An easy and great crop to grow in your garden is carrots. Carrots are an easy crop to grow in your garden and have great health benefits for your diet. They are also easy to market if you choose to sell them. There are some interesting varieties to try. With the current cullinary trends of colorful vegetables, there are some very colorful and interesting varieties of carrots to grow besides the traditional orange ones.
Basic fundamentals of planting carrots
Planting carrots is fairly straightforward and simple. When planting most seeds, you want to plant the seed 4 times eh diameter of the seed in depth. Carrot seeds are really small, so you will need to plant them ¼-1/2 inch (.6-1.27 centimeters) deep.
If you plant carrot seeds too deep, they will have a difficult time germinating and making it to the surface. If you just put them on the surface they may germinate, but they will have a difficult time surviving.
You will want to plant the seeds about 1/8- ½ inches (.31-1.27 centimeters) apart. You can plant them in a row, but they also will grow well in a wide width row, or a patch as long as you can weed and water them well.
Germination of the carrot seed takes a while. The carrot seeds will germinate from 12-16 days. It can vary due to the variety of seed, temperature, how old the seed is, and the moisture content of the soil. You will want the soil to be moist, not soaked, and not dry.
Biennial plant
Carrots are a biennial plant. This means that the first year of growth the plant is developing the root. If left to grow for a second year the carrot will grow again and produce a seedstem. This will take all of the nutrient of the root and use it to create seeds. The root of the carrot becomes tough and fibrous and really yucky to eat.
If the carrots are grown in hot conditions, they can sometimes produce the seedstem in the first year of growth. To avoid the seedstem forming in your new carrot crop you will want to grow it during the colder part of the season if you live in a hot climate. You can also avoid the carrot from forming a first year seedstem by watering it well.
Tap root system
Carrots grow with a taproot system. This means that there is one main root to this plant with smaller roots growing out from the side of the main root.
Taproot crops are interesting and can be of more benefit than just a crop for eating. A tap root grows down deep into the soil. As it grows down the plant will bring up nutrients from deeper in the soil to the surface.
Taproots plants are also good for breaking up hardened soil. The taproot will grow deep and expand the main root. This expansion breaks up hardened soil. With carrots the hardened soil will make the taproot become irregular shaped so you may not want to grow carrots in hardened soil for marketing.
The alternative characteristics of a taproot crop are discussed in an article on our site here. It’s an interesting way of using the natural characteristics of plants to improve your soil and farm or garden plots.
Soil for growing carrots
The perfect soil for carrots is a loose sandy fertile soil with good drainage. You also want to have a lot of good loam with well composted organic matter. We have an article about getting good loamy soil here.
Most people do not have the perfect soil for carrots but can still grow good carrots anyway. In my region we have rocky clay soil with slightly basic ph. That could spell disaster for growing carrots, but with a few preparations, we have been able to grow a fantastic crop of carrots year after year.
Soil issues
Some issues to consider when growing carrots include how fertile the soil is, the ph of the soil, how sandy it is, how much clay content it has, how rocky it is, and how compact the soil is.
Soil ph
The soil ph has a lot to do with the flavor and growth of the carrot. Carrots prefer a slightly more acidic ph of 6.0-6.8. However, you can grow good tasting carrots in slightly more acidic or slightly more alkali soil from 5.5-7.5 ph.
Here is an article discussing soil ph. I would encourage everyone to get their soil tested by their local extension service. We have links to all of the United states extension services here.
Clay soil
Clay soil can provide some challenges for growing carrots. Most of these challenges can be handled, and you can get a good crop of carrots from clay soil.
The first challenge is with germination of the carrot seed and growth of the carrot seedling. Clay soil will harden after it gets wet. If you don’t keep clay soil damp the surface will form a hardened crust. The carrot seeds will not be able to push through the hardened surface. When growing carrots in clay soil you need to remember to keep the soil moist, especially when first germinating the seed and growing the seedlings.
