Growing Carrots

🔷BENEFITS

— All carrots are high in beta-carotene, a pigment that humans metabolize as vitamin A

— Rich in Minerals and Vitamins C, B6, Niacin, Potassium, Biotin

— Carotene antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer.

— Pectin is the main form of soluble fiber in carrots which can lower blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion of sugar and starch.

🔷SEED WHEN/HOW TO PLANT

— Full Sun ; Can grow in part shade

— Cool weather crop - Spring & Autumn

— Sow DIRECTLY in the ground

— Sow carrots in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the average last frost; Sow carrots again in mid to late summer as late as 12 weeks before the first fall frost

❗️Resent transplanting

— Soil temp 45°to 85F°

— Night temps should hover around 55F / Daytime temperatures should be averaging 75F (Optimal growth)

— Soil :Sandy, well-drained loam; site amended with aged compost

❗️ Heavy soils cause the carrots to mature slowly

— Till up soil (up to 12in) to soften and aerate ground for optimal growth

— Plant in rows 1’-2’ apart

— Sow 1/2” Deep / Plant 1”-2” apart

— Ph 5.5-6.8

🔷HOW TO GROW

— Germination will occur in 14 to 21 days

— Maintain moisture in that top layer of soil until they germinate (Deep water prior to sowing)

— 50-120 (10-16weeks) Days to Mature Depending on variety

— When plants reach 4” in height, thin plants to 2-4” apart

❗️Keep planting beds well weeded. Shallow cultivation is necessary to avoid damaging carrot roots. Carrots cannot compete with weeds

🔷DIFFERENT VARIETIES

(Info courtesy HarvestToTable.com)

•Short (2 to 4 inches): ‘Minipak’ (60-65 days); ‘Tiny Sweet’ (60-65 days).

•Half-long (5 to 6 inches): ‘Danvers Half-long’ (75 days); ‘Gold King’ (70 days); ‘Royal Chantenay’ (70 days).

•Cylindrical (6 to 7 inches): ‘Nantes Coreless’ (68 days); ‘Royal Cross Hybrid’ (70 days); ‘Tuchon Pioneer’ (75 days).

•Standard (7 to 9 inches): ‘Gold Pak’ (75 days); ‘Imperator’ (75 days); ‘Spartan Bonus’ (77 days); ‘Tendersweet’ (75 days).

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•Imperator - hey have very long roots, up to 10 inches long, with high sugar content, and are wonderful for fresh eating

•Danvers - These are the classic medium-length carrots with rounded shoulders and pointed ends. They grow to about 6-7 inches long, and tolerate heavier and shallower soils than Imperator types. They are known for their deep orange color, excellent flavor, nearly coreless roots, and good storage quality

•Nantes - They are known for being almost perfectly cylindrical and smooth, with nearly the same diameter from end to end, and a blunt rather than pointed tip. They are almost coreless and very fine grained and sweet, great for juicing and fresh eating

•Chantenay - Have short, conical roots that can power through clay and rocky soils better than any other type of carrot. Rather than growing long and slender, they are bulky at the shoulders and taper to a blunt point. They need to be harvested as soon as they size up, or they will turn fibrous and woody, but they have rich flavor and store exceptionally well

🔷WHEN/HOW TO HARVEST

— Mature carrots will be ready for harvest 50 to 80 days

— Baby carrots can be harvested in 30 to 40 days.

— Lift carrots to check the size and flavor for harvest time.

— Carrots are usually ready for lifting when they are ¾ to 1-inch thick

— Pull carrots when the soil is moist

— When temps start to freeze, cover unharvested carrots with a thick mulch to prolong the harvest for a month or more..

❗️Too much moisture at the end of the growing time will cause roots to crack

🔷STORAGE

— Carrots can be left in the ground until ready to use ❗️as long as the ground does not freeze

— Carrots will keep in the refrigerator or root cellar for 1 to 3 months at about 40°F

— Blanched carrots will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months

🔷TROUBLESHOOTING

— Carrot fly is the most common and serious problem associated with growing carrots. The fly’s maggots eat tunnels through the carrots, ruining the crop; Use floating row covers to keep adults away

— Wireworm: These are the larva of click beetles.. Wireworms chew irregular holes through roots, making the carrots inedible.. Interplanting with mustard leaf is an excellent way to discourage wireworm damage.

— Predatory Nematodes

🔷FUN FACTS

— Carrots are hardy biennials grown as annuals

— Come I’m a long list of colors! From Yellow, White, Purple, Red, Brown Etc.