Carrots
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
A Basic Growing Guide
Description
I have a hunch that if we asked our clients to think back to the first vegetable they actually liked, the majority would realize it was the carrot. Maybe as kids we were force-fed broccoli or eventually acquired a taste for brussels sprouts. But not so for the carrot which is so naturally sweet and crunchy. The carrot was our gateway vegetable.
And yet, our easy-to-love carrots are not inherently easy-to-grow. How many of us have planted those tiny seeds and tended them for weeks and weeks only to pull up stunted, bitter stubs? This does not have to be so. We can help! We want you to experience the joy of pulling up a lovely full sized white, purple, or orange taproot loaded with beta-carotene and bound to improve your eyesight. Read on for details about how to plant and maintain your carrot crop.
Some Common Varieties
Danvers: A popular heirloom variety with a tapered shape, ideal for heavy or clay soils.
Nantes: A classic variety known for its sweet, crisp texture and cylindrical shape.
Rainbow: A mix of carrot colors often coming in yellow, white, purple and orange.
Kuroda: A more heat-resistant variety about 5” long at maturity.
Carrots Through The Season
Planting Instructions
Light Requirements
Carrots need full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. They often do well planted near taller garden plants, just make sure to prune the larger plant if the carrots find themselves in full shade.
When
Plant a new row (succession planting) every week or two in early spring or in late summer for fall harvests. Some heat resistant varieties can be planted in late spring or mid summer, but they won’t be as sweet as those exposed to the cool weather. Frost especially brings out their sweetness.
Seed or Transplant?
Carrots are best directly seeded into the garden. CARROT TIP- after watering in the newly planted seeds, cover the area with carboard or a piece of wood to seal in the moisture and help the seeds germinate. Check underneath every day to make sure the soil is still moist and remove the cover when you see the seedlings appear.
Depth
1/4” deep. Drag your trowel or finger across the top of the soil to make a 1/4” deep planting trough.
Spacing
Sprinkle the carrots into the trough at a rate of about 2-3 seeds per inch. After a couple weeks of growth, thin to 1-2 inches apart depending on the variety. The trick is to make sure there is enough space for each carrot to reach, well, carrot size.
Growth Habit
Carrots grow as a single, long taproot with ferny, green tops that can reach about 12 inches tall.
Tending
Watering
Water carrots regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Consistent moisture is key to preventing the roots from cracking.
Common Pests and Treatments
Slugs: Seedlings are especially susceptible. Clear the area of weeds and leaf litter so there is nowhere to hide. If you know slugs are an issue in your garden, sprinkle iron sulphate around tender seedlings and reapply after rain.
Common Diseases and How to Treat
Damping-Off: Fungal disease causing seedlings to rot. Ensure good drainage and avoid overwatering.
Feeding/Fertilizing
Carrots prefer low-nitrogen soil, but they need phosphate (P) and potash(K). If you plant the carrot seeds with some compost, you shouldn’t need to fertilize.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary, but you will want to thin out the carrot seedlings that are closer than 1-2 inches. They need space to develop that taproot!
Harvesting
When
Depending on the variety it can take 2 months or close to 3 months before you can harvest. I like to keep track of my succession plantings by labeling each row with the variety and date I planted. Carrot '“shoulders” will sometimes peak above the soil a little when ready, but if it’s within a week of harvest time and you don’t see them, start pushing back the soil a little to check on the width of the top of the carrot. If it looks carrot-sized (about 1 inch across depending on the variety), it’s time to pull! If you have forgotten the variety or when you planted, no problem. Just judge by the height of the carrot greens (should be about 12 inches tall), and pull back the soil a bit to check the size of the root.
How
If you your soil is loose or sandy, you can grasp the base of the carrot foliage, gently twist and pull up. If your soil is heavier, loosen the soil around with a garden fork before pulling up.
Then What?
After harvesting, cut off the green heads before storing. Store carrots in the refrigerator with a damp paper towel in a container or plastic bag, or in a root cellar, if you have one. You can even eat the greens or add to soup stock. I like to put them in a vase and enjoy the ferny foliage a couple more days.
Carrot Recipes
The Ultimate Vegan Gluten-Free Carrot Cake (this is seriously so good even if you aren’t V or GF)