Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

I'm wanting to do carrots this year. I have a very limited area for sunny grassy/garden availability unless I take trees down. Not happening. To maximize growing space I was thinking of making a garden hill. Dirt piled up, kind of in a fat cone-ish shape. Growing upwards in an area and not outwards to minimize space. Thoughts?
I might do the same for the sweet potatoes.

I did not have much success year before last (was my first time with carrots) and I think it is because they had sun all day although I read that they need sun all day. The area I'm considering would have sun 1/2 the day. Thoughts??

Lady at the library (who is a growing magician) said she plants them primarily in the shade, her carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and eggplants. The heat and minimal direct sun has given her huge carrots and much success. She said quite simply and matter of fact, the sun has changed, growing directions have not.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Carrots (and i'm no expert) actually prefer cool conditions (spring and fall) and will bolt in high heat. For this reason they do better with companion plants that give a bit of shade (tomatoes). I've been looking at setting up garden space and hugulkultur caught my attention as a type of permanent raised bed http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/
But it appears not to be well suited for carrots in their first year. I'll provide more info as I build it and results in fall.

Baron, dude that looks awesome!!! very interested!

Thanks Al, thats my problem, I've got all kinds of neat stuff researched, but i'm an armchair quarterback: got to find time to get some of this done.

This is awesome. Similar to my idea but I love the logs to give it stability.!! Thanks for sharing.

That's whAt she said at the library. Cooler temps (shade) for some plants are best, despite the commercial growing directions. No tomatoes - blight last year. Think might even take 2 years off from tomatoes just so I can be certain. A lot of growing space for it to all be wasted. Almost 40 tomato plants done last season.

Veseys carries blight resistent tomatoes....theyre great. We were hit with blight about 5 years or more ago....theyre the only ones i can grow now....