Growing Carrots - Help Hints And Tips

Get the soil conditions correct and carrots are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the cooler climates. Incorrect soil conditions lead to mis-shapen carrots - these may well cause a chuckle when dug up, but they are not so well appreciated at cooking time!

Where To Grow Carrots
Carrots prefer a light soil which has been improved with lots of well-rotted organic material fully dug into the soil. Carrots grown on heavy soil, or where organic material is not well-rotted, will become misshapen and grow 'forked. Stones in the soil will have the same bad effect. Prepare the bed two weeks or so before planting, forking in a handful of bonemeal for each square metre. Ensure that the soil is dug to a spade's depth and is of a crumbly texture.
Early carrot varieties do best in full sun, especially if they are to be harvested when young. Maincrop varieties do best with some shade especially in mid-summer.

When To Plant Carrots
Carrots are best sown over a long period to ensure that they are ready for eating from early June to October (longer if stored correctly).

CARROT - ATOMIC RED (Maincrop) Sow May-July Harvest August-October

CARROT - F1 FLYAWAY (Early and maincrop) Sow April-June Harvest July-September

CARROT - AUTUMN KING 2 (Early and maincrop) Sow April-June Harvest July-September


How To Plant Carrots
Using a trowel, dig out narrow drills 2cm (3/4inch) deep and 12cm (8inches) apart. Sprinkle seeds every 2.5cm (1 inch) along the narrow drills. Sow the seed thinly to avoid too much thinning out later. Cover the seeds with fine soil very gently firming it down. Water with a fine spray if the conditions are dry. The seedlings should start to appear 15 to 20 days later.

Looking After Carrots
water when the weather is dry, weed as required. Thinning out (removing some seedlings to avoid over-crowding) should begin when the seedlings are about 2.5cm (1inch) high. Thin the maincrop carrot seedlings to 20cm (8in) apart, early variety carrots to 13cm (5in) apart.
Don't feed carrots, this will only encourage the greenery at the expense of the carrot growth.
Thinning out the seedlings will release the scent of carrots, and attract the attentions of carrot fly. To avoid this, perform this activity in the evening when the carrot fly is not about. Ensure that any soil disturbed by the thinning process is firmed back down with your hand

Harvesting Carrots
When the foliage begins to wilt and shrivel up, the carrots have reached maturity. Use a fork to get the roots up, driving it in a few inches to one side of the row, using it as lever to loosen the roots' grip on the soil. The carrots can then be removed by hand. If the weather is particularly dry, water the previous evening to avoid damage to the carrots.
Carrots harvested before maturity will be tender and more tasty than those left in the ground longer - pull a few up and experiment to see what suits you.