Carrots are a kitchen staple and are one of the easiest vegetables they are to grow. With minimal space requirements, they are an ideal choice for home gardens and one of my favourite vegetables to grow. However, if you’ve struggled with growing carrots or desire perfectly straight specimens, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve had a lot of successful carrot harvests over the years, they may even be one of my best crops. I want to share my top tips for how to grow large, straight carrots and help you get successful harvests in the future.
Soil Requirements
Carrots do best in loamy soil that is also a little soft and sandy, as it promotes good drainage, preventing root rot. Another reason soft soil is good is because whenever the root meets resistance it will fork or grow irregularly. For this reason, avoid growing in rocky soil and consider growing in a raised garden bed. I’ve harvested a lot of “mutant” carrots as a result of failing to get the soil right.
Despite their small, spindly leaves, carrots are heavy feeders and benefit from high-fertility soil or some extra fertilizing during the growing season. However, be cautious of using too much nitrogen, which can lead to bushy leaf growth at the expense of carrot size. I have been excited to see some nice broad carrot tops poking out of the ground only to later discover that’s the only part of the carrot that had grown.
Watering
Carrots like a consistent level of moisture, uneven watering will cause the roots to crack. In warm weather they may need more regular watering. Keep the soil moist when seeds have just been planted to get a high germination rate. Some people recommend covering the carrots with some wood or cardboard while they germinate, if it’s going to be some cool, cloudy weeks, this step isn’t necessary. In hot weather I grow them under a shade cloth anyway.
When to Plant Carrots
Carrots have wide range of growing periods. Generally they prefer colder weather and so make a good autumn or winter crop depending on climate. They are fairly hardy and can tolerate frosts if covered or can be grown in a polytunnel in colder climates.
There are varieties suitable to warmer climates in which case provide them with shade in the hot summer. If growing in warmer climates then carrots can be grown right up until the peak of summer when the hot weather can really affect germination.
As always use the information on your seed packets to determine when your variety should be grown, but feel free to experiment and see what works best in your local area. In my hot climate I grow Kuroda carrots basically all year round.
Sowing Carrots
I recommend direct sowing into rows about 30cm(12in) apart and thinning out when the plants are 10cm (4in) tall to allow room for the roots to get larger. Dig a shallow row with your hand and gently scatter a few seeds as you move along the row. Once you are finished, lightly cover the seeds with soil and water them in.
Alternatively you can mix some seeds with moist sand and spread the mix along your rows to help evenly sow the carrots.
I don’t recommend raising carrot seedlings as they don’t grow as well and will likely have disfigured roots (Mutant carrots).
How Long do Carrots Take to Grow?
The time it takes to grow varies depending on variety but usually around 80 days if given optimal conditions. Any area with 6-8 hours of sun will help them grow faster, carrots in shady locations will take longer to reach maturity and likely be smaller size.
Harvesting Carrots
You can harvest whenever you want to get the carrot size you want, generally carrots are harvested when they are 2.5cm(1inch) thick but many varieties grow to different sizes. Some ways to identify when they will be good to harvest include:
- Tops of the roots are bulging out of the soil and are the thickness you want.
- Pull a carrot out and check its length.
- Time to maturity has passed in ideal growing conditions.
Storage
Like most root crops, carrots can store for a long time if kept in the right conditions. After harvesting brush the dirt off but do not wash them as the moisture will cause them to rot. The leaves will keep drawing moisture even when the carrot is pulled out so cut them off to stop the carrots losing moisture and shrivelling up.
Carrots can be frozen, pickled, stored in a cold, dark space such as a root cellar or kept in the fridge.
Pests and Disease
Carrots tend to be quite resilient but common problems include:
Carrot Rust Fly: Use row covers as a physical barrier and rotate where you plant them every year. When thinning out carrots don’t leave any sitting on the surface as the smell can attract them.
Conclusion
Carrots are some of the most productive veggies in the garden. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can grow large, straight carrots. Proper soil, watering and spacing are key factors that will ensure a successful carrot harvest. Remember to choose the right variety for your climate.
It was extremely satisfying when I first pulled some sizeable, straight carrots out of my garden that I had spent the last few months growing. As good as the ones I might buy at the shops but I had grown them in my garden instead. A bit of a “I did a thing” moment. It certainly connected me to where my food comes from and the effort it takes to get something as simple as some carrots.
If you have your own tips for growing large, straight carrots, share them with us by commenting below.
