Carrot Plant - Trees Planting

Grow carrots within the cool time of the year—spring and autumn. Plant carrots in loose, compost-rich soil freed from pebbles, stones or other obstructions.

Sow carrots within the garden 2 to three weeks before the typical last frost date in spring for harvest before the onset of summer heat.
Sow carrots again in mid to late summer as late as 12 weeks before the primary fall frost for autumn harvest.
In cool summer regions, sow succession crops from spring to autumn every 2 to three weeks until about 12 weeks before the date of the typical first frost.
Where summers are hot and winters are mild, grow carrots in autumn, winter, and early spring.
Carrots require from 50 to 80 days to succeed in maturity; baby carrots are often harvested in about 30 days.
Carrots in planting bed

How to Grow Carrots: Sow carrots within the garden 2 weeks before the last frost in spring. Succession crops are often planted every 3 weeks until 12 weeks before the primary frost in fall.

WHERE TO PLANT CARROTS

Grow carrots fully sun; carrots will grow slowly in partial shade.
Plant carrots in deep, loose, well-worked, and well-drained soil. Add several inches of aged compost or commercial organic planting mix to the planting beds before planting. Turn the soil to 12 inches (30cm) or more.
Remove clods, rocks, and solid objects from planting beds before sowing seed; carrots will split, fork, and become malformed if their roots grow into obstructions.
Work rock phosphate or wood ashes into the soil before planting to make sure fertility
Carrots prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.
Planting in raised or mounded beds are ideal for growing carrots.

CARROT PLANTING TIME

Carrots are a cool-weather crop best grown in spring, early summer, and autumn.
Carrots require a soil temperature of about 45°to 85F° (7-29C°) to germinate; germination are going to be slow in cold soil.
Carrots grow best at a mean temperature of 60° to 65° (15-18C°).
Where temperatures stay cool, sow carrots within the garden 2 to three weeks for succession crops.
It is not well worth the effort to grow carrots in very warm soil or weather; success are going to be limited and flavor are going to be compromised. Carrots are most flavorful grown in cool weather and soil.
Where summers are hot and winters are mild grow carrots from autumn to early spring.
Sowing carrot seeds

PLANTING AND SPACING CARROTS

Sow carrot seed ¼ to ½ inch deep about 1 inch (2.5cm) apart; in warm, dry weather sow carrot seed deeper than ½ inch.
Germination will occur in 14 to 21 days; keep the seedbed just moist until germination.
Soil crusting will slow germination. to stop crusting cover seed with vermiculite or sphagnum rather than garden soil.
Soak the seed in warm water overnight or for several hours before sowing; this may speed germination.
Thin carrots to about 4 inches (10cm) apart altogether directions in wide beds; space plants about 3 inches (7.6cm) apart in rows.
Overplanting seed would require extensive thinning.
Space rows 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) apart.
Wide row planting of carrots gives an honest yield from alittle area.
Plant 30 carrots per household member.

Quick sprouting carrot seeds: the way to Pre-Sprout Carrot Seeds.

CARROT COMPANION PLANTS

Plant carrots with chives, onions, leeks, tomatoes, peas, rosemary. Avoid planting carrots with dill.

WATERING AND FEEDING CARROTS

Keep carrots evenly moist to make sure quick growth.
Do not allow the soil to dry out. Reduce watering as roots approach maturity; an excessive amount of moisture at the top of the growing time will cause roots to crack.
Add aged compost to planting before sowing and again as a side dressing at midseason.
Before planting, spread wood ash over planting beds to supply extra potassium for root growth.
Carrots in rows

CARING FOR CARROTS

Thinning carrots is extremely important. Thin carrots in two stages: (1) when seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin plants to face 2 inches apart in rows; nip weak plants at the crown; don’t disturb the roots of plants that remain; (2) at midseason, thin again; pull up some baby carrots leaving equal space between carrots which will remain to grow on to full size.
Keep planting beds well weeded. Shallow cultivation is important to avoid damaging carrot roots. Carrots cannot compete with weeds.
Mulch carrot beds to stay soil temperature and moisture even. Even moisture throughout the season is vital for quick root growth.
Mulch with aged compost across the tops of carrots to stop green shoulders—that is chlorophyll discoloration of root shoulders–which will leave a bitter taste.
Growing tips: Growing Carrots for Flavor.

