How to Grow Carrots

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• You don't have to be a rabbit to enjoy growing carrots. Carrots are excellent sources of beta-carotene, which our bodies turn into Vitamin A. Carrots can be grown in almost any garden with just a little bit of work.

• Videojug: How To Plant Carrots (Time: 3:03)

Step 1: Choose a Variety

• Although there are hundreds of varieties of carrots, but they typically fall into one of four main categories based on size and shape: Imperator, Nantes, Danvers and Chantenay.¹ Most carrots are orange, but yellow, red and purple varieties are also available.²

Imperator Carrots

• Imperator carrots are 9 to 10 inches long, have a tapered tip and a deep orange cortex with lighter orange center.^{1 3}
  1. They are used primarily for fresh pack.³
  2. Good varieties to plant include: Avenger, Gold Pak, Imperator 58, Legend, Orlando Gold, Tendersweet Apache, Navajo, Blaze, Six Pak II and Choctaw.^{4 5}

Danvers Carrots

• Danvers carrots are about seven inches long with orange flesh that is usually tinged with green.
  1. They are usually used for dicing, slicing and processing into baby food.^{1 3}
  2. They require a long season (120 days) to develop a high sugar content.¹
  3. Also called the "half long" carrot.⁵
  4. Good varieties to plant include: Danvers Half Long, Danvers 126, Bolero, Eagle and Goliath.^{2 4 5}

Nantes Carrots

• Nantes carrots are about 6 inches long with a uniform diameter.¹ They are short and cylindrical with a blunt round base and a bright orange color.³
  1. Nantes carrots have a sweet flavor, crisp texture and are good for eating.³
  2. They are used for bunching, slicing and mini carrots.¹
  3. They mature earlier than Imperator carrots.¹
  4. Baby Nantes cultivars are only about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter and 2-1/2 to 3 inches long.³
  5. Nantes are most commonly used in home gardens or grown for farmers markets and roadside stands.⁵
  6. Good varieties to plant include: Nantes Half Long, Scarlet Nantes, Nelson Bolero, Ingot, Nantes Coreless, Sweetness, Touchon, Protoge, Presto, Nanco, Nassau and Primo.^{2 4 5}

Chantenay Carrots

• Chantenay carrots are only five inches long with large shoulders.¹ They vary in color from medium to light orange and have a large distinctly colored core.^{3 1}
  1. They are known for being tender and crisp.³
  2. They are used primarily in home gardens are rarely for processing.¹
  3. Good varieties to plant include: Red-Cored Chantenay, Royal Chantenay, Gold King, Convert and Condor.^{2 5}

Baby and Novelty Carrots

• Other varieties of carrots that do not fit into the above categories also exist. These varieties are usually listed as novelty or baby carrots. Some examples of these carrots include:
  1. 

     (Creative Commons photo by Jennifer Dickert)
     Baby Spike: 3 to 4 inches long, 1/2 inch thick, good orange color and tender.⁴
  2. Belgium White: A long tapered carrot with a white root and a mild flavor.⁴
  3. Dragon: 6 to 8 inches long, reddish purple on the outside, but yellowish orange inside.²
  4. Little Finger: 3 to 5 inches long, 1/2 inch wide, good for container gardens and heavy soils, high sugar content, sweet and crisp, deep orange color^{6 4 2}
  5. Minicor: Slender baby carrots with a good flavor.⁴
  6. Orbit: Small and round with good color. ⁴
  7. Short'n Sweet: 4 inches long baby carrot; rich, sweet flavor; good for heavy or poor soil.^{2 4}
  8. Thumbelina: 1 inch round root, good for planting in containers and heavy, shallow or rocky soil.^{2 4}
  9. Yellowstone: 8 to 10 inches long with a yellow color.²

Additional Information

• For more information on the varieties of carrots, check out any of the following links:
  1. NC State University Cucurbit Breeding: Vegetable Cultivars: Carrot
  2. Carrot Gardening Tips: Types of Carrots
  3. World Carrot Museum: A to Z of Common Carrot Varieties
  4. Cornell University:: Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners: Carrots

Step 2: When to Plant Carrots

• Carrots are a cool season biennial that grow best when they are planted in the early spring.⁴

