Carrots are not the fastest or easiest vegetable to grow. They have very specific soil requirements and grow best in cool weather. If you are able to provide them with the right conditions, growing your own carrots is well worth the effort because homegrown carrots boast a flavor and texture that is quite different from their store-bought counterparts.
Carrot Overview
Where to Plant Carrots
In terms of light requirements, carrots are quite adaptable, they grow in full sun and partial shade. When it comes to soil, however, only deep, loose soil free of rocks works. The soil pH should be slightly acidic.
Make sure not to plant carrots in the same spot where other members of the carrot family, such as parsnip and celery, were grown in the previous three years. Crop rotation helps to avoid pests and diseases.
A popular companion plant for carrots is sage, which is believed to repel carrot rust flies, a destructive carrot pest.
How and When to Plant Carrots
Plant carrot seeds directly in the garden. Make sure your soil is as free of stones and clods of clay as possible. Once the danger of frost is past and the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees F, sow seeds ¼ inch deep and ½ inch apart in rows 18 inches apart. Carrot seeds are tiny, so don't get overly concerned about spacing. You will have to thin the plants after they emerge. Making your own seed tape helps to space plants properly from the start, reducing the need for thinning. It also helps to make straight rows.
Keep the seedbed evenly moist by watering every couple of days until the seeds germinate, which takes 14 days or longer. Carrots are slow to germinate so be patient.
When seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin the plants to 1 to 4 inches apart, depending on the carrot variety. Thinning is crucial to grow healthy, straight carrots. When thinning, cut rather than pull to avoid disturbing the carrots that you intend to keep.
For a continuous harvest of carrots into fall, sow seeds every 3 weeks until midsummer.
Carrots Care Tips
Carrots are slow to germinate. Once they start growing, though, they are easy to care for.
Light
Ideally, carrots should receive 8 hours of full sun daily but since they are root vegetables, they do fine with less if all other growing conditions are met.
Soil and Water
The importance of proper soil conditions for growing carrots cannot be overstated. The soil for carrots should be about 1 foot deep (or deeper for longer carrot varieties), loose, well-drained, rich in organic matter, and free of rocks, stones, clumps, or roots. Any obstacles in the soil will cause the carrot to become distorted instead of growing straight. Like many other vegetables, carrots grow best in a pH range between 6.0 and 6.8.
Carrots need regular and plentiful moisture, at least 1 inch of water or rain per week. Water regularly and keep in mind that raised beds and containers dry out faster than garden beds.
Once the carrot seedlings are established (at least 2 inches tall), spread a layer of finely shredded mulch to conserve soil moisture, keep the soil cool, and suppress weeds.
Temperature and Humidity
Carrots thrive in temperatures between 40 and 80 degrees without big temperature swings. Hot summer weather is not conducive to growing carrots; they tend to become bitter and less sweet. Carrots are cold-hardy but will get damaged or die in temperatures below 20 degrees F.
They don’t have any particular humidity requirements.
Fertilizer
Carrots are heavy feeders and need regular fertilization. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium and low in nitrogen and follow the label instructions for amounts and frequency.
Pruning
It is sometimes recommended to prune the carrot tops in order to let the plant direct its energy into growing larger roots instead of foliage. There is no evidence that supports this practice.
Pests and Problems
Carrots are susceptible to different blights such as Alternaria blight and Cercospora blight. Proper crop rotation is an important step in preventing these fungal diseases.
Carrot rust flies are a serious pest of carrots. The larvae bore surface tunnels into the carrot roots, rendering them inedible. Another potential carrot pest is wireworms, soil-borne insects that are often found in soil high in organic matter.
How to Propagate Carrots
Carrots are grown from seed. They are biennials (they only produce seeds in their second year) so in order to collect your own seed, you will need to dedicate a few plants to seed production and let them overwinter. Note that the seeds of varieties that are not open-pollinated won’t produce carrots true to the parent. For that reason, it is usually easier and more convenient to buy fresh seed from a seed company every year. Follow the instructions for planting carrots above.
