When to plant carrots: the best tips and tricks
Carrots (daucus carrot L) can be grown all year round. The only precautions we have to take are winter, December and January. During these months we must protect the seeds from the frosty. The carrot harvest ends after 3-4 months. Many people don’t know well when to plant carrots.
Therefore, in this article we will tell you when to plant carrots and how to do it.
The importance of growing carrots
Yes, it is a cultivated plant, otherwise it needs to be grown in the garden. Growing carrots is not a common practice for various reasons. On the one hand, because it is a year-round crop. On the other hand, because its maintenance needs and requirements are actually minimal. While it may seem plain, the truth is that many gardeners feel frustrated when growing this vegetable. Many times we remove this vegetable from crops because the seeds do not germinate or the fruit size is not as expected. For this reason, and to avoid this abandonment, we want to spend some time growing carrots.
By knowing how to grow carrots, you will inevitably avoid the feeling of failure we just talked about. A task that doesn’t require too much difficulty or too much time, but does require knowing some tips. A few tips will make the difference between delivering the carrots you expect and being disappointed when you pull them out of the field. Let’s be truthful: there is no garden without carrots. It’s not a matter of stubbornness, but basically: this crop is extremely prosperous in nutrients and has versatile uses in the kitchen.
Notes on planting carrots
At first glance, it may seem as plain as digging a petite hole in the ground and inserting the seeds. And indeed, this task is so plain, but it has many “buts” that must be taken into account in order to succeed. We cannot ignore this sowing this is the most fragile moment for any plant. Doing this properly and meeting your needs depends on the plants, whether they are garden plants or other flowering plants.
When growing carrots, this moment is even more significant. A necessary reason to discover what we had to prepare and control in the first weeks at the factory. As we said, growing carrots itself is not complicated. However, this requires decisive preliminary work. Carrot is a vegetable that requires medium acidic soil with a pH of about 6. But this is not the only requirement when it comes to substrates. We are talking about a vegetable that has high nutritional requirements for the growing soil. As a root crop, it requires a high content of phosphates and potassium in the soil in which it grows. For this reason, the ideal solution is to provide it with a substrate prosperous in organic matter or earthworm humus and provide it with everything it needs to grow.
Due to the high demand for nutrients, it is necessary to grow our carrot seeds in places where there is no competition. In addition to those relating to other crops, we mean adventitious plants. Eliminating weeds is the basic work that we must do before growing carrots and during their growth.
If we are going to plant directly in the ground, the carrot should be planted deep because it has to grow very deep. This forces us to conveniently browse the plantation area in search of stones that prevent its development. But not only that. Apart from, we must provide a airy substrate for growth. Carrots are a vegetable that is not recommended for clay. Due to the increased weight, it is unable to achieve the desired augment in size or shape. Therefore, it is convenient to work on the planting site before planting carrots. Support us with a hoe, we’ll break up any tough ground. Necessary precautions, especially after winter, because the season causes stress on the substrate.
If our vegetables are intended to be grown in pots or urban gardens, the ideal is to create the necessary land for growing carrots. Its structure is plain. First, we will place four centimeters of gravel at the bottom to aid drainage. The next layer will serve as a planting substrate. The ideal solution is to mix it with the lowest percentage of sand and the same percentage of clay. The perfect mix to keep you hydrated but prevent water stagnation. Finally, the last four centimeters of the container are placed on the seedbed. This soil is prosperous in peat and will lend a hand us retain the moisture necessary for the germination of carrot seeds.
When to plant carrots
Just as significant as soil preparation. Knowing when is the best time to grow carrots will also save us a lot of trouble. In fact, doing this when you’re not playing is one of the main reasons why it doesn’t happen correctly. Indeed, due to its rustic nature, we are talking about a crop that can be grown all year round. But this does not mean that they have a more commendable and favorable time for proper development, The ideal time to grow carrots is from April to July.
We can also start planting in overdue summer if we live in a temperate climate. We should never ignore the fact that carrot seeds need at least five degrees to germinate properly. Therefore, it should not be done in autumn or early spring. Night frosts may interrupt germination.
Carrot seeds are very petite. They have advantages and disadvantages in themselves. On the one hand, they easily penetrate the soil, which facilitates their germination. On the other hand, they are also at risk of being blown out of driving range by the slightest wind that may occur.
To benefit from growing carrots, you need to outweigh the disadvantages. How to do it? Soak the seeds before sowing. It is best to keep them in water for at least two hours. If we live in a droughty climate, we can extend this task up to 24 hours before planting. It won’t hurt to mix them with sand when wetting them. This will make them heavier when planted and will have a greater chance of germinating.
I hope this information helps you learn more about when to plant carrots.