Carrots are root vegetables and growing carrots can be fun if you are nature-loving. Do you know how carrots are Important for your health? It is essential to get you to know. Carrots are a weight loss-friendly vegetable that cleanses the liver. Always add carrots to your diet. Moreover, contains carotene (vitamin A) which helps in increasing your vision, oral health, skin health, promotes the digestive system. , regulates blood sugar, delays aging effects, prevents heart disease, and helps in fighting cancer.
Their different colors are due to pigmentation. Initially, all carrots were yellow, white, or purple. Orange is far famous today. Its orange color is due to the high coloration of carotene. Hence, they make an integral part of your life. It removes the toxic substance from your body.
In this article:
HOW TO GROW CARROTS?
Carrots are easy to grow in your home as well as outside in the garden. Carrots can be grown indoors and outdoors. It would be best to grow carrots in February; for outdoor, sow carrot seeds in March, April, and May.
Carrots are biannual vegetables. It grows in the first season and produces seeds in the second season. Always use light soil for growing carrots; heavy soil or rocks can make carrots grow forked. Sow carrot seeds about ½ inches deep. Carrot seeds are tiny. They need to be sown shallowly. Water deeply before carrot seeds planting. Spray water regularly and making sure not to wash away the mini hills. Continues give little water until the seeds of growing carrots vegetate. Next, apply potassium and Trifolium fertilizers around the rows. Only the early varieties grow the best in this system. Remove them as soon as possible. And repeat it when you want to grow carrots again. It will take about 90 days to grow full size.
VARIETIES OF CARROTS
Select a variety good of carrots to buy seeds. The carrots will be ready to harvest within 3 to 4 months depending upon the type. Grow carrots variety depends on where you live. 
There is also a consideration of which varieties are most suitable for your soil and climate. As for the best type, ensure that you choose a variety that will work well for soil and a better growing situation (open garden, raised bed, or containers). I use for my garden is Nantes carrot variety. This variety of carrots have a good flavor, a small core that will tolerate slightly heavier soil. Easy to harvest and an easily managed size. There are some carrot varieties mentioned below.
Danvers:
Danvers types have a classic tapered shape. It grows well in proper soil. Danvers’s other name is half-long. Various strains of Danvers are most important is East. When most people think about carrots, they prefer Danvers.
Nantes:
Nantes type is shorter with a small core. It is one of the most popular with home gardeners. However, because of its fragile nature, it is not extensively grown for long-distance. Their shape is cylindrical with a round tip. Nantes carrots are sweet.
Imperator:
Imperators are similar to the Danvers but have a higher sugar content and make up most carrots found in supermarkets. They are like Danvers, but it is thicker than Danvers. It is mainly found in grocery stores.
Chantenay:
Chantenay is an older variety similar to Nantes that stores well but tends to become woody if harvested late. Their strains are also crucial in the East. It can be grown in heavy soil with rocks. Chantenay is large. People prefer it when they have not planted it in their home gardens due to its large size.
Ball:
The ball is very short and wide, making them a good choice for container gardening. It is a round ball-like structure that’s why it is called ball carrot or mini carrot. They can quickly grow indoors.
Scarlet Horn:
Scarlet horn is early short-rooted. It contains high carotene, which is primarily grown in home gardens. It is sweet.
GROWING CARROTS IN CONTAINERS/POTS
Carrots are a reasonably short root crop. Carrot plants are an easy and rewarding crop to grow in containers. Requires very little attention when you are growing carrots in containers/pots. And good for children to add carrots to their vegetables. But there are a few tips that will help you to get good results.
Container/pot size:
For growing carrots, you should use a round container that is 20 inches in diameter. And 12 inches deep. Make sure your container has proper holes for drainage.
Soil:
To successfully grow sweet, healthy, and long carrots, start with the soil. Do not use fertile soil for potting soil. Carrots grow much better in moist soil. If the soil is too rich in nutrients, they fork. So, carrot plants at the end of your rotation before you fertilize. Carrots like loose soil for growing. Avoid using stony soil. Proper soil preparation is essential for carrot plant growth. Suppose the carrot roots cannot quickly grow. It can lead to stunted and misshapen crops.
