It’s that time of year again: gardening season. Or maybe you’re planning ahead and purchasing seeds for next year’s produce. Either way, there’s no denying that carrots, with their vibrant colors and rich nutrients, are a valuable addition to your planting arsenal.
The question is how to use them; when’s the best time to start planting, how much space do carrots need to grow, and what steps can you take to ensure they grow fast and healthy?
You’ll find the answers to all that and more below, straight from the experts at Sarah’s Seed Shop.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Carrots?
Depending on the climate in your area, carrots can actually be grown at different times of the year. Most carrot varieties are best suited for cold weather, though they can tolerate some heat, making them perfect for April planting and early summer harvesting in most of the country.
While vulnerable and growing, the carrots will need cooler weather, but once they grow dense foliage that shades their roots, they can stay cool through the heat of summer.
If you’re in an area with cooler summers and mild winters, you could plant your carrots in the late summer for a fall or winter harvest. As long as your carrots have matured before any big freezes in the area, you can simply place a wooden board on top of them and harvest fresh, tasty carrots all winter long!
What Space Do Carrots Need to Grow? Can You Grow Carrots in Pots?
But what if you don’t have the space for planting outside or aren’t sure you have the right kind of soil for them?
Luckily for you, carrots can be grown as easily in pots in a temperature-controlled house as they can be outside. Here’s what you need to know to make it work:
Water, water, water! Especially if planting inside, soil in pots dries much faster than it does outside. Carrots are decently drought-resistant, so they won’t die if you miss a day, but you should still water them regularly.
Space your seeds apart A pot provides limited space, so thin out your seeds and place them at least an inch or two apart (depending on the variety you’re using) so they can grow properly. Don’t put too many seeds in a single pot.
Know your carrot size and pot accordingly Depending on the variety you choose, carrots can grow from a few inches to a foot in length. To prevent stunted or deformed carrots, find out how long your carrots should grow and plant them in a pot at least two to three inches deeper than that.
How to Grow Carrots: The Essential Steps
Whether you want to try your hand at planting in a pot or plan to add carrots to your yearly gardening rotation, here are the steps you need to follow to grow great carrots no matter where you live.
Step 1: Preparing the Soil
Carrots grow best in loose, loamy soil without sticks or rocks. Before planting, dig into the soil to break up dirt clods and remove debris.
You can add compost, sand, or a mixture of both to improve your soil quality before planting, but fertilizer often isn’t needed. Make sure not to make your soil too rich, because it’s great for greens but bad for carrot development.
Step 2: Planting the Seeds
Carrot seeds need to be sown directly into the area where they will grow for the season—transplanting them is likely to result in deformed carrots.
Plant your seeds in uniformly spaced rows, or simply sprinkle them evenly over your prepared soil if you’d like. Then, cover them with about a quarter-inch of soil and water them in. Keep watering them any time the soil dries out until you see seedlings sprouting.
Step 3: Keeping an Eye on Growth and Thinning Your Seedlings
As your seedlings start growing (which should take between one and three weeks after planting), take note of the spacing between them.
Since carrots need an inch or two of space between plants to grow well, you may have to thin out your seedlings. This can be accomplished by pulling up any weak or overcrowded seedlings - you can replant them elsewhere if you don’t want to dispose of them, but keep in mind these carrots are far more likely to be stunted or deformed.
Water the seedlings regularly during dry weather or if kept inside; if it rains regularly in your area and they’re planted outside, you may not need to water them at all.
Step 4: Harvesting Your Carrots
Different carrot varieties have different maturity rates, but luckily for you, all of the carrot seeds offered by Sarah’s Seed Shop will be ready to harvest in 50 to 75 days.
When you're ready to harvest, place your fingers in the soil and gently feel around the top of the carrot to determine its size. Most grow an inch or two in diameter at the top, though some can be a bit larger.
If you’re satisfied with the carrot’s size, make sure the soil is loose, and then grip the carrot’s leaves by the base and pull gently upward until the carrot is completely removed from the soil.
Step 5: Preparing and Enjoying!
Once out of the soil, you can remove the green leaves and wash the carrots with cool water to remove any excess dirt. This leaves you with one last task: enjoying your carrots to the fullest!
Homegrown carrots can be eaten fresh, roasted in the oven, grated as a garnish, cooked in a stir fry, and much, much more - the possibilities are endless! Carrots will stay fresh in the fridge for a few days to a week, but you can freeze, can, or dehydrate them to make them last longer.
Start Growing Your Own Carrots Today with Sarah’s Seed Shop
Ready to grow your own carrots? That’s great! Sarah’s Seed Shop has three different varieties for you to choose from; click the button below to check out the shop.
Thank you so much for this! Someone must have told you I have never been successful at growing carrots and radishes! This year may be different?