Clay can become compacted and can make the roots of the carrots get twisted and bent. Some carrots can look like they have legs. There are all kinds of Instagram photos of crazy looking carrots grown in home gardens. Often a compacted clay soil is the cause of these crazy carrots. The carrots are still good to eat and have great nutrition. They can be a challenge to market to people, so care should be taken if you are growing your carrot crop for a market.
The way to remedy compact clay soil is to turn it over a couple of times or more to loosen it up. You can also add some good composted organic matter to increase the loam of the soil. The looser the clay soil the better.
Another solution for growing carrots in clay soil is the type of carrot you choose to grow. Some varieties of carrots are smaller. The smaller and more ball type of carrots will have less of a chance to grow crazy when they are short and round. These smaller varieties can mature faster than the longer rooted varieties, so you might even be able to get more carrot crops throughout the season.
Rocky soil
Rocky soil can be good and bad for growing carrots as well. Remember that carrots are a root crop. Where the root grows is an important thing to consider.
If the soil is rocky with small gravel and is loose, then the carrots will probably grow well if you keep them moist. If the soil has larger rocks the carrot root will have to adapt to the rocks. The taproot will probably twist and turn as it grow. Similarly, to compacted clay soil, the carrots can grow crazy extensions and extra roots. They taste good and are nutritious but might be difficult to market.
You can also try cultivating the smaller round type of carrot in this soil as well. The shorter length of the carrot the less chance it has to grow differently than desired.
Debris in the soil
Debris in the soil has similar disadvantages as rocky soil. The carrots will have to adapt to whatever is pushing against the root as it grows down. The crazy carrots will result from growing around, over, and through the debris in the soil. The best treatment of debris in the soil is to get rid of the debris if you can.
Soil solutions
Solutions for your soil will most often involve creating a loose well drained soil with a lot of well composted organic matter.
I would suggest turning over the soil a couple of times to loosen it up. Depending on the size of the area you want to grow carrots in you could just use a shovel, or a tiller. Our carrot crop is fairly large, so we use a tractor and plow to turn over the soil. The tractor we use for plowing is a 1952 Ferguson TO-30. These older workhorses just keep going if you maintain them well.
Make sure the organic matter you add to the soil is well composted and broken down. If the organic matter that you add to your soil isn’t broken down well it can add debris. This added debris can create strange shaped carrots.
Tips and tricks to planting carrots
Planting carrots is pretty straight forward. You will want to put the seeds about ¼-1/2 inches deep in the soil. The trick is to keep the soil moist, but not too wet so that the seeds will germinate and push through the surface.
Germination of carrot seeds is not immediate, it takes anywhere from 10-16 days for the carrot seeds to germinate and start growing. You will need to make sure the soil os moist and the the surface isn’t too hard for the seedling to push through.
Irrigation
Irrigation is important for your carrot crop. The seeds and seedlings need constant moisture to begin growing. You don’t want to waterlog or drown your seedlings, but they will need enough moisture to keep them going. Pay close attention to the seedlings as they get growing.
Once you get the seedlings established with a few true leaves they may not need as much attention, but you still need to keep them moist.
As the carrots grow the carrot tops will grow outward shading the ground. This can aid in keeping moisture on the plants, as well as keeping weeds from growing. You may not need to water them as often as the younger plants.
You should avoid letting the carrots dry out too much. Problems can happen when carrots get dry then watered heavily. The cells of the carrot shrink with the absence of water. When the carrot receives water after being dry the cells will become engorged with water. If this is done too much the carrot root will crack and split. Cracked split carrots can invite all kinds of pests, disease, and bacteria. You could end up getting rotten carrots, so be attentive.
Fertilization
Carrots are fairly tolerant of less fertile soil. You can get a crop of carrots without much fertilization. However, if you want a good yield you will want to fertilize. It’s recommended to fertilize the carrots with nitrogen. If you are using commercial fertilizer the 21-0-0 is recommended. Use ¼ of a cup (.06 liters) per 10 feet of row.
We recommend side dressing the fertilizer. This is where you put the fertilizer to the side of the plant and water it into the soil. This will keep the fertilizer from chemically burning the plant.
