How to Grow Carrots – A Foolproof Guide

There’s nothing like growing your own produce. And if you want to become more independent in grow your own fruits and vegetables This year, learning how to grow carrots should be at the top of your to-do list.

The beauty of growing carrots is that they can be grown anywhere – whether you have a small vegetable gardena large family space, or a garden on balcony you want to fill pots and planters full of fruits and vegetables. However, you must follow this process carefully.

Like Morris Hankinson, managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseriesexplains: “Carrots are perhaps one of the most recognized root vegetables in the UK, and whether you are a long-time gardener or new to gardening, carrots are easy to grow with some advice and very rewarding when cultivated. ” harvest. If you want to try it yourself, here’s how to grow carrots.

What you will need

Rainbow Carrot Seed Mix (500 Seeds)

Fine mesh garden insect net

Garden by Sainsbury's 3 Piece Garden Hand Tool Set

Garden by Sainsbury’s 3 Piece Garden Hand Tool Set

Step by step

1. Choose your growing method

There are several methods to choose from for growing carrots. As we already have guides on growing carrots in containers And growing carrots from carrot topsHere we will focus primarily on growing carrots from seed. However, many of the following growing tips can be used across the board, regardless of your chosen method.

Growing from seed is generally considered the most popular option for home and professional gardeners anyway. This is echoed by Chauntelle Lewis of The barefoot planter.

She says: “Most of us opt instead for the convenience of buying carrot seeds. But here’s a gardening rule I swear by: When it comes to root vegetables like carrots, avoid garden center plants. For what? Well, these babies thrive best when planted where they will grow, no transplanting necessary.

So stock up on carrot seeds instead.

Carrot tops on a bed of earth

(Image credit: Alamy)

Chauntelle Lewis

The Barefoot Planter offers a holistic journey from sowing seeds to garden to fork and celebrating farm-to-table experiences. For those seeking safe spaces of belonging, our gardening workshops, cooking classes, and dining experiences provide opportunities to connect with like-minded people.

2. Choose the right time

Most of us will happily eat carrots every month of the year, but the best time to plant carrots is a little more precise. But while you should try to stick to this growing season, you’ll be happy to know that this window is quite large.

Morris explains: “Ideally, carrots should be sown directly into the ground where they are expected to grow, between March and July. There are early season carrots that can be sown first, before sowing some of the many other different varieties later. ‘Nantes’ and ‘Flyaway’ are two early carrots to sow, and after that the options are endless, including a range of rainbow colors. »

But as with everything, there is some wiggle room when growing carrots. And carrots are on the list of vegetables to sow in October if you miss the boat. However, if you do this, it is best to sow under cover for best results.

Morris Hankinson

Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the only specialist grower and retailer of hedging plants in the UK. He established this successful business in 1992, shortly after completing a degree in commercial horticulture from Writtle College, Essex.

3. Plant in the perfect location

While some vegetables and plants require a more structured approach when sowing, Chauntelle says this is not necessary when growing carrots from seed.

She says, “When it’s time to sow your carrot seeds, don’t worry about perfection. Simply scatter them on well-drained soil, in a sunny spot in the ground, or in a cozy pot. After all, carrots grow best in a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.

It is, however, worth giving your soil a little TLC before sowing. Morris suggests taking a few minutes to get rid of weeds naturally and keep your eyes peeled for any clumps of earth that need to be broken up.

“Carrots grow in many soil conditions, but can be all sorts of shapes and sizes if the soil is not loose and sandy,” he says. “The same goes if you’re growing in pots and containers.”

Vegetable garden with a patch of carrots

(Image credit: Getty Images/gerdtromm)

4. Lighten Them As They Grow

Many vegetables require thinning as they grow, and carrots are no different. Morris explains: “The carrots will germinate in about 14 days and can be thinned as they grow. The thinnings can be eaten or composted, so nothing will be wasted.

As a general rule of thumb, you should try to thin your carrots when they are around 10cm tall and lift the smaller stems to ensure that the larger, stronger carrots have the best chance of success.

Before thinning, it is also advisable to water the soil. This will prevent the roots from breaking and releasing a scent that will attract carrot root flies.

5. Protect yourself from carrot fly

Unfortunately, the carrot fly is one of them garden pests that you can’t ignore. These insects can decimate your crops – and most of the time, you won’t realize it until you pull them out and spot the tunnels and scars on the skin.

So if you want to know how to grow carrots, you also need to know how to protect them from carrot root flies. And prevention is better than cure.

“They don’t fly very high, so this shouldn’t be a problem if grown in raised beds or containers; otherwise, using root fly netting will help protect them,” says Morris. “Keep the soil weed-free and watered, especially during dry periods. »

Carrot covered with soil in the garden

(Image credit: Getty Images/Joern Siegroth)

6. Harvest them

The most exciting part of growing anything is harvesting it, but you need to know when to harvest carrots to get the most out of it.

Morris says: “Carrots don’t grow the fastest, but they are well worth the wait of ten to sixteen weeks depending on the variety. When ready to harvest, they can be gently removed from the soil or use a fork to gently loosen the soil around the roots if necessary.

Then you can move on to the fun part…eating them!

FAQs

Should you water carrots every day?

No, you shouldn’t need to water carrots every day. While it’s a good idea to water the seedlings every few days during the initial growing phase, carrots don’t need too much water afterward. In fact, they are incredibly drought tolerant.

However, it is a good idea to adopt a structured watering schedule if the weather is particularly dry. Once a week should be enough, but you may not need to water them at all if it rains.

So, just keep an eye on them and check the soil moisture level to see if your carrots need watering or not.

Do slugs eat carrot plants?

Yes, slugs and snails will try to eat carrot plants, so it’s always a good idea to protect them if you can. One of the best ways to do this is to plant carrots alongside companion plants that will give slugs and snails something else to munch on.

You can also try covering the area around your seedlings with mulch. Covering your carrot plants with netting will also help protect them from carrot root flies, slugs and snails.

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