It doesn't take a lot of gardening expertise to be able to harvest fresh carrots directly from your own garden. Growing carrots is child's play if you pay attention to a sufficiently loose and nutrient-rich soil and adequate protection against pests.

Which plants are recommended?

Basically, carrots are usually not available as young plants because the effort of pricking them out is not worth it. However, the types of seed available on the market usually have detailed instructions on the package that provide information about the special needs of the respective type of carrot. A rough distinction is made between early varieties for fresh consumption and later varieties for storage over the winter.

What is the right location for carrots?

First of all, you should be careful not to grow carrots in the same spot two years in a row. In the best case, carrots should only be in the same bed every three years, as they are medium feeders and otherwise attract more pests. Carrots love a warm and sunny spot like a raised bed, but should be protected from drying out by watering them regularly.

How are carrots ideally sown?

Preparing and pricking out carrots only makes sense if you want to harvest the first carrots very early in the year. Otherwise, carrots are sown in rows directly outdoors from the end of February or beginning of March. Be careful not to sow the tiny seeds too densely and water the seeds well.

Can I also transplant carrots that are too close together?

It does not only happen to garden beginners that the carrot plants that become visible after a germination period of about three weeks turn out to be too close together. If the plants are too good for you to just tear them out, you can also gently separate them. To do this, first water some of the dry soil and gently pull excess plants out of the soil by the greens. Make sure that the root collar is intact and sink it into a finger-drilled hole at the new destination before gently pressing down on the soil all around. As an alternative to transplanting, from a certain size it is also possible to use the young carrots directly for consumption.

When can I harvest carrots?

If carrots are already sown in February and March, a harvest is possible as early as May after a cultivation period of about three months. With appropriate reseeding, the season lasts until November. Carrots intended for winter storage should be sown in June at the latest if they are to develop sufficiently before winter.

How much space do carrots need?

When sowing, the distance between the rows should not be less than about 25 centimeters. About two weeks after germination, the carrots should be spaced at least five centimeters apart in the row for optimal conditions.

tips and tricks

Carrots should not be too deep behind walls in raised beds either, as a windy location tends to protect them from infestation with carrot fly larvae. You can also keep this pest at bay by planting onions and marigolds between the rows of carrots.

WK

Category:

Vegetable garden