We have had good results with a basic garden mix fertilizer as well. If you have questions about fertilizer, here is an article that will help.
Weeds
Carrots do not compete well with weeds. To have a good yield you will need to keep the carrots weeded. Weeding carrots is pretty easy when the plants are larger, but it’s difficult when they are just small fingerlings popping through the surface.
We run a traditional garden with rows in the dirt. We have not used raised beds to grow our crops. This provides ample opportunity for weeds and weeds seeds to flourish. It can be mind-numbing to pick through the tiny carrots and the tiny weeds. It’s worth it in the end, but the first weeding or two can be terrible.
Some alternatives that might work better for weed control are raised beds or covering the planted carrots with something like plywood or carpet until the carrots germinate. Another option would be to start your carrots and transplant them. Carrots don’t respond well to transplanting, but there it might be worth a try.
Thinning
When the carrots get growing you will need to thin them. This is when you make room for the carrots to grow larger instead of bunched together stunting the growth. Carrots that grow too close together or are touching each other can develop soft or rotten spots. Thinning your carrots is a necessary thing if you want a good crop.
Thinning carrots isn’t that difficult. You pull out some carrots to give other carrots room to grow. The spacing depends on the variety of carrot you are growing. Smaller varieties don’t need as much room so you can leave more per inch.
Don’t throw the small immature carrots away. These small carrots can be very tasty. Often you can time thinning the carrots with fresh grown sweet peas. Fresh sweet peas and young carrots are a treat.
Harvesting
Harvesting carrots is rather simple. The basic concept is to pull the carrots from the ground. This can be a little more complicated than you might first think. If your soil gets compacted throughout the growing season, then you can risk breaking the carrot off and leaving part in the ground. You also can pull on the tops just to have the tops break off leaving the carrot in the ground.
We have found that digging the carrots out is the simplest thing to do. I know that’s not rocket science or anything, but if you dig incorrectly you will end up chopping the carrot root off.
Water or moisten the soil before you dig them up. This will help loosen the soil and make it easier for digging and pulling the carrots. Again, you don’t want to overdo it or you will end up shoveling mud.
Use a shovel or a gardening fork to loosen the ground around the carrots. This is where you need to use caution. You can angle the shovel or fork too steeply and end up cutting the carrot root.
You might be surprised at how easily you can misjudge and slice right through your carrot. It’s not the end of the world, you can still eat a carrot cut by a shovel. The downfall is that cut carrots don’t store very well, so you will need to eat them soon.
Carrot tops
If you are going to store your carrots, you need to take the tops off about ½ inch above the top of the carrot.
Carrot tops themselves are edible. They generally have a mild flavor. Depending on how old they are they can become a bit bitter if you eat them raw. You can use carrot tops in salads, soups, sautéed, steamed, or blanched. They are really worth a try if you have never eaten them.
You can dry carrot tops for use as well. Dried carrot tops can be stored for a long time. Dry them in a food dryer, or solar dryer, or hang them in bunches with the leaves hanging down until they are dry and brittle. You can add carrot tops as a spice to all kinds of recipes.
Carrot tops are also a great treat for pets. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and small pets love carrot tops. Horses, goats, pigs, and cows also love carrot tops as a treat.
Don’t just through the tops away, there are many great uses for them.
Storing carrots
Storing carrots depends on how soon you want to use them. If you are going to use the carrots relatively soon you will want to wash off the dirt and dry them. Store them in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator. Try to monitor the moisture content. If it gets too wet the carrots can develop rot. If it is too dry the carrots can wither.
If you are planning on storing carrots through the winter, you take a little different take than short term storage. Cut the tops ½ inch above the top of the carrot. Brush off the dirt and store them in damp sand, or sawdust. We have had good success with carrot storage in damp sand that covers the carrots completely. If the carrots stick out of the sand, they will wither and dry out.
Leave carrots in the garden
The easiest storage is to leave the carrots in the ground and just harvest what you want to use as you go through the winter. This can be an effective way to store your carrots. Once the carrots have experienced a frost or two the starches change to sugars and the carrots will taste sweeter.
