15% germination rate. Now I know it is not me, I just put in another row using your information... Thanks !

[@rachelgucker4238]

The gear list is GREAT! Thank you! It will save me so much time and money hunting for the right product and ending up with the wrong one anyway! The "shade cloth" that you and Jodi are using directly on the ground is green and looks heavier than what you are using to shade Salanova. I've looked online (Johnny's, google) and can't find anything that looks like it. I'm hoping maybe it will make it onto the gear list?

[@AgsiSD]

Good on you Dad 🐣

[@Gudtime]

Your Daughter is Adorable ! And She and Daddy have the 'same hair cut too' ! ;o)

[@deantemlett3201]

I don't have one yet but I always pictured the greens harvester like a pair of giant hair clippers :) maybe the jig could be based on similar clipper attachments with vanes to guide the leaves???

[@erinnkemp]

Try hand watering in the afternoon too.

[@dawsonmehalko711]

Man, I really wish I could afford to go to one of your workshops :/

[@briansmith6824]

Curtis, have you considered using weep hoses for your carrots rather than the drip tubes? The weep hosed will deliver water along the entire length rather than just every 6" .

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Brian Smith I used those for years. They end up as garbage pretty fast.

[@briansmith6824]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@Macgyver00]

I have heard you mention before that your summers get very hot there. Same for me in Houston TX 100+ with high humidity. How are you cooling your greenhouse/nursery? I'm scratching my head trying to figure out how to do it.

[@devkrev]

Fancy dual camera angle Q and A!!! Nice!

[@sunflowersnbluebirds7362]

Awe, she is precious! Great video.

[@LOLOLOLOL6610]

What do you recommend for poly or other materials in the foot of the Rockies, the world's hail belt? My gf watched and never heard a word you said, but interrupted with many baby comments and giggles. Cute kid, loves daddy's talk!

[@jrumbel]

Hi Curtis. I notice that you use the impact head sprinkler irrigation. Have you tried the wobblers? Definitely suggest you check it out for more even water spread and water saving.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+jrumbel yes, but I have edges likes fences and houses. Wobblers would be watering areas I don't want wet.

[@annelieroux8086]

Can't find the link to the audio book. Huge thanks to Diego for reading it! My iPod is my gardening companion. When I try to read at night I fall asleep LOL.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

bit.ly/TUFaudiobook

[@DEZADOG11]

Will definitely be ordering the audio book! very handy while i'm outside.

[@EricCampagna2]

You mentioned you used shade cloth on the carrots. Did you place it right on the soil or suspended above the soil?

[@ptrain9020]

Hey Curtis. My 5 year old son "Luke" said you have a cute baby and that she will have more hair soon.

[@KeithSilva2]

What a good baby!

[@Kristoffceyssens]

you look so happy. nice

[@DuluthTW]

See, any man can parent as well as a woman, so why are so many women at home? Great video and thanks for answering so many important questions.

[@ethansmith7659]

I know you add organic compost and turkey fertilizer, but do you add any minerals to your soil? I've been reading up on the practices of Dan Kittredge and just curious if you take part in some of those same practices on an annual basis.

[@userunavailable3095]

Yeah, you know how to raise your ratings, Dad. Just put the cute baby onscreen with you.

[@_A_D_]

Worried about chemicals that might seep from the irrigation system baking in the sun. I'm worried about water quality.

[@1_HighDuke]

Hey Curtis, love your content, the way you explain stuff, and the things you focus on. I have a question for you, although I think I already know the answer. Do you have any kind of quality assurance/traceability program for your veggies, i.e. lot numbers, best before dates, etc.? What would be the reasons for you having/not having such systems? Thanks and have a great summer season!

[@JaredBGrahamJBGS]

The house I grew up in, in Kamloops had the exact same glass embedded stucco... it must have been a BC interior 70's thing. I have scars from it...!

[@VastCNC]

The jang seeder link doesn't direct correctly, to give you a heads up.

[@bigpapi3636]

UFCS. Do you use pelleted carrot or other pelleted seed? I grow (free of charge) for my neighborhood as well as cross-pollinating and experimenting with growing conditions. I have about 2/3 acre here in zone 10a. I've been experimenting with Chanterais melons, the lovely crop grown in the south of France and highly prized by gourmets but not very prolific and finicky as heck. Just curious if you grow or have grown any sort of melon crop given your relatively small area?

[@mariayelruh]

Will you be able to reuse the poly you took off the greenhouse for other projects? Or is it too far trashed?

[@lukereynolds9907]

Hey Curtis love your channel mate here in Australia I have a nice size garden love growing veggies but just one question why don't you buy a large plot of land and grow there do you rent land now

[@aaroncessac4667]

hey Curtis have you ever read or watched any of Herrick Kimballs stuff the book is the planet wizbang book of ideas. man lives in New York but has the best carrots I've ever seen. and he only waters them at planting. just a thought you might check his stuff out it might help your carrot dilemma. it helped mine

[@sharpdetailing6001]

I'm located by Temecula and had some problems with carrots. I have the earth way seeder I got only 30# ponds of carrots from 50ft bed. Thinking it's cuz heat , bad germination and under watering . Can I get the same results you get with your jang seeder or close with the earth way? Was wondering if the jang Spaces the carrots Better?

