Carrot Update 2: Where have all my seeds gone?

Time for a second update in the carrot germination experiment.
Checking carefully under the plywood cover out in the garden, I finally found a single confirmed sprouted seed. It was rather difficult however, seeing as very few seeds are still visible on the ground...

That is right, the majority of my seeds have vanished. Poof, gone! A few of the remaining seeds have visible damage, so I have my suspicions. One thing is for sure, the warm, moist, protected environment under the plywood has certainly created a miniature ecosystem teeming with life. Pill bugs, ants, centipedes, springtails and baby slugs cover the soil.

And here I thought I could deal with germination first, and pests after, but it seems they might be the same issue. Time to set out some slug traps!

The culprits?

Carrot Update 1

The publishing of my last post got delayed a bit, so you get an extra bonus: immediate updates!

Update 1, we have a tie in the germination speed category. Both the jar and soil blocks sprouted on the fourth day, though the ones in the jar have a higher percentage. No activity in the plywood covered bed yet, but the soil has maintained a very nice moisture level under the cover.

Seeds. In a jar. Now with roots.

Of carrots and germination

Confession time: I'm awful at growing carrots.
Not that the carrots I grow are bad, mind you. They tend to be well shaped and super tasty. The problem is that by the time they are ready for harvest, less than 5% of the seeds planted have made it to maturity.
For a plant that requires only 4-9 square inches for itself, harvesting only a handful from a 25 square foot bed is really sad.

The two major problems seem to be poor germination, and very slow growing plants that are highly susceptible to pests. A single hungry slug can wipe out dozens of carrot seedlings, and my carrots seem to stay in seedling stage for ages, just asking to be eaten.

I aim to solve these issues this year, I want my plot full of carrots! That means it is time for experiments...

Germination Tests:
It seems I can't do much about slow growth until I have something growing to experiment on. So first, we shall turn our attention to germination. Using three different sprouting methods, I planted approximately 120 seeds each, and we will see if any of them are effective in getting a good stand of healthy plants started.

Sowing in the Dirt:
The seemingly most obvious method for starting seed is to sow them in furrows and cover with a bit of soil. After all, that is how seeds are planted right? Well, that method has failed so many times for me, I'm not going to bother.

I am trying however, a method I've read about. The seeds were placed directly onto moist soil in rows and covered with plywood. According to the infinite wisdom of the internet, this will retain heat and moisture and make an optimal environment for sprouting.

I'm really hoping this method works well, as it was quite easy.

As if sowing seeds needed a picture

Nothing says "classy" like a hunk of plywood sitting in your garden

Soaked in a Jar:
Just like back in elementary school with beans, I soaked some seed overnight, drained and am letting them sit in the humid environment of the jar. Once the seeds sprout, they will get dropped onto moistened soil.

If the sprouted seeds don't stick together and can be used in my little seed planter device, this method should be pretty simple as well. If the sprouts stick together however, this could be quite a pain.

Seeds. In jar. With water.

Soil Blocks:
The third method is sprouting in micro soil blocks, and planting outside once the plants get going a bit.
This is certainly the most labor intensive, the blocks must be made, trenches dug, plants transplanted and backfilled. But if it works, it may well be worth it.

Cubirific!

Here we go, experiment time! Check back for updates.

The Flavor of Science

[This is a follow up to my previous post: Soil Remineralization. If you haven't read it, or need a refresher, go ahead and do that now, I can wait.]

Now that you are back, let's move on.

We (you readers and I) previously established that modifying the soils mineral makeup had definitely improved the tilth of the soil, and very likely improved plant health and vigor. That is all well and good, but I am growing food to eat, not ornamentals to look at, and while a soft spongy ground certainly makes hoeing easier, it is not an end unto itself.

So the question remains, how do the plants taste? Has the modified mineral profile actually effected flavor or texture of the plants?

To put this question to the test, I conscripted Mrs. Backyard Farmer and her superior taste buds for a blind taste test. Together we stood around munching raw leaves of spinach from three identical bowls, discussing each groups saveur. It was a lot of fun.

Mmmm, science!

So, to finally answer the question: yes. As in, yes the spinach from the remineralized plot was distinctly superior. The other spinach was good, the remineralized spinach was great. The flavors were stronger, more complex, and included a sweetness missing from the others. The texture was improved as well, the leaves both thicker and juicier. It easily may have been the best spinach I've ever had.

So there you have it, the bottom line is pretty simple. Take care of your soil, grow better plants.