Planting Carrots
Carrot Varieties
There are many varieties of Carrots and these can be mainly describe as early, maincrop, short-root and long-root. These varieties are suitable to different soil conditions so it is best to ask advice from your local nursery for the best variety for the location you are in. The early carrot varieties require around 12 weeks for maturity and for the main crop carrot varieties, 16 weeks for maturity. For carrots that will be good for storage, try planting the main crops. It may consume more space than the other varieties but it will definitely last longer when stored. Some varieties are the Flyaway, which is juicy and resistant to carrot fly, Mignon which is baby –sized and good for pots, Parmex, which is round-rooted and good for container planting, Nantes 3 Tiptop which has no core yet is still sweet flavored and Autumn King 2 which is ideal for heavy cropping and is well flavored.
Soil Conditions
Since Carrots are root crops, the success of their growth depend on the soil conditions that the crops are planted in. It is best that you should devote time when preparing your carrot patch. It
Sowing Carrots
The seeds of the carrots are relatively small so it is best to plant them as thinly as possible. Planting thinly shields it from the potential risks of pests. Plant the carrot seeds on a humid sunny day by making shallow drills of about 2 to 3 centimeters or 1 is best to start tilling the soil in late winter or early spring. Get rid of stones and pebbles that are in the soil and continue tilling the soil until you are sure that the soil texture is crumbly and fine. Carrots and parsnips ideally thrive best in light, sandy soil. Carrots prefer a ph level of 6.0 to 6.8 but can tolerate 5.5 to 7.5.inch deep.
Cover the seeds once they are in place. If you plant during the months of March and April, the carrots may need to be covered by fleece or cloche. If you are having a hard time planting the seeds thinly, mix the seeds with sharp sand and eventually sow the seeds and sand together. The sharp sand will help in the drainage and will permit thinner propagation. When you see the first signs of rough leaves, this shows that the seeds are starting to germinate so it is best to think the seedlings to 2 inches or 5 centimeters between the plants.
Watering
Carrots need little attention during the growth period however it still needs to be kept well watered. Water the plants regularly especially during drought periods. Little watering or no watering at all may result to coarse, woody roots.
Light
Carrots love the sun so it is best to choose an area where it will receive full sunlight. It will tolerate very light shade though.
Fertilizing
Before planting the carrots and while tilling the soil, refrain from adding manure as this will make the soil too rich for the seeds. A week before planting the seeds to the patch, mix in a light amount of general fertilizer to the soil.
Harvesting
It is best to start harvesting your carrots during the months of June to July or onwards. It is best to harvest these root crops during nighttime to avoid carrot flies. For carrots that were planted late, lifting them by October is necessary for it to be stored during the winter season. You should check on the carrots to be stored as you should only store the ones with undamaged roots. Make sure to cut the foliage and position the roots between layers of sand in a sturdy box doing so guarantees that the roots will not touch. The box should be stored in a cool and dry place and should be checked occasionally. Remove or discard the rotten roots as they may infect the others inside the box.
Carrots are excellent sources of Vitamin A. If you want good eyesight and is planning to start a new addition to your vegetable garden, try planting carrots. It is not only easy to grow but it can also be a great addition to your meals!