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The Daucus carota sativus, known throughout the world as carrot, is one of the most consumed vegetables in the gastronomy of much of the globe. The carrot we know, however, is in a domesticated form. The original wild carrot, typical of Europe and Asia, has a notably smaller and less flavorful root.
It is a biennial plant that is grown to consume its root, which is very rich in potassium, phosphorus and carotenes, which the body transforms into Vitamin A. In this Green Ecologist article we are going to see how to plant carrots and when to do it, as well as the basic maintenance of the carrot crop to be able to enjoy our own vegetables, which will taste better than ever.
When to plant carrots
To begin to locate ourselves in the carrot cultivation, we explain when is the best time to place the seeds of this vegetable in the soil of our garden.
Carrot seeds are not complicated to sow, and although in other climates you have to pay close attention to the sowing time, in the Mediterranean area you can sow the carrot for most of the year. On the other hand, in colder or drier climates, it is recommended to sow between the months from April to July.
In this other Green Ecologist article we explain what vegetables to plant in summer, apart from carrots.
How to sow carrot seeds
The sowing the carrot It can be done directly on the desired terrain, be it an orchard or outdoor garden or in an indoor pot. After deciding this, follow these guidelines on how to sow carrot seeds.
- Planting potted carrots It will require containers that are at least 30 or 35 centimeters deep so that the roots can develop properly. In colder areas or if you prefer to ensure proper germination of the seeds, it is also common sow carrots in seedbed, and then transplant them to their final location.
- It is recommended to soak the seeds before planting them, since the carrot is a plant that requires a lot of humidity. You can choose here to either leave them in water for up to two hours before sowing them, or leave them on damp paper or cloth for up to 48 hours before being planted.
- It is also important to prepare a suitable soil or substrate, preferably clay, and aerate and moisten it before placing the seeds, whether it is soil, pot or seedbed.
- Carrots tend not to germinate regularly, or some grow very small, so it is also recommended to enrich the soil with worm castings or organic compost, which will maximize the possibilities of our plants.
- When sowing, make small 1 centimeter deep holes about 2.5 cm apart, depositing one in each.
- Don't worry if it takes a few days before you start to see the first sprouts, as carrots take their time.
You may also be interested in knowing the Vegetables that grow well together and learn that carrots grow without problems, and even better, if they are planted next to tomatoes, beans, garlic, onions and peas. And if you are interested in adding any of these to your garden, we encourage you to learn how to grow organic tomatoes.
How to plant carrots: transplant the seedling
When the campus already shows at least two sheets and it is a few centimeters high, if we had sown it in a seedbed, it is time to transplant it. Transplanting the carrot plant It is very simple:
- Prepare the soil for what will be its final location by aerating it, moistening it and enriching it with compost or humus.
- Dig up the carrot carefully, also picking up the surrounding soil, about three centimeters from the sprout.
- Prepare a hole deep enough for the entire root to be buried, and place the seedling in it.
How to grow carrots: basic care
The most important point to keep in mind with carrots is that they require having the ground or substrate always wet. The plants will appreciate having a constant humidity to be able to develop as large as possible. Of course, humidity should not be confused with waterlogging. Always avoid the latter, which could bring diseases to plants. Regarding light, carrots greatly appreciate being at some point where they receive sunlight throughout the day. Only if you live in a particularly hot climate or with very strong sun should you place them in semi-shade.
Finally, it is possible that this plant suffers from the attack of the carrot fly. By planting garlic cloves near them, you can prevent your carrots from being damaged by this pest. Likewise, if this appears, you can also resort to insecticides and here we explain how to make natural insecticides for plants.
When are carrots picked
In some approximately three months from sowing, the carrots will begin to be ready to be harvested.
However, the plant can be collected throughout its first year of life, allowing it to grow longer and thus allowing you to enjoy fresh carrots for longer. On the other hand, if what you want is that your carrots give seeds to be able to sow them again, you will have to wait for the following year. This is a biennial plant, which accumulates strength and nutrients during its first year of life and then reproduces in the second.
If you want to read more articles similar to Planting carrots: how and when to do it, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
