Carrot
- Botanical Name
- Daucus carota var. sativus
- Hardiness
- Annual
- Fruit
- Variety of sizes, colors and shapes
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Moist, loose, well-drained; free from clumps and clods - raised beds are an ideal location
- Planting & Care
- Cultivate the soil, removing clods and clumps where you plan to grow carrots. This allows the roots to penetrate the soil and develop uniformly.
- Carrots germinate in temperatures between 50°F and 85°F in evenly moist soil
- Direct sow in early spring 2 to 3 weeks before last frost at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, 1/2 inch apart, in rows spaced 12 to 24 inches apart.
- For more even spacing, use pelleted seeds or seed tape. Or mix these fine seeds with sand or fine vermiculite when sowing.
- Thin to 1 to 4 inches apart by snipping seedlings when they are about 1.5 inches tall. Sow seeds for a fall harvest about 10 to 12 weeks before the first frost.
- Mulch or mound soil around the crowns of plants to prevent green and bitter shoulders
- Problems
- Leafhoppers, wireworms, carrot rust worm, aster yellows, leaf spot, soft rot, carrot weevil, slugs
- Varieties
- Purple Haze - 10-12 inches, purple with orange core, All-America Selections winner
- Little Finger - 3-5 inches long, golden orange, very sweet
- Gold Pak - 8 inches, good for juicing
- Orlando Gold - rich in carotene
- Thumbelina - golf ball sized roots, great for containers or indoor gardening, AAS winner
Related Content
Article
Article
Article
Article
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
March 20, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Maximize the Beauty and Enjoyment
in Any Small Space
Register now
March 23, 2024
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI
March 27, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
How to Start a Garden for Beginners
Register now
April 3, 2024
Garden Trends
Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI
April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now
April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now
April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now
April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL
April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI
April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More