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Growing Carrots

 

  • Ideal Soil pH: 6.4

  • Ideal Climate: 60 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit 

  • Daily sunlight needed for Carrots: 6 - 8 hours

  • Watering Carrots: Keep soil consistently moist (frequent low volume watering) 

Step 1: Should Carrots be Grown from Seed?

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Sorry but you don't have a choice, carrots should always be grown from seed (not technically but pretty much). Once carrot seeds germinate they really do not like to have their roots disturbed, and it is honestly quite pointless to transplant carrots given that it will not save you much time. Carrots do best in consistent conditions, meaning even amounts of moisture, low fluctuations in heat, and unchanging soil conditions. So growing carrots from seed and leaving them in the same location is really the best option! Carrots are generally ready to harvest within 2 - 3 months so even when growing from seed you will have a delicious veggie before you know it!

Step 2: Plant Carrots in Containers or in the Garden?

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Carrots can do well in containers or in the ground. Here are some of the Pros and Cons of each:

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Pros of Growing Carrots in Containers:

  • Containers can be elevated off the ground to prevent carrot flies

  • Easier to maintain consistent moisture

  • Can be moved if it plants are not doing well in a certain location

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Cons of Growing Carrots in Containers:

  • More expensive (have to buy containers)

  • Typically lower carrot yield (less growing space)

  • Certain containers are made of materials prone to mold and rot

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Pros of Growing Carrots in the Ground:

  • Less expensive

  • Generally more room, so more carrots (higher yield)

  • Generally less prone to over-watering and "drowning" your carrots

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Cons of Growing Carrots in the Ground:

  • Need to take steps to preventing carrot flies that can ruin most of your crop

  • May be harder to keep consistent moisture levels in your soil

  • Once planted, there is no moving your carrot plants if you realize that you didn't choose a good location

Step 3: Choosing your Variety of Carrots to Grow

 

Many people do not realize that there are lots of different varieties of carrots to grow! There are several different sizes and colors of carrots to experiment with. Also, there are different carrot varieties for growing in different seasons, so do a little research to end up with a variety that is ready to harvest during the time of year that you want carrots. If you are growing in small to medium sized pots then you should choose a smaller sized carrot variety or a stump carrot variety. 

Step 4: Choosing a Location to Grow Carrots

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Carrots do best in a location with 6 to 8 hours of sun that doesn't get too hot. This may mean placing your carrots in an area that gets lots of sun during the first half of the day and then shade in mid-afternoon heat if you are in a hot climate. Carrots thrive when their conditions are consistent so choose a location that you believe will be easy to maintain even amounts of moisture, sunlight, and heat.

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Step 5: Preparing Soil for Planting Carrots

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Different varieties of carrot are sown during different seasons so this is the first piece of information you need to figure out. Once it is nearing the time to plant you will want to prepare your beds or containers for sowing. Carrots like well drained soil that been loosened to at least a one and a half foot depth. Aim to have a sandy silt with a good amount of organics added to it. In most areas, no matter what native soils you have, it is a good idea to till some sand (2 - 3 inches) and some compost (2 inches) into the top 18 inches of soil. Obviously do not add sand if you already have a very sandy soil. It is important to loosen the top 18 inches of soil and remove all rocks and pebbles before planting carrots (this can be done while tilling in compost and sand). Even if you decide not to till sand and compost into your soil, be sure to remove all rocks and other lumps from your soil with a rake.

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If planting in containers, fill them with a well-drained potting mix (with a pH near 6.5) and lightly compact or do not compact at all. Make sure all containers have drainage holes at the bottom where they can release excess water.

Step 6: Planting Carrot Seeds

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In mild climates you can grow most varieties of carrots all year round but if you are in an area with major climate swings between the seasons, then make sure to do a little research into the right time for sowing your seeds.

 

Sowing Carrot seeds in the Garden

If planting directly in the ground or in raised beds, make a trenches that is 1/4 inch deep where you plan to grow rows of carrots. Space the rows 1 to 2 feet apart and evenly sprinkle the carrot seeds throughout each trench (don't worry too much about seeds being close to one another). Gently cover the seeds in each trench to have about a 1/4 inch of soil above them and give the area a good initial watering.

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Sowing Carrot seeds in Containers

Sprinkle seeds evenly over the top of the soil in your container then cover with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil, compact very gently, and give them a good initial watering.

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In general, about 50 - 70% of your seeds will germinate and should sprout within 3 weeks.

Step 7: Caring for Carrot plants

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Some areas have problems with carrot flies, if you know this to be an issue in your area or have had problems with them in the past, you are going to want to take precautions. One option is to cover your beds with cloth that still allows sunlight, make sure it is weighed down so it is tight up against the soil and doesn't blow away in the wind. If you decide to go this route then make sure to keep them covered until you are ready to harvest. If planting in containers, elevate them off the ground to prevent carrot fly larva from getting to them as these insects are low flying.

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You can also use companion planting as a strategy for deterring carrot flies. Plant your carrots near onions, leeks, chives, or garlic to throw off the fly's scent. Without the scent of carrots, the fly will often move on to another area. 

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If your carrots are struggling because of heat or too much direct sunlight, try putting up a structure that shades them during the hottest parts of the day or gives them filtered light. Remember that carrots like consistently moderate temperatures which may take some adjustments as the growing season goes on if you run into heat waves.

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You can apply mulch to help maintain moisture levels in hot climates. Spread mulch across the bed but not right up to the base of the carrot stems, keep mulch 2 inches away from the base of the plants.

Step 8: Watering Carrot Plants

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Carrots thrive on consistency! Aim to always keep the soil moist but not soaked. Give your carrot beds or containers a good watering 2 to 3 times a week and keep a look out for the soil drying up. In hotter climates it may be best to give them a light watering every day, preferably in the morning. Keep those soil moisture levels as consistent as possible!

Step 9: Harvesting Carrots

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Carrots can be harvested at any size, but a good rule of thumb is the deeper the color the more flavor they will have! It is usually best to wait until the carrot root has become visible above the soil so you are able to observe the color. Harvest by hand because tools can end up bruising your carrots.

Step 10: Storing Carrots After Harvest

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Immediately after harvesting your carrots you want to place them in a cold location. This could be in your refrigerator or in a pile of sand/soil if you harvested later in the season and you have cool temperature. Some people argue that the carrot roots stay fresher when stored in cool sand or soil (as opposed to in a refrigerator), which can be done in piles or in containers. 

Step 11: Fertilizing Carrot Beds

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It is best to stay away from artificial fertilizers when it comes to carrots given that excess amounts of nitrogen will cause the roots to split. Till in 3 - 4 inches of compost to your carrot bed before sowing seeds at the beginning of the growing season. Adding a 1/2 inch of compost to the top of the beds a couple times throughout the growing season can be beneficial to your carrots but is not always necessary.  

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