I have been gardening for sixty years... since I was ten, and as one might expect have accumulated some degree of success. I am an organic gardener - actually beyond organic - and until about four years ago I have not had any difficulty germinating carrots. Regardless of where I plant in my 1,000 sq. ft. garden, the results are the same. Poor germination... and I do mean POOOOOR. 4 sprouts in twenty feet :-(((( Any thoughts?

And it gets worse... the ones that are germinating disappear overnight. I blamed the slugs... and controlled them with shredded compost. Then I blamed the earwigs, but traps set out did not garner even one victim... then I think I figured it out... THE FRIGGIN DEW WORMS ARE EATING THEM. I had kept the bed completely free of any detritus in order give the carrots every chance, and to remove hidey-holes for slugs. The worms came up at night, were starving, and the only thing they could find were carrots - nice young tender carrots. It was no trouble for the worm to latch onto the stem and down the hole it went. I started feeding the worms grass clippings and I am not losing the seedlings at the rate I was. It is pretty amazing to witness how much material they can drag into the earth... and the size of it. Right now one hole has a regular little compost pile on top of it and a stick that is 1/8" x 6" partly into the hole, standing like a little flag pole ready to celebrate Canada Day tomorrow... or of my southern neighbours... July 4th -

If I can figure out the germination problem, I'm thinking of temporarily evicting the worms by one of several available methods. The problem is not compacted soil or dryness or old seed... I have those issues well taken care of.

Help please!