Carrot

Category: root-veggies

Growing

  • 📍 Zone: 3-10
  • 🌞 Sun: Full sun
  • 💧 Water: Frequent but shallow watering; keep soil consistently moist during germination and early growth
  • 🌱 Soil: Free-draining, sandy or loamy soil; avoid heavy clay; soil should be deep and loose to allow for straight root growth

Planting

  • 📏 Height: Short (roots underground, foliage to about 1 foot tall)
  • 📏 Spacing: 2-3 inches apart in rows 1 foot apart
  • 📅 When To Plant: Every 4 weeks for continuous harvest, starting 2-3 weeks before last frost in spring; fall plantings 10-12 weeks before first frost
  • ⬇️ Depth: Plant seeds at surface level, barely covered with soil; ensure 10 inches of good soil depth for root development
  • 🤝 Companion:
    • 0: Radish
    • 1: Onions
    • 2: Chives
    • 3: Leeks
    • 4: Lettuce
    • 5: Marigolds
  • 🚫 Avoid Planting Near:
    • 0: Potatoes

Care & Maintenance

  • ✂️ Pruning: Thin seedlings to 3 inches apart once they are a few inches tall to prevent crowding and encourage straight root development
  • Weeding: Weed regularly to reduce competition, being careful not to disturb shallow carrot roots

Harvesting & Usage

  • ⏰ When To Harvest: When diameter is at least ½ inch thick; harvest before extreme heat or cold; can tolerate a few light frosts and may even become sweeter after frost
  • ✋ How To Harvest: Grasp foliage near crown and gently pull carrots from soil; loosen soil with a fork if needed to avoid breaking roots
  • 🥫 Preservation: Carrots are biennials; if not harvested, they will produce flowers and seeds in their second year; can be stored in cool, damp sand or refrigerated for long-term storage

Ecological Info

  • 🐝 Pollinators: Carrot flowers (if allowed to bolt) attract bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects
  • 🦌 Wildlife Resistance: Foliage generally avoided by deer; roots can be targeted by rodents if unprotected
  • 🌿 Nitrogen Fixer: No