Pot Grown Carrots - Re-using the compost

I hope you don't mind me adding a question to your thread PP?

So as a cheaper alternative to say compost can I add sand to most/all beds where I grow veg?

Depends what you're trying to accomplish I guess. Compost adds nutrients, organic matter and feeds the soil microbiome, but eventually breaks down in to almost nothing. Sand will add bulk and structure but not much else.