Growing Carrots

One of the biggest rewards of growing carrots yourself is being able to choose varieties that have intense carrot flavor, special sweetness, or interesting shapes or colors. Carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables - they are delicious when little, and get even tastier as they grow. Many people intentionally plant carrot seeds too close together so they can harvest and eat the thinnings.

500x333 Growing carrots: carnival blend heirloom carrotsRainbow Carrots

The most common problem in growing carrots seems to be poor germination. I get a lot of questions about this. Usually the problem isn't actually poor germination itself (as in, “bad seed”), but rather that seeds start to germinate, and then dry out and die before they break the surface.

The tiny sprouting seeds can also die if the soil is too hard to push though, or if they get watered with too much force and become exposed on the surface.

Watering with soaker hoses, fine-spray sprinkers or a fine mist by hand are all better during germination than heavy overhead watering.

Soil Preparation

Let’s back up a bit and talk about soil in general. Carrots, having such long, straight taproots, need to be planted in a very fine seedbed that is very loose, friable and stone-free down at least a foot, though two is even better. If carrots encounter little stones or other impediments, they will fork rather than try to grow around it.

(Now, to prevent this page from becoming too long, I have divided it into topics.

To continue reading, click the link below that matches what you want to know:)

Growing Carrots:

The Bare Facts

Start Indoors: carrots don’t transplant well. Direct-seed in ground 2-3 weeks before last frost.

Plant Seeds: ¼” deep (or on surface, covered with 1/4" fine compost), 3” apart (or closer, then thin).  

Transplant: don’t. Direct seed instead.

Thin: to 2” apart when 2” tall, to 3” apart when 3” tall. Crowding causes forking.

Days to Maturity: 70-80 days to harvest

Type of soil: deep, loose, stone-free

Nutrition: a LOT of compost, a teeny bit of phosphorus and potassium, no added nitrogen

Harvest: loosen gently with fork near row, pull carrots gently. Harvest on time or roots will crack

Special Info: choose shorter, stumpier varieties if you have stony or clay soil 

Planting
Carrots

Techniques to ensure germination and  maximize use of space. 

Transplanting Carrots  

My best advice is don't. But if you must, here's one way that sorta works.

Carrot Pests and Diseases

How to deal naturally with the most common carrot problems.

Harvesting Carrots

Carrots must be harvested correctly in order to store well. 

Storing Carrots

How to prep carrots for long-term storage so they will keep for several months.

And one of the most fascinating websites you'll ever find devoted to only one vegetable is the World Carrot Museum, a labor of love by a devoted Englishman named John, who is a tremendous resource of carrot lore. It's a fun place to visit!

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