Dehydrate the carrots
Another storage method is dehydrating or drying the carrots. This does have mixed results meaning that the taste may suffer with this process if done incorrectly. Carrots contain a lot of water. If you don’t have enough heat or airflow drying the carrots can result in mold or rot on the carrots themselves.
A good food dehydrator should be used. Here is a good beginning inexpensive dehydrator that does a good job. Dehydrators can range from under $50 to over $500. We have used an inexpensive model for years and done fine. The advantage of the more expensive food dehydrators is that they can dehydrate a larger volume and can be somewhat faster. A little more expensive one that works well is here.
Canning carrots
Canning carrots is a great way to store them as well. There is minimal loss of flavor and nutrients and they will last for a long time. Caution should be used when canning carrots. Carrots do not have any acid like tomatoes, you will need to pressure can them in a pressure cooker. You can use an instant pot pressure cooker. Here is a link to a good basic traditional pressure cooker for canning. Here is a link to a canning pressure cooker with all the bells and whistles. Not all instant pot pressure cookers will work for canning. Here is a model that specifies that it can be used for canning.
Pickling
Pickling is another method of storing carrots. You can do a refrigerator version of pickling which will allow you to keep the carrots good for up to 3 months. You can also hot water bath pickle them and can store them on the shelf for a long time.
Freeze drying
Freeze drying is a process that is available for the home food producer now. Freeze dried carrots can last for 25 years on the shelf. This is a relatively newer option for the basic homeowner. Generally, a freeze dryer was too expensive and too large to use. There are some freeze dryer options that are affordable and small enough for home use.
Here is a link to a freeze dryer for home use. Give it a look and see what hit can do.
Different types of carrots to grow
Danvers carrots
Danvers carrots were developed in Massachusetts. They are long and thinner than other types. Danvers carrots are usually orange in color. There have been a lot of different colors varieties available. You can get yellow, red, white, and purple Danvers carrots. There seems to be a new color every year.
Danvers carrots grow well and tolerate poor soil. The carrot will develop to harvest stage from 65-85 days. It is recommended to harvest them a little on the early side. They can develop a more fibrous tap root. The earlier they are harvested the sweeter they taste.
Nantes carrots
Nantes carrots are a sweet tender type of carrot. They have a more uniform rounded cylindrical tap root. Nantes carrots are named after the French city where it was developed. the city of Nantes had excellent conditions for cultivating carrots.
Nantes carrots mature in 55-65 days. They are very tender and sweet. They can prove to be a little temperamental for storage. Nantes carrots range from an orange to a red. There are several varieties available and new varieties seem to be available every year.
Imperator carrots
Imperator carrots are the most common carrots sold in supermarkets. They a long straight and are sometimes referred to as the “perfect” carrot. The small carrots sold in bags as a healthy snack are imperator carrots.
Imperator carrots were developed from a cross between Nantes and Chantenay carrots. This cross provided a great carrot that had less sugar than other types and was a little less tender. Imperator carrots store better than the other types. They also have thin skins for easy peeling.
Chantenay carrots
Chantenay carrots are shorter and stockier. They can be a good choice for growing in heavy clay or rocky soil. Chantenay carrots are high yielding and do well with processing. They are a sweet hearty carrot that is widely grown commercially. They store well canned and frozen.
These are a cool weather carrot. Chantenay carrots mature in 65-75 days. They are at their best when they are harvested when they are 4-5 inches (5-6.4) inches in length. If you let them grow larger and into the summer heat, they will get very fibrous and loose some of their sweet flavor. We have let them grow until they were huge. They began to split and were tough.
Ball or mini carrots (Daucus carota)
These mini or ball carrots have become very popular for homegrowers. These little carrots are 3-4 inches long, or the size of radishes. They are smaller or round and sweeter than normal carrots. These small carrots do well in rocky heavy soil. They mature in 60-70 days. A great choice for a container or raised bed crop.
Originally the cultivated Daucus carota were found in several colors, red, purple, white, and orange. The orange varieties have become favored, but you can still find other colorful varieties available.
