How to grow carrots

Our tipps for growing carrots properly

Location

Carrots like a sunny location, but also thrive in partial shade. Carrots need loose, well-draining soil, even a little sandy. They grow badly in heavy, loamy soils with waterlogging. Rocks and clumps will cause the carrot roots to split and deform. It is best to prepare a mixture of compost and sand that is finely raked.

Sowing

Carrots are sown directly in the field from the beginning of March (in warmer areas) until mid-June. The seeds are sown densely in rows about 15 cm apart and cover them barely with no more than 1 cm of soil Then the soil must be kept evenly moist. They may take as long as 2 - 3 weeks to sprout, depending on weather and temperature.
In warmer climates, you may have better luck growing carrots in the fall, through the winter.

Spacing

When the seedlings are about 2-3 cm tall, thin them out to a spacing of 2 cm as the plants need space to grow vigorously. Snipping or pinching the seedlings off at the soil line is the best way to avoid hurting the remaining roots.

Care

The plants should remain evenly moist, so when it is not raining, water regularly. To prevent deformed roots, keep the area free of weeds as the carrots are growing. Some gardeners swear by a net cover to ward off pests. The root heads that protrude from the soil should be heaped up, otherwise they will turn green and become inedible.
If your soil is not rich in organic matter, supplemental feeding will be necessary about two weeks after the carrot tops emerge. Any good vegetable fertilizer will do. Because they are grown for their roots, don`t go overboard with nitrogen fertilizer, which mostly aids foliage growth.

Protection against pests and diseases

The biggest pest is the carrot rust fly, which can be repelled with the nets mentioned above. For this purpose, metal arches should be attached over which the nets are placed. Slugs can also be kept away with these nets. Root nematodes causing badly deformed roots can be limited by growing marigolds in the immediate vicinity. If you are struggling with carrot nematodes in a particular spot, rotate to another crop and plant carrots elsewhere.

Harvest

Carrots must be harvested in time; if left in the bed too long, they can become woody or tasteless. But if you harvest too soon, immature carrots will be bland because they have not had time to develop their full sweetness. Depending on the variety, harvesting time is about 50 to 75 days from seed. If you loosen the soil with a digging fork beforehand, you can twist and pull them out of the ground more easily.

Storing carrots properly

Carrots taste best fresh, of course, but they are one of the few vegetables that can also be stored well. Cut off the leaves first and store them in the fridge or in a wooden box filled with sand in a cool place. In the fridge, it is best to store the carrots in the vegetable compartment, either wrapped in a damp kitchen towel or in an airtight container/fresh box. They can also be frozen well when cut into small pieces.