Growing Carrots - Benefits and Instructions
Benefits of Growing Carrots
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Long Season Crop - Plant Spring for Summer Harvest and Summer for Fall Harvest. Frost tolerant. Roots store in ground over winter
- Nutritional Profile - Vitamin A,K1, Beta Carotene, fiber, biotin and potassium.
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Use in: Roasted, mashed, soups, stews, smoothies, pickled.
Growing Instructions
Culture:
Sun Exposure: Full sun but will tolerate light shading.
Soil: Choose deeply-worked, stone free soil with pH of 6.0-6.8. Chantenay types are suitable for shallow or heavy soils. Raised beds or rows are recommended. Carrots are light to moderate feeders. Avoid using fresh animal and green manures at the time of planting
Moisture: Even moisture is required for good root formation. Mulching is recommended to retain moisture and keep soil cool.
Planting: Plant every two weeks, starting as early as soil can be worked until late in the season
Spacing: Plant 16 carrots per square foot of growing space using Square Foot Gardening Method. If planting in rows, 2-3 inches apart. Thinning carrots is important to the health of the crop. Seedlings will be fine if some of them sprout 1/2 inch apart, but as they grow, they typically require about 3 inches of space between them.
Sow seeds: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep
Harvesting:
Harvest carrots when roots get to a usable size, younger carrots are more tender.
Storage/Preparation:
Carrots can be left in the ground to over winter and be harvested the following season if the area is heavily mulched with about 3 inches of material. The carrot tops will die but the roots will continue gathering their sugar to survive the cold weather. Carrots can also be stored for up to 7 months in containers of damp sand or sawdust in a root cellar. Carrots also freeze, can and pickle very well.
Companions:
Bean, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, chive, leaf lettuce, leek, onion, pea, pepper, radish, tomato.