Harvesting
Begin pulling carrots as soon as they develop their full color. There are two indicators that tell you whether the carrots are ready: the size of the aboveground greens and the size of the shoulders (the top section of the carrot root). Follow these tips for determining carrot maturity and harvesting.
For winter storage, wait to harvest until after the tops have been exposed to several frosts, as the cold will increase their sweetness. In climates with mild winters, you can also overwinter carrots in the ground by mulching them heavily with straw. Dig them throughout winter or in early spring before new growth starts.
Types of Carrots
'Danvers 126' Carrot
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
This heirloom carrot was developed in Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1886. It is a heat-resistant variety with tapered, thin roots 7 to 8 inches long. 75 days to harvest.
'Imperator 58' Carrot
Its mild, sweet flavor has made this heirloom carrot a favorite all-purpose carrot. It grows best in loose, deep soil that accommodates its 9-inch-long root. 70 days to harvest.
'Kuroda' Carrot
Unlike other carrots, this heirloom variety from Asia is suitable to be grown in hard or rocky soils. It produces large yields of exceptionally sweet carrots. 85-100 days to harvest.
'Thumbelina' Carrot
Its round shape makes this carrot stand out. Its mature size is about the size of a golf ball. Because of its shape, this carrot is suitable for growing in heavy soils. Its 2-inch long roots are good for baking. 60 days to harvest.
'Purple Haze' Carrot
‘Purple Haze’ is a striking hybrid carrot with a deep purple exterior color and orange interior color. In sandy soils, it may reach a length of 12 inches. The carrot has a sweet taste both raw and cooked. The color fades with cooking. 70 days to harvest.
'Red Cored Chantenay' Carrot
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
This is an heirloom variety with deep orange color from skin to core. It has wide shoulders that taper to a point. 65 days to harvest.
Garden Plans for Carrots
Large-Scale Vegetable Garden Plan
If you've got the space and want to have a steady supply of homegrown vegetables, try this large-scale vegetable garden plan. It's got a little bit of everything: leafy greens, root veggies, herbs, and tasty pods. A number of plants included in this plan, such as broccoli, peas, cabbage, carrots, and lettuce, are frost-tolerant vegetables that withstand cooler temperatures.
Spring Vegetable Garden Plan
Enjoy the freshest flavors of the season with this simple spring vegetable garden plan. Designed for a four-foot-square raised bed, it nestles in 10 different cool-season crops that do their best growing in lower temperatures and tolerate even a light frost.
Summer Vegetable Garden Plan
This summer garden plan is designed to follow the spring vegetable garden plan for a four-foot-square raised bed. It has carrots, cabbage, onions, snow peas, and parsley already growing in it. Among these cool-season crops, you then plant tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and basil, which thrive in warm, sunny weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you plant carrot tops to grow carrots?It is possible to use the green carrot tops to grow new leaves, but they won’t produce another carrot taproot. Simply place the carrot stumps—the top inch of a carrot plus about 1 inch of the greens—in a shallow bowl of room-temperature water. New leaves will start to grow from the center.
It is possible to use the green carrot tops to grow new leaves, but they won’t produce another carrot taproot. Simply place the carrot stumps—the top inch of a carrot plus about 1 inch of the greens—in a shallow bowl of room-temperature water. New leaves will start to grow from the center.
- Should I let my carrots flower?Carrots only flower in their second year, unless hot weather causes them to bolt (flower prematurely) in their first year. Typically, carrots never reach the flowering stage because they are harvested in the first year. Letting carrots flower is only recommended if you intend to collect the seeds; they acquire a bitter taste and are no longer suitable for eating.
Carrots only flower in their second year, unless hot weather causes them to bolt (flower prematurely) in their first year. Typically, carrots never reach the flowering stage because they are harvested in the first year. Letting carrots flower is only recommended if you intend to collect the seeds; they acquire a bitter taste and are no longer suitable for eating.