Growing Carrots

Carrots, planting carrots, carrot varieties

 

        Site Preparation for carrots

         Select a site in full sun, prepare the soil with ample amounts of organic compost. Carrots will reach perfection only when planted in deep, good-textured soil that is free of stones and debris. Plant the long varieties only if you can provide this type of soil. Choose shorter varieties if your soil is coarse or stony.

 

         Planting carrots

         Sow carrot seed in spring or fall thickly in rows 1 foot apart. Or broadcast seeds in 1 -1-1/2 inch wide raised beds. Don't allow a crust to form on the surface of the soil. Prevent crusting by misting frequently. When tops are 1-2 inches high, thin individual plants to 1-2 inches apart. Thin again when they begin to crowd. Carrots benefit from applications of compost tea from emergence until the tops are 5-8 inches high. Like all root crops, carrots require plenty of potassium.

 

        Harvesting carrots

        Harvest at finger size for best texture and flavor. Watering prior to harvest makes pulling easier. Extend their storage life by cutting off all but 1 inch of the leaves and stem. Allow 50 to 95 days from seed to harvest.

 

        Insects and Diseases

        To prevent problems with diseases and insects, do not plant where carrots or parsley has grown for three years. Rotted or dwarfed plants may be due to the Carrot Rust Fly. The maggots of the fly are often found chewing on the roots. If your carrot plants are stunted and the leaves are yellow, suspect nematodes. Unlike Beneficial Nematodes, these microscopic pests attack the roots of the plant, causing galls (swelling) to develop. Protect emerging seedlings from birds and snails. If seedlings

topple over, suspect damping off. Check for watery soft rot on the stem at the soil line.

 

        Seed Saving Instructions

        Biennial. Carrots will cross-pollinate, so isolate 1/4 mile from other carrots the second year when going to seed. Harvest in the fall before a hard frost. Trim the tops to 1 inch and store roots in slightly damp sawdust, sand or leaves in a root cellar over the winter. Replant in the spring and harvest seed heads when dry.

 

        If you’re new to gardening with carrots you’ll be amazed at the number of varieties out there. Carrots come in a number of different shapes, sizes, and colors. No matter what season of the year, your experience level, or the size of your garden, you’ll find a carrot variety that’s appropriate to grow in your home garden.

 

        Carrots are usually divided into groups based on how deep they grow. Thin, deep growing carrots (up to 10 inches) are know as Imperator carrots. Danvers grow up to 7 inches long and are also thin. The tops are thicker and the flavor of the Danvers tends to be strong. Nantes are sweet, round carrots that grow to around 6 inches long. Chantenay carrots grow around 5 to 6 inches. They are a wider variety of carrot. Amsterdam carrots are small and thin, growing no more than 3 inches long on average. Paris Market carrots are very short carrots, and grow to about 1 ½ inches in diameter.

 

         Carrot Varieties

 

        Carrots for heavy soils:

        Look for varieties that grow shorter and don’t need to penetrate deeply into the soil.

        • Amsterdam Forcing 2, Amice

        • Autumn King 2

        • Chantenay Red Cored 2

        • Pioneer

        • Nantes Half-long

        • Little Finger

        • Danvers Half-long

        • Spartan Bonus

        • Five-Star Baby

        • Parmex

        • Mini Round

        • Thumbelina

 

        Carrots for container gardens:

        While you can use containers of various depths to grow carrots, smaller varieties are usually best. Try out some of the following carrots in your container garden.

        • Amsterdam Forcing 2, Amice

        • Amsterdam Forcing 3 , Sprint

        • Chantenay Red Cored 2

        • Danvers Half-long

        • Spartan Bonus

        • Nantes Half-long

        • Little Finger

        • Mini Round

        • Pioneer

 

        Carrots for the Fall and Winter:

        • Artemis

        • Autumn King 2

        • Barwon

        • Carotene 200

 

        Scarlet NantesScarlet NantesScarlet Nantes:

 

        • Scarlet Nantes

        • Royal Chantenay

        • Merida, Overwintering

        • Nantaise

        • Nelson

 

        Disease and Pest Resistant Carrots:

 

        • Flyaway. Resistant to the carrot fly.

        • Barwon. Resistant to alternaria and leaf blights.

        • Bolero. Resistant to alternaria blight, powdery mildew, and cavity spot.

        • Magno. Resists cracking and cavity spot.

        • Topweight. Resists most carrot pests and diseases.

 

        Carrots with Exceptionally Sweet Flavor:

        • Adonis

        • Artist

        • Soprano

        • Royal Chantenay

        • Kingston

 

        Unusual Carrots:

        • Parmex. Small, almost completely round.

        • Belgian White. White skin and flesh.

        • Early Horn. An old variety with a reddish skin.

        • French Round. Almost complete round.

        • King West. Red roots.

        • Pakistani. Can be purple to red in color. Very rare.

        • Sinclair's. A yellow variety.

        • Cosmic Purple. Deep red to purple skin with red/orange flesh.

        • Thumberline. Round carrot.

        • Dragon. Purple skin with orange flesh. Highly nutritious.

        • Rainbow. Grows as a variety of pastel colors.