Heres how to grow fresh, crispy carrots.
Carrots need full sun and loose, fertile soil to grow.
Plant them in early summer or in late fall for a spring crop.
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It’s typically around 80% or lower, meaning 80 out of 100 seeds germinate.
Here’s what you gotta know to grow carrots.
Wesley Palmer is a Southeastern territory sales representative forJohnny’s Selected Seeds.
Preparing the soil and removing obstacles like rocks and sticks is key.
In most of the South, carrots are best planted in late summer or fall for a spring harvest.
They will tolerate partial sun but grow more slowly.
You’ll likely end up with undersized carrots.
It’s also a good idea to contact yourlocal extension servicefor soil testing and other regional growing advice.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist to germinate seeds and support rapid growth.
Underwatering can result in tough, woody, bitter carrots.
Once they begin to grow, water your carrots frequently and lightly, keeping the soil moderately moist.
These carrots, which have overwintered, tend to be the sweetest, says Palmer.
Amending the soil with compost at the beginning of the season is usually sufficient.
However, it’s okay to feed a water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer once during the season.
Pruning
Carrots should be thinned out once the seedlings develop leaves.
ensure there is about 3 inches of space around each carrot.
Thin them out again if needed once they begin to mature to keep the tops from touching.
The results will be lackluster.
Instead, seed directly into the ground or in raised beds, says Palmer.
Thin seedlings once their first leaves appear, which is when they’re roughly an inch tall.
“When you get the proper spacing early, they’ll grow more vigorously,” says Palmer.
Yes, it’s tedious but necessary.
Also, double-check to keep the area weeded.
Harvest when the crown of the top of the carrot is slightly visible above the soil, says Palmer.
Use a garden fork to loosen and lift each plant.
If you’re unsure they’re ready, pull one up to check the progress.
Rinse well, let dry, then store in a plastic perforated bag.
Bonus: Don’t toss the carrot tops, which be used to make pesto.
Add potting soil specifically designed forcontainer vegetables.
Potted carrots require more water than those grown in the ground, so give them deep watering weekly.
Carrots do not transplant well and are not usually repotted.
Overwintering
Carrots arebiennial plantsthat easily withstand a Southern winter in most cases.
If temperatures drop below 20F for an extended time, the tops die back to the ground.
Even if the tops die back, the roots will survive.
you’ve got the option to harvest the carrots all winter long and possibly into spring.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
There are several pests to watch out for when growing carrots.
They can be stunted by carrot-aster yellows, a disease spread by aster leafhoppers.
The tops will begin to yellow, while roots can become hairy and branch.
Dispose of any infected plants.
Slugs, on the other hand, should be picked off of plants.
Planting in the fall can also avoid this problem.
Root-knot nematodes are small worm-like organisms that also damage roots and lead to hairy or branched carrots.
The best prevention is crop rotation; don’t plant carrots where other root vegetables have recently grown.
Practice crop rotation and look for disease-resistant varieties if you experience this problem.
Home gardeners can use a fungicide containing chlorothalonil to try and manage the disease.
Here are some common issues gardeners face and how to fix them.
Unless they will be overwintering, harvest your carrots as close to the maturity date as possible.
If you’ll be harvesting after winter, don’t wait for the weather to turn hot.
Once carrots bolt and produce seed, you won’t want to eat them.
Bitter Carrots
Even young carrots can turn bitter from underwatering.
Unlike many plants, carrots appreciate frequent, light watering over infrequent, deep watering.
Keep an eye on soil moisture and water if you haven’t had rain.
At the same time, don’t overwater, which can cause carrots to rot.
If you don’t loosen the soil deep enough, carrots will stop growing once they hit compacted soil.
A small rock or clod of clay can also cause the root to fork.
For future plantings, prepare 12 inches of soft, sandy, loamy, debris-free soil.
Carrots will also be thin and underdeveloped if they aren’t thinned enough.
Also, excess nitrogen can cause carrots to develop multiple roots instead of one long taproot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its easy to confuse parsnips for carrots because of their size and shape.
There are varieties of carrots that are white, making them harder to distinguish from parsnips.
Carrots have a sweet flavor, while parsnips have a licorice flavor and a bit more bite.
Its likely your vegetable garden will contain more than carrots.
Companion plants dont compete and can provide pest control, shelter, and better soil quality.
Good choices to grow alongside carrots include radishes, tomatoes, and onions.
Avoid planting carrots with potatoes, parsnips, fennel, and celery.
Carrot tops can be replanted, but they wont grow new carrots.
Instead, they will grow new greens, which can be used in cooking.
Use them for vegetable stock and salads, or saute them with other vegetables.
Once roots emerge, transplant them to a pot filled with soil and water the surface.
Trim carrot tops when they are long.
