Carrot: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow carrots outdoors?
Sow carrots directly in their final position, in sunny, light, well-drained soil. Remove weeds and stones and break up hard clods. Choose the sowing period according to the variety and local conditions: spring to early summer is the main season, with protection for early sowings.
Sow thinly about 1 cm deep, with rows 15 to 30 cm apart, and firm the soil gently. Keep the surface moist during germination without waterlogging it. Thin if necessary to around 5 to 7.5 cm between plants, adapting this to the variety. Avoid transplanting, which can damage the roots, and protect the crop with insect-proof mesh where carrot fly is a problem.
Water the bottom of the drill before sowing if the soil is dry, so you do not have to displace the tiny seeds with a strong stream afterwards. Mark both ends of the row to locate it while waiting for germination. If a crust forms, gently moisten the surface instead of hoeing over the seeds. Thin carefully without loosening neighbouring seedlings, then remove the debris. Close the insect mesh properly after every intervention, including along the sides. Sowing thinly reduces the handling required and gives each developing root enough space to grow.
How to care for this plant
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Thin seedlings
If emerged carrots are crowded, thin them to about 5–7 cm apart without disturbing the remaining roots.
When should you harvest your carrots?
Harvest your carrots when the roots are large enough to use, according to the variety and sowing time. Many varieties are ready around 12 to 16 weeks after sowing, and baby carrots can be picked earlier. Do not wait for the leaves to wilt: healthy foliage can still be green when the roots are ready.
Loosen the soil carefully with a fork, especially in heavy ground, then lift the carrots without snapping them. For storage, choose healthy, undamaged roots, remove the foliage and keep them in a cool, frost-free place. Check them regularly and remove any that deteriorate. Storage life depends on the variety, the condition of the roots and the storage conditions.
Gently uncover the shoulder of one or two roots to judge their diameter before lifting a whole row. Harvest what you need and firm the soil back around neighbouring roots that remain in place. If you use insect mesh, replace it properly straight away to keep protecting the crop. Separate broken or damaged carrots and use them first. Do not add roots with tunnels or soft patches to your stored harvest. Wash the carrots you plan to prepare soon, while avoiding damage to the skin of any roots intended for longer storage.
Carrot
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Root vegetables
- Botanical Family : Apiaceae (umbelliferae)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
- Mature height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 0.5 cm
- Plant Spacing : 2 cm
- Row Spacing : 25 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Sandy
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing