Carrots are a good source of beta carotene, which is an antioxidant that benefits eye health and protects against degenerative eye diseases. Carrots are widely used in cuisines all over the world, especially in the preparation of salads. While this root vegetable is most commonly observed as orange in color, there are also carrots of purple, black, red, white, and yellow color as well.
When & Where to Plant
Best sown outdoors in spring, carrots should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in cool weather, even if it’s only a couple of weeks before the last frost of spring. Despite their cold hardiness, nighttime temperatures around 55°F are best for sowing carrot seeds. They don’t tolerate daytime temperatures over 75°F well, so spring or fall are the best planting times.
For summer harvesting, sow carrot seeds outdoors 3-5 weeks before the last frost in early spring. For fall harvesting, sow seeds in mid- to late-summer, starting about 10 weeks before your first fall frost.
Carrots prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade. Seeds will grow best in deep, loose, and well-drained soil. Avoid planting in clay, choosing a location where your soil is loose enough to allow the roots to grow. Compost, sand, and wood ash can add nutrients, drainage, and soluble potassium, respectively. We recommend sowing seeds directly into the garden rather than starting indoors and later transplanting. Root vegetables are most often direct sown in the garden because of their long taproots and difficulties relocating them, but they can be started indoors and transplanted if you choose.
How to Plant
The key to growing excellent carrots is preparing your soil ahead of time. This gives the carrot roots the proper growing environment. The trickiest part of growing carrots is dealing with the tiny seeds and thinning them out. Plant the seeds 2" apart and 1/8-1/4" deep. Distribute seeds evenly to avoid them growing together. Cover top of soil with a layer of fine compost.
Caring for Carrots
Keep the soil moist with frequent shallow waterings. Carrots require at least one inch of water to start, then two inches as roots mature. Gently mulch the area to retain moisture, speed germination, and block the sun from hitting the roots directly. Carrots sometimes take two to three weeks to show any sign of growth. When carrot tops are about four inches tall, they need to be thinned to keep the growing roots about three inches apart. These thinned, underdeveloped carrots are still edible and great in soups. When carrots are about as wide as your thumb or 1/2" in diameter, they are ready to harvest! Gently pull from the leafy top and enjoy! If you fail to harvest and leave carrots in the ground, the tops will flower and produce seeds in the next year.
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