CONTAINER GROWING CARROTS

Standard and enormous carrot varieties aren’t an honest choice for containers, but short or finger varieties will grow easily in containers.
Half-long varieties are often grown in deep containers.
Plant carrots in wide rows in square or rectangular containers, or in concentric circles during a round container.

CARROT PESTS

Carrots haven’t any serious insect pest problems. Occasionally aphids, carrot rust flies, carrot weevils, and cutworms can pose a drag .
Aphids, carrot rust flies, and carrot weevils are often excluded by employing a floating row cover as a barrier.

CARROT DISEASES

Carrots haven’t any serious disease problems. blight and root-knot nematodes may occasionally attack carrots.
When problems occur: Carrot Growing Problems: Troubleshooting.Carrots at harvest

Carrots are often harvested any time after they’re large enough to use.

HARVESTING CARROTS

Carrots are often harvested any time after they’re large enough to use.
Mature carrots are going to be ready for harvest 50 to 80 days after sowing depending upon the variability .
Baby carrots are often harvested in 30 to 40 days.
Lift one or two carrots to see the dimensions and flavor once you are able to harvest.
Regular main crop carrots are usually ready for lifting once they are ¾ to 1-inch (2.5cm) thick three-quarter inch thick.
Lift carrots gently by hand where the soil is loose. Where the soil is heavy, loosen the soil with a spading fork then lift the roots gently in order that they don’t break. Pull carrots when the soil is moist. don’t disturb the roots of carrots that remain within the soil.
The last of your crops should be harvested before the bottom freezes.
Where temperatures reach freezing but the bottom doesn’t freeze, cover unharvested carrots with a thick mulch to prolong the harvest for a month or more.
Where temperatures don’t drop below 20°F (-6.7°C), carrots are often left within the ground through the winter as long as they’re under heavy mulch.
More harvest tips: the way to Harvest and Store Carrots.

STORING CARROTS

Carrots are often left within the ground until able to use as long because the ground doesn’t freeze.
Carrots will confine the refrigerator or cellar for 1 to three months at about 40°F (4.4°C).
Blanched carrots will confine the freezer for up to six months.
Carrot varieties are many

Wild carrots and hybrid varieties are often white, purple, yellow, and red–as well as orange.

CARROT VARIETIES TO GROW

Short (2 to 4 inches): ‘Minipak’ (60-65 days); ‘Tiny Sweet’ (60-65 days).
Half-long (5 to six inches): ‘Danvers Half-long’ (75 days); ‘Gold King’ (70 days); ‘Royal Chantenay’ (70 days).
Cylindrical (6 to 7 inches): ‘Nantes Coreless’ (68 days); ‘Royal Cross Hybrid’ (70 days); ‘Tuchon Pioneer’ (75 days).
Standard (7 to 9 inches): ‘Gold Pak’ (75 days); ‘Imperator’ (75 days); ‘Spartan Bonus’ (77 days); ‘Tendersweet’ (75 days).
Multicolored carrots: not all carrots are orange; wild carrots and hybrid varieties are often white, purple, yellow, and red–as well as orange. Seed growers offer multicolor blends.

ABOUT CARROTS

Carrots are hardy biennials grown as annuals.
A rosette of finely divided fernlike leaves grows from a swollen fleshy taproot which may vary in size, shape, and color.
Depending upon variety, carrots are often tapered and cylindrical, short and fat, round, or finger sized.
Some carrots grow to 10 inches (25cm) long; others are much shorter.
Carrots are usually orange, but colors can vary from red to yellow to purple.
Shorter varieties are an honest choice for heavy soil; long types require loose, loamy soil.
Botanical name: wild carrot
Origin: Europe, Asia