[@TheChrisomo]

hey curtis thx for the channel, i was wondering i am having enormous pressure from flea beetles on my brassica crops. jm fortier also talks about that. how come u have no pressure at all during the summer and u can grow arugula and such without netting? cheers appriciate if u could answer

[@adamphilpott3052]

If you happen to see this, I love the idea of the audiobook! Is there anyway to get a "bundle" of audio, paperback, extras? I'm holding off on buying just in case?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Adam Philpott good idea. I will do that

[@sherrigabbard1258]

did you have to remove the shade cloth to water or are you able to water through?

[@CarbonConscious]

Aren't most of the seeds you use pelleted? Which would be even more complicated if you were to do it yourself.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

None are, except salanova.

[@Mark-jk8uv]

thanks for audio book as now can get the info

[@Wetkeazle]

Your daughter made me watch the whole episode; I can't have a shorter attention span than a baby ;)

[@Paramotoring12]

Dont carrots bend/divide/stunt when you add compost?

[@petesmit33]

Curtis we have the same problem can I ask did you use black shade cloth or white? Many thanks

[@adamphilpott3052]

12:55 lol

[@Grace-ey7pk]

I've always wondered, are you a vegetarian? I ask since you have an organic farm, solar panels, and have spoken about climate change. Love your channel and videos! Thanks

[@offgridcurtisstone]

I was for 16 years. Not any more though.

[@landscapes4149]

Please explain how solar panels and climate change relate to vegetarianism for the uninformed?

[@ryanwillett728]

Sounds like an agenda push to me. Farming and responsible living isn't synonymous with being a vegetarian or vegan.

[@Grace-ey7pk]

@Land Scapes Getting solar panels lowers your carbon emissions greatly, and carbon dioxide contributes to climate change. Farming meat emits lots of CO2 too with transportation, and tractors using fossil fuels to harvest the feed for the livestock. Cows, chickens, pigs, etc all emit methane which is a GH gas 25 times stronger than CO2. Farming livestock also takes up a lot more land (so more deforestation means more CO2 released), and more water consumption. So that's why I asked since Curtis has taken steps to lower his ecological/carbon footprint with growing food locally, and getting solar panels. So that's why I asked if he was a vegetarian too.

[@Grace-ey7pk]

@Ryan Willett No it wasn't an agenda push. Yes I'm a vegetarian but I don't try and push that onto people I don't know personally or who aren't close to me out of respect to other people. As I said to Land Scapes, going vegetarian can greatly reduce your carbon/ecological footprint too along with getting solar panels, and growing your food locally. Since Curtis does both of those things, I thought I'd ask if he was a vegetarian too since he appears very informed about environmental stuff.

[@shuteyes]

do you wash your microgreens, I didn't realize that?

[@nickhayward8877]

Hey Curtis, do you know a good Canadian supplier of poly and channel lock?

[@davidulrich7112]

Cute--looked alike your daughter was watching your hand movement, near the end, and, began...mimicking itself, too? Here's a question I've never heard you address it, but, you're using...chlorinated water, likely? Any thoughts about that, if so? Seems like she was just born, and, is SITTING UPRIGHT so...well? (Maybe, it's been awhile since I've watched a baby and that's just...normal, probably?) God bless!

[@rb28111]

Hi Curtis :) new to your channel! I had a question, before digging anything even if it is just a small garden, is it best to call 811 to check for any utility/gas lines? Thanks :)

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Yes, you just need to do that once to know where all the lines are, if any. Just keep the info for future reference.

[@rb28111]

Thanks so much!!! :) I already set up an appointment!

[@MrYoyoyoh]

Thank you for the video

[@mayatilou]

Curtis, with your compost technic do you still flame weed before carrots germination?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

If it needs it, yes.

[@ChrisCurious]

oh my gosh, put her away, she is way too cute, I just can't handle it

[@GabrielLima87]

Hey Curtis, how is the wall hidro system gpoing?... it looks dead in the video.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

It's not planted at the moment. But it's really cool. We'll be planting it again soon.

[@RiverBirchFarm]

Thank you very informative!

[@zachbowers442]

what do you use for planting

[@tomwootton3582]

Never had much luck with carrots. Did you lay the shade cloth directly on the bed, or support it on hoops?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

+Tom Wootton on the bed

[@tomwootton3582]

Urban Farmer Curtis Stone Thanks! I'm in North Florida so I was a little concerned about the heat but I guess it'll be worth a try. I have access to an earthway seeder (my neighbor's); have you ever used those for carrots? Wanted to try your suggestion of mixing in radishes.

[@wellybobs4403]

VERY CUTE.. Yeah.. the baby I mean!

[@johnwerther5180]

did you flame weed your bed

[@vatenlevi3858]

is that Kelowna

[@noahberger8760]

The kid looked like it thought ye had lobsters coming out of your ears. ....no disrespect, just messing with ye. but, yeah. ahahhahaaa. nahh, but really, ahhah. those are baaabies(spelling intentional) for ye.

[@jacewalton6677]

don't grow all or most of the food you eat? probably answered this already...

[@ericdemarco2323]

the website says something about a audio sample?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Thanks for that. Just fixed it.

[@18deadmonkeys]

I feel like you're watching me. I have been cursing poor carrot germination for two years. Two 100 foot rows I might have to reseed if miracles don't happen soon.

[@18deadmonkeys]

I have two empty rows and plenty of seed. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

[@user-xd2by2yl6q]

Looks like that cutiepie will be a ginger.

[@aslbrendalindemann6705]

Where do you buy your sunseeds?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

put "seeds" into the channel search.

[@carnaticfan]

gorgeous baby seems baby is very interested in your talks.

[@stephenjones9043]

Guess Im first Keep up the good work and MORE LETTUCE PLEASE!