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Bevis Begg is this month’s prize winner with the following ques on:
Bigger, better carrots Can you please tell me what I can do to grow beƩer carrots? I change the place each year that they are grown in. This year they were very stumpy – maybe because of a drought although they sƟll had a good amount of water. Interested to hear your view.
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t is probably the condi on of your soil that is affec ng your crops. Soil prepara on before plan ng is the key to perfect carrots. They prefer well drained, light, fer le, sandy soil so their roots can penetrate deeply and swell. So in each new site you plant in, enrich the soil by adding a good quality soil mix and plenty of compost. Remove any stones, old roots or anything else in the soil that will get in the carrot roots’
way, as this can result in the root growing around the obstruc on into a strange shape (forking). Do not plant carrots too close together, always thin seedlings out to stop overcrowding. Carrots are rela vely easy to look a er and only need regular watering to keep them growing rapidly. Try not to over fer lise your carrot plants as you will end up with prolific green tops and no carrots below. Top p: Sow carrot seeds directly into the garden as they don’t like being transplanted or having their roots disturbed.
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Email goodies@theguardian.co.nz with Daltons Essential Strawberry Pack in the subject heading, or write to Strawberry Pack giveaway, Box 77, Ashburton. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: • You must provide a gardening question for the Daltons’ experts to answer. • Please include your address and phone number in email and letter options! • Giveaway entries must be received by October 1. For more information on Daltons products visit www.daltons.co.nz
All questions supplied are entered into the draw to win a Daltons prize pack, but the Guardian reserves the right to choose which questions and answers will be published. Daltons post the prize to our lucky winner.
Strawberries are an undeniable crowd pleaser and there is nothing more rewarding than picking succulent, juicy strawberries from your very own garden. Plus, if you plant them now they will be ready to show off to the whole family at Christmas me! We have two Daltons Essen al Strawberry packs to give away, full of everything you need to grow delicious red strawberries. Each pack is valued over $60 and contains 2 x Daltons Strawberry Mix, 1 x Daltons Strawberry Fer liser, 1 x Daltons Organic Bio-Fungicide Powder.