Carrots can be an intimidating vegetable to grow and many home gardeners avoid them. They really aren’t very difficult to grow at all. It is actually quite fun to pull a fresh carrot out of the garden. Growing your own carrots is worth trying and once you do, you will be hooked.
Directing seeding is best for carrots. You can plant seeds two to three weeks before the last Spring frost date. They don’t germinate well once temperatures are over 80 degrees. In our area, carrots can be planted in September for a Fall/Winter harvest.
How to Plant Carrot Seed
To plant carrots, start with a smooth surface. Rake the soil to remove any rocks or clumps and create an even surface. Using your hoe to create a shallow line in the soil. Carrots seeds are very small, so the easiest way is to sprinkle the seed down the row. After you have planted the seed, cover them with about a quarter inch of soil. Use your foot to tamp down on the row and make sure there is good contact between the seed and soil. Then water well.
Carrots can take a while to germinate, sometimes up to three weeks. Giving seeds a light watering daily if dry, will speed up the process. Once seedlings emerge you may have to thin out some seedlings. Carrots don’t need much space between them but you want them to have enough room to grow. Growing your own carrots from seed takes between 70 to 80 days until harvest.
Growing Your Own Carrots for Self Sufficiency
The safest method for processing carrots with a pressure canner. There are varieties that are more suited for long term storage. To keep carrots fresh, remove the tops and place in a paper bag without washing them. Store in a cool room. If you live in a mild climate, carrots can be over wintered in the garden. Plant carrots in the fall, when temperatures dip, mulch the carrots. Then just pull carrots as needed. This method worked out well for me last winter.
