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Carrots

Carrots are sweet and delectable and a welcome addition to any garden! Growing them is not difficult, but it helps to know your soil and the variety of carrot that is most suitable to it. Most carrots prefer a sandy loam soil, or a soil that is loose with good water-holding capacity. The preferred pH is 6.5 as with most vegetables, but carrots will do fine if it’s a little higher or lower. Heavy clay and soils that are compacted can create problems for root growth, so work the soil deeply and amend with plenty of compost. Carrots can split or have poor root development in tight soils or where stones or other obstructions are in the soil, so raised beds are something to consider if your soil is likely to be a problem. Carrots are best planted from seed since transplanting would likely damage the root. How far to space the carrots depends on the type you are growing so check seed packets or garden catalogs for information. Keep an eye on the carrots as they are growing and cover any exposed root tops with soil to prevent greening.

Categories of carrots

There are five basic categories for carrots: Imperator, Nantes, Danvers, Chantenay, and Ball. The categories are based on the size and shape of the carrot. Imperator are the long, thin carrots commercially grown that you find in the market. These grow up to 11 inches long and thus are the type that need a good, deep, and loose soil, free of stones.

Nantes and Danvers types are of medium length, about 8 inches at maturity, with Danvers coming to a tapered point, while Nantes are more cylindrical in shape. These types are often the choice for home gardens. They will do best in loose soils, but they can manage in soils that are a little heavier. The MSU Extension tip sheet on “How to Grow Carrots” (www.canr.msu.edu/resources/how_ to_grow_carrots) suggests ‘Nelson’ and ‘Bolero’ as preferred choices in home gardens.

Chantenay are considered short carrots at 6 to 7 inches long, and because of that shorter length, can do better in heavier or stony soils than the longer carrots. They also do well in raised beds and container gardens. Ball carrots are small and round or with a very short taproot no more than 3 to 4 inches long. These are ideal for heavy soils or shallow containers. choice, carrots do come in a variety of colors. They always have. If you would like to grow something a little different, check the garden catalogs and seed packets at garden centers for carrots that can be white, yellow, red, or purple. Rainbow variety packets are available as well. Keep in mind that the greater the variety of colors, the wider the range of nutritional value. This year I’m trying a red-purple heirloom variety named ‘Dragon.’ The interior is yellow-orange with a light-yellow core. Based on the name, the grandchildren should love it! Next year I hope to try ‘Oxheart,’ an orange heirloom that is short and stubby, and somewhat heart shaped, making them fairly broad, and good to grow in heavy clay soils. They can weigh up to a pound and need some space between them to accommodate their size. They are noted to be good for storage purposes as well.

Growth cycle

Carrots are a cool season crop and may be planted once the soils warm to at least 45 degrees F. They can be sown usually starting in April and all the way into July. As a biennial, they complete their life cycle in two years, so they can be harvested from midsummer through early winter, depending on when they were planted. If covered with a thick layer of mulch to prevent the ground from freezing around them, carrots can be harvested well into the winter months. If left in the ground, they will go to seed the following year, so if you plan to save seed, keep that in mind (they will also get tougher and not be suitable for harvest once they go to seed).

Carrots really are a great addition to any home garden. They are wonderful whether raw, cooked, roasted or grilled. You can find carrots suitable for raised beds or containers. They are available in a range of colors. You can find varieties suited to being used fresh, canned, frozen or stored. What could be better than growing carrots!

Mary

Gerstenberger

Mary Gerstenberger was the Consumer Horticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County, MI. For vegetable and gardening information from MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. Call the toll-free Michigan State University Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 for answers to your gardening questions.