Carrots are not suited to all soils and can be quite a challenge to grow. Using a selection of cultivars you can harvest carrots almost year round. They can be closely spaced, giving a good yield from a small area. There are many cultivars with colors ranging from orange, red, purple, yellow and white. Size ranges from mini to the longer growing summer varieties. The root sizes range from long and slender to short and round.

Ideal Site- Carrots prefer an open sunny site with light to medium, stone free soil. Shorter varieties can be grown in containers. Early and late cultivars can be grown under cover in a greenhouse or hoop house.

No additional feeding should be needed on reasonable soil or soil treated from a previous crop. Mulching with a low-fertility soil-improver in the previous winter. Ideal soil pH 6.5-7.5

Seed to Harvest- Early cultivars 9 weeks, Main crop cultivars 20 weeks.

Cultivation- Seed germination in carrots is often slow and uneven. Improve germination by using pelleted seed (seed coated in clay) or gel-sowing pre-germinated seed. Minimum germination temperature for carrot is 45F (7C).
 

Some carrot cultivars can be started undercover but in general it is best to sow directly outdoors as the roots do not do well when disturbed. Round rooted cultivars can be sown in gel packs. Short cultivars may be raised in biodegradable tubes. They should be started from February to August when grown under cover. February to June for tranplanting outdoors.

Outdoors- Start sowing early cultivars as soon as soil is warm enough, February or March in warmer climates. Main crops should be sown from May to June so roots are not too large when lifted in fall. Scatter seed thinly in shallow rows ¼ in (2cm) deep or station-sow 3-4 seeds per station.

Spacing- rows 6in (15cm) apart. Thin early carrots to 3in (7cm),/ Thin medium size to 1 ½ in (4cm) , 3 in (7cm) for larger cultivars. Mini vegetable – 1/2in (1cm)

Plant Care- Keep weed free when young. Water well during dry periods.

Problems- Diseases and disorders in carrots are rare. The main pest is carrot rust fly. Growing near onions may offer protection from this pest. On rare occasions splitting may occur.

Harvesting- Pull roots from soil while young. Carrots left too long will become tough and fiberous.

Nutrients- carrots are a good source of vitamin A, B1, B3. B6, C, K, dietary fiber, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, folate, and molybdenum