1. They can be sown once soils reach 40°F but germinate best when the soil is between 55 to 70°F.⁶
2. You need to plant them early enough in the spring that they can before the weather is cool, usually about two to three weeks before the last frost.⁷
3. Carrots take between 70 to 100 days to mature.⁷
4. Temperatures above 75°F can reduce growth, decrease quality, reduce seed germination and cause bitter or off-flavors of carrots.⁷

Step 3: Where to Plant

• Carrots should be planted in a sunny area, but will tolerate some shade. They need deep, loose, fertile and well-drained soil.⁷

1. Sandy soils rich in organic matter are best.⁷
2. Amend heavy soils with compost.⁷
   1. Heavy soils can cause considerable leaf growth and forked roots.⁶
   2. Carrots mature slower in heavy soils and can cause roots to become rough.⁸
3. Remove stones, trash and other materials from the soil before planting or avoid these areas altogether.⁶
4. Carrots grow will in acidic soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8.⁶
5. Raised beds are an ideal location to grow carrots.⁶

Step 4: How to Plant Carrots

• Carrots are always grown from seed. Rows should be at least 12 to 18 inches apart.⁴

1. Spade the soil about 8 to 12 inches.⁸
2. Incorporate at least four inches of organic matter and apply either 16-16-8 or 10-10-10 all-purpose fertilizer (approximately 2 to 4 cups per 100 square feet) into the top 4 to 8 inches of soil.⁷
3. Carrots can either be planted on mounds about 2 to 3 inches high or on the soil surface and covered with soil.^{8 7}
   1. Carrots should be planted about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.
   2. If the soil is dry, plant carrots deeper, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep.
4. Add a few radish seeds when planting. Radishes sprout quickly and will help you identify where the row is and help minimize crusting problems.^{8 7}
5. Thin carrots so they are 1 inch apart when the tops are 1 inch high.⁴ Then, thin again have about three or four true leaves so they are about 2 to 4 inches apart.⁷

Step 5: Caring for Carrots

• Like any other crop, carrots need water, weed control and fertilization.

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by Chuck Abbe)
   For best results, carrots need consistent, even moisture or about about one inch of water a week throughout the growing season.²
   1. Inadequate moisture can cause small, poorly-flavored carrots.²
   2. Avoid over-watering because it can cause the roots to crack.⁶ It can also cause hairy roots and forking.⁷
   3. Moisture fluctuations can cause root disorders, slow leaf development and bitterness.⁷
2. Weeds should be controlled by frequent, shallow hoeing.⁴
   1. Weeds steal nutrients and moisture from the carrots and can reduce yields.⁸
   2. Hand pull any weeds that are close to the carrots.²
3. Fertilize the carrots when they are about 4 inches high or about 6 weeks after they have emerged.^{8 7}
   1. Apply between 1/4 to 1 cup of nitrogen-based fertilizer (21-0-0 or 34-0-0) per 10 foot row.⁷
   2. Place the fertilizer to the side of the plants and irrigate it into the soil.⁷
   3. Carrots can be fertilized a second time when the tops are about 6 to 8 inches high if they become pale.⁸
4. Cover any orange crowns that emerge above the soil level with soil to prevent them from turning green.⁶
5. Prevent crusting by scratching the soil lightly around the carrots.⁸

Step 6: Dealing with Pests

• Here are some of the most common insects that attack carrots, and ways to combat infestations.

Aphids

1. Aphid varieties which are known to attack carrots:⁹
   1. Bean
   2. Crown and root
   3. Cotton/melon
   4. Green peach
   5. Honeysuckle
   6. Willow carrot⁹
2. They can be controlled with the following substances:¹⁰
   1. Diazinon
   2. Endosulfan (Thionex)
   3. Imidacloprid (Admire or Provado)
   4. Malathion
   5. Thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum).¹⁰

Leafhoppers

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by [PHOTO LINK Photographer Name])
   Leafhoppers are yellow to green in color with black spots on their head, and are prone to carrying disease.¹¹
2. Common varieties of leafhoppers which attack carrot plants include the aster leafhopper and six-spotted leafhopper.¹¹
3. They can be controlled with the following substances:¹⁰
   1. Carbaryl (Sevin)
   2. Cyfluthrin (Baythroid)
   3. Deltamethrin (Decis)
   4. Endosulfan (Thionex)
   5. Esfenvalerate (Asana)
   6. Imidacloprid (Admire or Provado)
   7. Malathion
   8. Methomyl (Lannate)
   9. Methoxyfenozide (Intrepid)
   10. Thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum)
   11. Zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang)