Seed sowing:
Carrots are grown by direct seed sowing. For that, sprinkle seeds evenly over the soil surface, rather than transplanting them as carrots do not like to have their roots disturbed. Give space between sources. Give row cover gently over the seeds with soil.
Water:
Use a gentle sprayer or shower, so you don’t stir up the seeds. The soil is a little moist at all times for good germination.
Location:
Place the container in full sun as carrots prefer sun all day long.
Growing Carrots From Seeds
Carrots are grown by direct seed sowing. For that, sprinkle seeds evenly over the soil surface. Carrots are a cool-season crop. Select a good variety of carrot seeds for growing carrots. Seeds can be directly spread in the garden plot to mix in the topsoil. Alternatively, seeds can be planted in rows 10 to 15 cm apart. Carrot seeds will germinate within 6 to 8 days. Remove weeds as they appear. Loosen the weeds along the soil’s surface and pull them out by hand. Plants from one side got damaged/dug out smoothly.
A few weeks after germination, when sprouts are about 2 to 3 inches tall, thin. Two seedlings per 2 inches for smaller-growing varieties, and one seedling per 2 inches for large types. The strongest and tallest seedling in each spot is selected, and rests are snipped out. Carrot plants 1-2 inches apart. When proper carrot roots are developed, weed diligently but be careful not to disturb the young carrot roots while doing seed. To give water time to time to loose soil. Always maintain the soil temperature. Thus, Feed your carrots with organic fertilizers. Carrots get matured at around 75 to 90 days.
SOURCES FOR CARROT SEEDS
The Source of carrot seeds comes from the carrot plant. There are probably close to 50 stems coming from just a few carrots. Each of those stems will branch and split. And eventually, give you a flower at the tip. On just this one stem alone, give 25 flowers on each head of 50 to 60 clusters of tiny white flowers. That means we have got dozens of carrot seeds. As each of these small white flowers matures, a tiny seed will develop. The white flower will turn into individual grains. Now, we need to wait and let them dry. And then harvest. You don’t need a lot of carrots to collect a lot of seeds. Suppose you want to get a leg up on the growing game. And make the germination process more manageable, choose coated seeds.
We have chosen the easy way to grow a variety of carrot seeds in our vegetable gardening. Use coated seeds because they are easy to handle. We sow seeds thinly 1.5cm deep direct in growing bed in rows (30cm) apart. Keep the soil moist. And we careful to not to over-water. When large enough to handle thin too (5cm) apart. Alternatively, we sow in February. We faced some difficulty while thinning the plants when they are little. But its solution is to avoid this by planting the seeds spaced on a strip (we used bathroom tissue). Other than that, only weather conditions interfere. I have planted different varieties every year. It may or may not, depending on a couple of factors. But soil composition is one factor. If you have good loose soil, the carrot will come out.
GROWING CARROTS IN RAISED BEDS
The beauty of raised beds is that they don’t have to be placed directly on the soil. Raised beds are suited for those who have less gardening area. You can set them on a driveway or a patch of gravel. When you plant in a raised bed, Plant ‘in a row’ rather than the ‘between row’ method, build a raised bed garden about 18 inches high. And then fill them with healthy soil. Carrots need a well in the ground prepared bed without rocks in the soil.
Carrots need plenty of organic matter in the soil. Short stubby varieties of carrots are more accessible to grow ideally than the long slender ones. Carrot seeds are available in the market. You will have to make raised beds and sow the seeds as per the direction given in the label. Remember, it is the winter season. Does this mean that there is no weeding at all in raised beds garden? The simple answer is no. It does not.
