Although I don’t think growing carrots is rocket science, I thought I would talk about them today. After all, they are one of my favorite “set it and forget it” vegetables to plant. I usually plant carrots twice a year. Once in early spring, and again around the fourth of July.
This morning I will be planting round #1 in my garden. Using a grid pattern like I did when I planted radishes, I’ll do it again with carrots and tomatoes to maximize my growing space. Once the tomatoes get going, they will keep the carrots shaded during the summer. Carrots and tomatoes are companion planting at it’s finest if you ask me.
About a month after planting the carrot seeds, I will go back and thin once, maybe twice, water when needed and then walk away until it’s time to harvest. I love carrots because they are so low maintenance and easy to grow.
Simply plant your carrot seeds in good soil in late spring and come back again in late fall to pull them up. Sounds like a pretty easy peasy vegetable to grow is you ask me.
This year I am planting the following varieties:
- Parisian Market {Botanical Interests}
- Solar Yellow {Ed Hume}
- Rainbow Blend {Ed Hume}
- Dragon {Seed Savers}
- Scarlet Nantes {Seed Savers}
- Danver’s {Seed Savers}
If you are wondering how in the world I am going to store all these carrots once I harvest them, Mr. H and his lovely assistant Mrs. H posted this “How to Store Carrots & Beets” tutorial a while back, and I think I’m up to the challenge this year. I’ll just have to remember to pace myself so I don’t eat them all at once, and turn a shade of Oompa loompa orange.
Here is a video about growing carrots from my new boyfriend {yes, I have many} Soil Man.
Looking for Rainbow, Parisian, Danver, or another kind of specialty carrot to grow this year? Check out Botanical Interests seed company and Amazon.com for the best selection.
Susan says
The Ed Hume rainbow carrots are fun to plant! Our youngest GD (10) helps with our garden, so she has been planting these the last 2 years. We have been very successful with them.
When it is time to harvest, she comes over to do so and gets to bring them home to eat. I try to find a few “fun” things each year for her.
This year she wants a flower garden, too. We’ll have to figure out a spot for that. She is very much the gardener 🙂
Mavis says
I love it when children get excited about gardening. 🙂
Heidi says
Thank you for sharing the link showing how to store carrots and beets. I had no idea how this was done. I’m not certain where I’d store them at? Maybe our barn? I don’t have a root cellar. Do you?
Mavis says
No. But maybe I SHOULD BUILD ONE!!!! 🙂 That would make my husband nuts. 🙂 Thanks for the idea Heidi!
Kathy says
I’m going to attempt carrots in a container this year (as well as companion planting with tomatoes) – my 6 year old has asked for his own carrots, so we’ll let him at it! Fingers crossed! I skipped the rainbow carrots – they were in my cart – figured none of my picky eaters would go for ’em. Stuck with Nantes – they’re sooooo sweet!
HollyG says
Thanks for the reminder to get the carrots gowing. I think I’m going to try making a seed mat this year with a peper napkin and flour glue. I guess you glue the seeds to the napkin at regular intervals and then lay the whole thing down on top of the soil and cover with a thin layer. I hope it works.
Mike says
You grow girl! I’m predicting a great year for carrots. Disclaimer – Of course, my views or opinions presented in the previous sentence are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Mother Nature.:)
lara says
hello mavis!
i moved back to western WA a year and a half ago, and am reacquainting myself with pnw gardening. last year, we planted carrots but the free ranging bunnies in our area ate the tops and they ceased growing. any tips for this year?? i want to plant them soon.
thank you.
Mavis says
Bird netting! Home Depot sells it. Works like magic. 🙂