Carrots are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables, loved for their sweet, crunchy taste and nutritional value. Luckily, they are also really easy to grow, even in a small garden.
Preparations
Choose a sunny spot in the garden for growing the carrots as carrots need sunlight to grow. Carrots also prefer loose, light and well-draining soil to grow. To avoid deformation, you also need to make sure there are not large rocks or debris in the soil. Use a large garden fork to loosen the soil and mix in compost or aged manure to improve the soil fertility and texture.
Seeding and growing care
Carrot seeds are small and can be difficult to handle. Mix them with sand or coffee grounds to help distribute them evenly. Sow the seeds in rows that are about 30 cm apart, with approx 2 cm between the seeds and about 1 cm deep. Water gently.
When the seedlings have emerged, they will need to be thinned to about 5 cm apart. This will allow them to grow into healthy, mature carrots.
Carrots need consistent moisture to grow properly. Water them deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions.
Mulching the soil around the carrots can help conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. Use organic materials like straw, grass clippings, or leaves to cover the soil.
The Digital Gardener provides growing advice for the varieties that are available in the plant library, and helps you plan succession sowing so that you can harvest fresh carrots througout the season.
Harvest
Carrots can be harvested as soon as they are big enough to eat. Gently pull them from the soil, being careful not to damage the roots of neighboring plants. Continue to harvest throughout the season.
Learn More
Would you like to learn more? There is plenty of good advice on how to succeed in growing carrots from experienced gardeners available in the Internet. These are only some suggestions of good advice available:
- Tips on how to extend the growing season for carrots from Johnny Seeds. https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/carrots/carrot-season-extension.html
- Tips for direct sowing of carrots and similar crops. Video by Huw Richard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyaUtbFZhrY
- How to grow carrots without digging the soil. No Dig Carrots by Charles Dowding.
Do you know of any other good sources for growing advice that we should share? Please let us know.
Happy Gardening!
