Carrot Seeds
How to Grow Carrots
Carrots prefer their roots to be cool, and their tops to be warm. When soil temperature rises above 70ºF (21ºC) carrots will be small and bland tasting. To give carrots the growing conditions they like, add a layer of organic mulch, like grass clippings, around the plants to moderate the soil temperature when the warmer days of late spring and summer arrive. In addition to using mulch, plant a leafy companion crop close to the carrots to help shade and cool the soil. No matter how careful you space the carrot seeds they always need some thinning. Carrots that grow too close together will be stunted, excessively slender or deformed. Thin with floral shears to no less than 2 inches between plants. Because of their small seed size, carrots tiny seedlings do not have the strength to push through crusted soil, help them out by interplanting them with radishes, the radishes will emerge first and break up crusted surface soil, and keep the soil moist throughout the germination period.
Sowing
Seed Depth: ¼-½" (6-13 mm)
Germination soil temperature: 75º F (24ºC)
Days to Germination: 6
Sow indoors: Not recommended
Sow outdoors: Early spring to mid-summer.
Growing
pH range: 5.5-6.5 (best at above 6.0)
Growing soil temperature: 60-70º F (16-21ºC)
Spacing in beds: 2" (5cm) apart in rows 6-8" (15-20cm) apart, 3 rows to a 30" (0.75m) bed. 4 rows to a 36" bed (0.9m bed)
Watering: Moderate.
Light: Full sun for best yield, tolerates light shade.
Nutrient requirements: N= high, P=low, K=low
Rotation considerations: Avoid rotating with celery, dill, fennel, parsley and parsnip.
Good Companions: Beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, chive, leaf lettuce, leek, onion, pea, pepper, red radish, rosemary, sage and tomato.
Bad Companions: Celery, dill and parsnip
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