Carrots are intrepid , cool time of year veggie that are biyearly and , like radishes and beets , are root vegetables . carrot are a garden favorite , well-heeled to grow , and have capital nutritional value such as large amounts of vitamin A ( in the var. of carotin ) vitamin E , atomic number 20 , atomic number 12 and fiber . you could discover many varieties and will more than likely discover one that suites your gustation .
Carrots are a versatile veggie that can be prepared and enjoyed in many ways include fresh from the garden , cooked , steamed , boiled , bake , in deserts and even juiced ! use up carrots reinvigorated is the best means to get all of their wonderful food . They also freeze and preserve well for enjoyment yr round .
Growing Conditions for Carrots
carrot require full sun ( at least 6 hours a day ) , and at large / sandy , well - drained stain . If you already have arenaceous territory you are in hazard because your Daucus carota sativa will belike grow very well with small amendment . If your soil is compact or has fortune of Lucius Clay in it , you could mingle a moderate amount of organic matter such as compost or manure and sand into your garden . Make indisputable your grime is sluttish and tiled to at least 7 - 8 column inch late prior to planting .
Carrots do not like acid ground ( they do well with a pH around 6.5 ) , but before you consider rectify your grunge you should have it in good order tested . A soil mental test can be perform through your local university university extension office .
How to Plant Carrots
As a cool time of year crop Daucus carota sativa can be implant in early bounce right after the last voiceless freeze . A light icing will not damage carrots . They can also be imbed in later summertime for an early fall crop . Planting in former summer for a fall harvest will give you those wonderful small “ baby carrot ” that are popular in salads and as a bite . To have a continuous craw you could plant seeds every three weeks after your initial planting and up until around the first week in August .
Just before planting till the ground to at least 8 - 9 in being careful to fall apart up any clumps and lumps as these can obstruct the carrot ’s developing .
Carrots are planted from source . check that the seed packet is fresh and not from last season and has been stored properly . Place seeds about 1/2 in in the priming coat , 2 - 3 seed per inch . row should be about 12 - 18 inches apart . The seeds will take about two weeks to pullulate . Once the seedlings are about an in or two high lean them to prevent overcrowding . Carrots should be spaced about 2 - 3 inch aside as they develop .
Care for Carrot Plants
Watering CarrotsCarrots perform best in systematically dampish soil ; an column inch a week is an adequate amount . If they do not receive enough piddle through rain , you may supplement by hand watering . Frequent , light watering is not as effective as less frequent but deep tearing that will reach root level . Inconsistent lacrimation can cause crack and crevice to form as carrots develop .
Weeding around CarrotsWeeding needs to be done on a regular fundament . Weeds will compete with food , moisture and potentially damage the slight root system . Be careful not to pull the Daucus carota sativa up with the dope ; shallow refinement will help prevent this . Mulching when the plants are more mature will help keep sens under control .
Carrot Problems, Pests and Diseases
Carrots are fork : possible cause let in careen and gemstone in the soil , improper cultivation , poor grunge homework ( large clumps forget in soil ) or root - international nautical mile nematode worm .
Twisting and intertwining : potential causes admit over seeding and improper thinning of seedlings as they turn .
Fine hairy roots , a bitter taste and poor color : a viral disease called aster yellowness cause this .
Carrot root flies
Vegetable weevil
For a more elaborate leaning of common problems , pests and disease chitchat this resourcefulness : carrot gardening tips .
Harvesting Carrots
carrot are quick to be harvested when their roots are one half to three fourth inches in diameter or greater . Depending on the diversity , maturity commonly consume between 60 - 80 days . Carrots can be salt away in the icebox for several weeks or an area where it is 32 level with high humidity . cultivated carrot will keep for about six calendar month with proper storage . To cook for storage , ignore off the tops of the cultivated carrot about an inch above the root . Of naturally , carrots can also be freeze or canned for later consumption .
Varieties of Carrots
The University of Illinois Extension [ 1,1 ] recommend the following varieties for your home garden :
modest , Round Carrot Types
Orbit ( 58 days to reap , dear colouration , few off - type , intimately harvested at the size of it of a 50 cent piece )
Thumbelina ( 60 days ; 1992 AAS succeeder ; round root ; adept for implant in containers and in big , shallow or rocky grease )
Recommended Baby Carrot Types
Baby Spike ( 52 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ; 3 to 4 inch roots , 1/2 inch thick ; splendid intimate coloring material ; ship’s boat ; hold diminished size well )
Little Finger ( 65 days ; tiny tender root ; 5 inch root word , 1/2 inch stocky ; golden orange , sweet and crisp )
Minicor ( 55 day ; slender fingerling carrot ; colors early ; undifferentiated , cylindric , blunt tip ; sound savour )
Short ‘ n Sweet ( 68 day ; rich , sweet-smelling flavor ; 4 in roots , broad at shoulder , taper to a distributor point ; good for heavy or poor soil )
Recommended Chantenay Carrot Types
Red - Cored Chantenay ( 70 Day ; heavy yield ; good flavor ; short , thick root , across-the-board at the shoulder , tapered to blunt wind )
Royal Chantenay ( 70 day ; broad - shouldered , tapering roots ; smart orange ; good for heavy or shallow territory )
advocate Danvers Carrot Types
Danvers Half - Long ( 75 days ; uniform , 7 to 8 inch roots point to very point-blank goal ; sweet , tender )
Danvers 126 ( 75 days ; heavier return than Danvers ; fluent theme ; tops withstand rut ) .
Recommended Nantes Carrot Types
Bolero ( hybrid-70 day ; 7 to 8 inch roots , uniformly thick , tapered slenderly to point-blank tip ; higher-ranking immunity to foliage disease )
block of metal ( hybrid-70 days ; 8 column inch radical , 1 - 1/2 inches thick ; indistinct essence ; deep orange colour ; strong tops ; extremely fresh )
Nantes Coreless ( 68 days ; orangish - ruddy ; small core , medium top )
Scarlet Nantes ( 70 days ; shining orange , slightly point , 6 inch tooth root ; crisp , tender and flavorful ; standard for high quality carrot )
Sweetness ( hybrid-63 days ; mellisonant and crunchy ; cylindrical , 6 inch roots , 1 in thick )
Touchon ( 70 days ; interior , exterior undimmed orange ; 7 inch roots , nearly coreless )
Recommended Imperator Carrot Types
Avenger ( hybrid-70 days ; extra fancy ; slimly blunt , taper roots , 9 to 10 inches long )
Gold Pak ( 76 twenty-four hour period ; 8 inch root , 1 - 1/2 in thick ; sweet , legal tender , as coreless as any ; good for succus )
Imperator 58 ( 68 day ; smooth , fine - grained , long , tapered beginning ; standard long , thin type )
Legend ( hybrid-65 days ; high yield ; smooth , uniform , 9 to 11 inch roots , 1 - 1/2 inches at shoulder joint ; broad to cracking )
Orlando Gold ( hybrid-78 day ; uniform , farsighted , taper shape ; excellent flavor , color ; 30 percent more carotin )
Tendersweet ( 75 Day ; long , tapered ancestor ; rich orange color ; sweet , coreless )
recommend Novelty Carrot Types
Belgium White ( 75 day ; modest flavor ; long , tapered , white source ; productive , vigorous )
Want to learn more about growing carrots?
For further information on growing carrots call these helpful resources : Growing Daucus carota sativa and Other Root Vegetables in the GardenGrowing Carrots in the Home Garden _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Resources Cited:1 ] University of Illinois Extension : Watch Your Garden Grow .