When searching for seeds to grow in your own garden you will need to look for mini or ball carrots. The Daucus carota is the original wild carrot and is often marketed as a decorative flower to grow.
Some varieties of the mini or ball carrots that are recommended for growing are: Paris Market, Romeo, and Babette.
Consider the type of carrot for what you want or need
You will want to consider what type and variety of carrot you grow. If you want a good storing carrot you may want to choose an Imperator. If you have rocky soil you may want to grow the mini or ball carrots. Chantenay carrots are great for canning and freezing.
I would encourage growing a variety of carrots and see what works best for you. They all are very nutritious and fairly easily cultivated.
Tricks to growing carrots
There are a few tricks you can use in growing carrots. I am sure every grower has them. These are a few that I have picked up over the years.
Use Carpet
An old piece of carpet or mat is a good tool for carrot seed germination. Often times the surface of the soil can get hard and makes it difficult for the germinated carrot seed to push through. Carrot seeds need to remain moist to germinate. The soil needs to be loose for the seed to push through.
The method is to plant the carrots as you would normally. Water the seeds well and put a piece of carpet over the top of them. Water the carpet down after putting over the carrot bed. Keep the carpet moist. In 10 days begin looking under the carpet to see if the seeds have germinated. Carrots take a long time to germinate anywhere from 10-16 days.
When you see that the seeds are germinated lift off the carpet in the evening. That will give the seedling carrots some time to harden and adapt to the regular environment before the sun could make them wilt and die.
Here is a video explaining the technique.
People will also use plywood or boards to cover the carrot seeds until they sprout though the soil surface. The method is similar to the carpet concept. You will need to be careful to maintain moisture to sprout the carrots.
Seed tape
Using seed tape for smaller seeds has been a mainstay for gardeners for years. You can purchase carrots that are already spaced on seed tape. The benefit of using seed tape is that the seed spacing stays consistent ant the seeds don’t get pushed around with watering the carrot bed.
Seed tape with carrot seeds are available for purchase, or you can make your own seed tape easily. You just need some flower and water or Elmers glue to act as an adhesive for the seeds, some tissue or toilet paper, and the seeds you want to plant.
- Cut the tissue or toilet paper into 1-1.5 inches (2.8-3.5 centimeter) strips.
- Mark off the spacing of the carrot seeds, generally from 1/8-1/2 inch (.4-1.27 centimeters) apart.
- Mix up the flour and water. You will want to create a thick consistency, or use Elmers glue.
- Get the seeds and one by one dip part of the seed into the flour water mixture and stick them onto the paper on the marks you made. If you are using Elmers glue, just put a small dot where you want to have the seed placed. You may want to use a toothpick or pencil for this part. The carrot seeds are small and difficult to handle with your hands.
- Let the seed tape dry for 2-4 hours, or when the flour glue or Elmers glue is dry.
- Lay the tape down where you want your carrots to be grown. Make sure the seeds are facing up.
- Bury the tape with ¼ of an inch (.6 centimeters) of soil.
- Water the seeds in.
Half pipe
This method can be useful if you are planting shorter rows or smaller areas of carrots. The idea is to use a half of a PVC pipe cut lengthwise. You fill it with potting soil and plant carrots along the pipe. When the carrots begin to grow you then dig a small furrow in the garden and slip the entire contents of the sprouted carrots in the furrow.
The intriguing thing with this method is that you won’t need to do the first most difficult weeding until the carrots are well developed. You can also keep the carrot seeds safe and more consistently watered.
This method can work, but many carrot growers believe that the tap root system won’t allow you to start your carrots and plant them one they have germinated.
Summary
Carrots are some of the more rewarding vegetables to grow in your garden. They are a cold weather crop, so you can usually plant a double crop through the season beginning in spring and planting again in July or August.
There are some great types of carrots to try and grow. The main types of carrots that we cultivate are;
Imperator, Danvers, Nante, Chantenay, and mini or small. All types have different advantages. I would suggest that you get several varieties and see what carrots you prefer.