How To Grow Carrots At Home | SEED TO HARVEST
Carrots are an easy and rewarding crop to grow. Requires very less attention, great for encouraging children to eat their vegetables.
There are many different types of carrots to choose from. My personal favourite is Nantes. It’s an orange carrot that tends to grow 5-7 inches long.
CONTAINER SIZE:
I am using a round container that is 20 inches in diameter and 12 inches in depth. Make sure your container has proper holes for drainage. Carrots can also be planted in grow bags.
SOIL:
To successfully grow sweet, healthy, and long carrots, start with the soil. A well-prepared garden soil with compost and river sand will make the soil fertile and loose that will allow the tasty roots to grow downward and comprehensively develop.
Avoid soil that is heavy clay or too rocky.
GARDEN SOIL+ 30% COMPOST + 20% RIVER SAND/ PERLITE SOIL MIX: 50%
Proper soil preparation is extremely important for carrot growing. If the carrot roots can’t easily grow unobstructed, It can lead to stunted and misshapen crops.
SEED SOWING:
Carrots are grown by direct seed sowing. For that sprinkle seeds evenly over the soil surface. Rather than transplanting as carrots do not like to have their roots disturbed. Separate out closely packed seeds for better growth. Using the same soil mix, cover the seeds with a very thin layer.
With so many varieties of this vegetable available, carrots can be easily grown in big containers, garden beds, and even in small pots. Firm the soil gently and water it immediately after covering the seeds. Use a gentle sprayer or shower, so you don’t stir up the seeds.
LOCATION AND WATERING:
Place the container in full sun as carrots prefer sun all day long. Choose a spot where your carrots will get enough sunlight and keep the soil little moist at all times for good germination.
Carrot seeds will germinate within 6 to 8 days.
SEED SOWING TIME:
Carrots are a cool season crop and grow best when planted in early spring. August to November is the best time to start carrots.
WEEDING:
Remove weeds as they appear, Loosen the weeds along the soil’s surface and pull them out by hand.
THINNING:
A few weeks after germination, when sprouts are about 2-3 inches tall, thin to two seeding per 2 inches for smaller-growing varieties and one seedling per 2 inches for large varieties. The strongest and tallest seedling in each spot is selected and rests and snipped off.
Carrot plants Should be spaced 1-2 inches apart in containers for proper root development. Weed diligently, but be careful not to disturb the young carrot roots while doing so. Keep the soil a little moist at all times. Do not let the soil dry for any extended amount of time.
FERTILIZING:
Feed your carrots with organic fertilizers such as leaf mol, vermicompost, and cattle manure once in 20-25 days to encourage growth. However, it’s not necessary to use a fertilizer with carrots. Water well after fertilizing.
HARVESTING CARROTS:
Carrots gets mature at around 75 to 90 days or when they are half to one inch in diameter. You can harvest whenever the desired maturity is reached.
Carrots become tastier as they grow. You can start harvesting as soon as the carrots are big enough to eat or leave them all to mature for a single harvest.
Don’t expect to get perfectly straight “Grocery Store” carrots. Your carrots will still taste better, whatever their shape.
For a continuous supply of carrots, you’ll need to sow new round of seeds every 3 weeks through the season.
FUN FACT: Carrots were the first vegetable to be canned commercially.
Carrots don’t just come in orange! Try one of the many colorful alternatives, including purple, yellow, white, and black.
NOTE: Green waste can be composted. Green waste can be used to increase the efficiency of many composting operations and can be added to soil to sustain local nutrient cycling.