CARROT COMPANIONS
Specific plants that will prefer similar conditions are called companion plants. Some plants are symbiotic. When planted together, one generally protects the other from parasites. Always consider soil requirements. When you have no space in your garden, you can plant different plants with each other. I always use companion planting in my gardens. It is beneficial all around. They reduce pests and increase the health and production of the plants, improving the taste and color in many things. Along with many benefits of plant companion, there are also disadvantages. For example, competition for water and nutrients may reduce vigor. Carrot plants are also companions with their suitable plants. Such as:
- Beans
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Peas
- Pepper
- Radish
- Tomato
Some plants are not suitable to companion with carrot plants. Therefore, always avoid carrot plants from those for example:
- Dill
- Potatoes
- Parsnips
CARROT GROW BAGS
While you can grow any crop in a grow bag. You will be successful when you select the right crop, cultivars, and bags. Grow bags are made in square, round, oval, rectangular. Carrot can be planted in grow bags. Buy good quality develop bags. All the bags were filled with loose soil without rocks—placed bag in your vegetable garden. Grow bags have small holes for well-drainage. Good variety carrot seeds sow in the ground but not in deep. Sow seeds with approx. 3 inches spacing. Rather than Carrots transplanting as carrots do not like to have their roots disturbed. Give water through the spray to not to destroy seeds. Don’t wait for dry soil; give water before soil goes to dry, remove unwanted weeds. And wait for their complete germination. Carrot growing in bags will provide you same taste, color.
CARROT GROWING KIT
In kit include a usable bag made up of recycled bags. The carrot growing kit contains a set of materials. Kits with carrot seed, loose soil can be grown indoors and outdoors, need of sunlight. Kits include all the components which you require for your carrot planting. You can buy it or can order from any reliable website. This is the best way to get all the necessary stuff for carrot planting in one pack. Another significant advantage of the growing kit is simply the accessibility of the things. This solution is simple and very effective. Suppose you wish for carrot planting and worry about how do you manage it. So, it’s easy to buy it and sow seeds in your gardening and chill around it. The main thing is that sources are free from diseases and pests. It is much easier to keep pests all of the precautions.
HARVESTING CARROTS
Carrots can be harvested at any time. You will get the most out of your crop if you allow them to continue growing until the upper portion. I wait until the carrot shoulders are exposed. If it is about the size, then pull it up to check the size. Carrots push themselves closer to the surface as they mature. The tops are not growing taller.
You might see some orange flesh poking up above the soil, and you can figure the size of the root by that. You can always pull up one or two to check. However, there are some varietal differences. The carrot roots are harvested when they reached the desired size. Carrot roots tend to color up later at their swollen tips than higher up. Baby carrots are just carrots that were harvested while they were small. When carrots are planted on raised beds, they can be loosened by drawing an implement with a horizontal blade through the soil beneath the roots. But growing at the lower level can be successful sometimes.
CARE OF CARROTS DISEASE/PEST REMEDIES
No chemicals are registered for specific use to control carrot disease or pests. However, there are many diseases for carrot plants. Carrot plant diseases make the plant sick, usually bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Problems are classified as (caused by pathogens or microorganisms). Symptoms are how we tell that the plant is sick, usually unusual colorations or shapes the leaf, stem, flower, or fruit. Some remedies are:
- Control is what we do to make the sick plant better or keep other plants from getting sick
- Ensure the carrot seeds are diseases free.
- If blight is known to be the problem, avoid carrot plantings in fields where the foliage will not dry quickly after rain or dew.
- Apply fungicides
- Use row covers to protect the carrot plant from damaging
- Neem oil, vinegar, and tobacco-based sprays all work.
CONCLUSION:
Thus, carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, Fiber, vitamin K1, Potassium, and antioxidants. Carrot plants are easy to grow. You can quickly grow in your garden area. You can grow in bags, pots, kits, and a raised bed. Carrot has many varieties. Plant carrot seeds are available in markets. Carrot plants are grown from carrot seeds. You need moist, loose soil. Sow seeds and take care of them. Use fertilizers and give them water on time. Carrot can be planted with companion plants. Protect them from disease and pests. Carrot plants are easy to harvest. You can pull the carrot by hand when the soil is loose. On the other hand, a good diet is enough to provide all the vitamins and nutrients required for the body.
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