Carrot Weevils

1. Carrot weevils are gray or brown insects which grow to about 5 millimeters in length. They feed on the leaves of carrot plants. #They can be controlled with the following substances:¹⁰
   1. Cyfluthrin (Baythroid)
   2. Esfenvalerate (Asana)
   3. Oxamyl (Vydate)].¹⁰

Carrot Rust Flies

1. Carrot Rust Flies are small white maggots which feed on the roots.
2. They can be controlled with diazinon.¹⁰
3. Rotating crops, as well as deep plowing in the fall and spring seasons, can also help reduce populations.¹²

Wireworms

1. Wireworms are the larval stage of black click beetles.¹¹
2. They grow up to 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long and are yellowish white in color.⁸
3. They can be controlled with diazinon.⁸

Cutworms

1. Cutworms are dull gray, brown or black in color], striped or spotted with smooth bodies and grow up to 1-1/4 inches long.⁸
2. They can be controlled with diazinon.⁸

Other Carrot Pests

Armyworms11 Palestriped flea beetle13

Saltmarsh caterpillar14 Whiteflies15 Tarnished plant bug11

Yellow woollybear11 Thrips11

Step 7: Dealing with Diseases

• Carrots are troubled by a variety of fungi. They are best controlled by crop rotation and soil solarization.⁷ You may also choose to treat your carrots with a fungicide.¹ Some of the more common fungi that attack carrots include:

Alternaria leaf blight16 Black rot (black crown)17 Black root rot18 Cavity spot19

Cercospora leaf blight20 Cottony or Cotton soft rot21 22 Damping off23

Leaf spot24 Powdery mildew25 Root dieback26 Southern blight27

Step 8: Harvesting and Storing

• Carrots can be harvested at almost anytime of their development.⁴ It is important that carrots are harvested carefully to avoid damaging them, which will reduce their shelf life.¹ Carrots should then be stored in an cool area with plenty of humidity (between 95 to 99 percent).⁵

• • For more information on harvesting and storing, check out Mahalo's page on How to Harvest and Store Carrots.

Subscribe to Mahalo's Weekly How To Email Newsletter

• Get our best How To tips and ideas in your inbox each week
• Email
  

References for How to Grow Carrots

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} North Dakota State University: Carrots
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11} Iowa State University: Growing Carrots in the Home Garden
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Milwaukee County UW-Extension: Carrot  
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14} University of Illinois Extension: Carrot
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} University of Minnesota Extension: Carrots (Vegetable Crop Management)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7} Ohio State University: Growing Carrots in the Home Garden
7. ↑ ^{7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15} Utah State University: Carrots in the Garden November 2004  
8. ↑ ^{8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11} AgriLife Extension: Easy Gardening: Carrots
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} UC IPM: Carrot Pest Management Guidelines
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5} Ohio State University: Carrots and Parsnips  
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6} Carrot Gardening Tips: Carrot Pests and Diseases
12. ↑ Virginia Tech Insect Identification Laboratory: Carrot Rust Fly
13. ↑ UC IPM: Palestriped Flea Beetle
14. ↑ UC IPM: Saltmarsh Caterpillar
15. ↑ UC IPM: Whiteflies
16. ↑ UC IPM: Alternaria Leaf Blight
17. ↑ UC IPM: Black Rot (Black Crown)
18. ↑ Texas Plant Disease Index: Black Root Rot
19. ↑ UC IPM: Cavity Spot
20. ↑ UC IPM: Cercospora Leaf Blight
21. ↑ UC IPM: Cottony Soft Rot
22. ↑ Texas Plant Disease Index: Cotton Soft Rot
23. ↑ Texas Plant Disease Index: Damping Off
24. ↑ Texas Plant Disease Index: Leaf Spot
25. ↑ UC IPM: Powdery Mildew
26. ↑ UC IPM: Root Dieback
27. ↑ UC IPM: Southern Blight

• 
  
  

Get Ready for Thanksgiving with Mahalo