Grow Your Own Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamins. You can grow them almost year round!  The spring and fall are the best times to plant them and they take around 2 months to harvest.
There are several ways to grow carrots. Choose the option below that works best for your location and ability.

Planting

Record the date when you plant on your calendar. This will help you know when to harvest.

Option 1: Plant in the ground: Choose an easy-to-grow variety such as Short n Sweet, Thumbelina, Nantes, Gold Nugget, or Best of the Bunch. Choose a spot that gets full sun. Plant seeds in loose soil about ¼ - ½ inch deep, about 1 inch away from each other. Keep the soil moist.
Mark your rows with an item like crafting sticks or garden spikes.

Option 2: Plant in a Container Garden: Choose a shorter variety, such as Little Finger, Short n Sweet, Chantenay or Miniature/Oxheart types, so there is a shorter growing time.
Your container should be at least 10 inches wide and 10 inches deep (the deeper the better). Add holes on the bottom for good drainage. Place the container in a spot that gets full sun. If you are planting indoors, a gardening light will be needed.
Fill the container with loose soil and plant seeds about ¼ - ½ inch deep, about 1 inch away from each other. Keep the soil moist.

Growing

Thinning carrots

You may need to make more space for the seedlings. Once seedlings are about 2 inches tall, you can
thin them out so they are two inches apart from each other. To thin the seedlings, use a pair of scissors and cut the extra seedlings at the soil line. (Resist the temptation to pull the extra seedlings out. You could damage the roots of the seedlings you want to keep.)

Harvesting

When did you first plant? Add on 50 days. This date will be your earliest possible harvest time.
Reduce watering when harvest time approaches.
Harvest carrots before they are 1 inch wide.
The top of the root should show above the soil; gently pull at the base of the stem.

Record your harvest date to use next time.

Eating

Harvesting carrots

There are many fun ways to eat carrots. Choose one of the recipes from the Eat Smart website such as Chicken, Sweet Potato and Carrot Packets.

Learn more

 

Growing Carrots
A Garden for Every Space (an overview of different types of gardens)