January 16, 2024 – OK, why grow carrots when they’re so easy to pick up at the grocery store already peeled, cut into bite sized morsels, cleaned and packaged? Well, I have to admit, these are pretty good reasons for using the grocery store. On the other hand, growing them for self and the needy provides a great service and satisfaction for the grower.
Many of us had grandparents who gardened and tried to instill a gardening desire in each of us. Unfortunately, in my case, that desire took some years to take effect. Now, depending on the crop and the growing season, I provide anywhere from 10-65 thousand vegetables for the needy and family/neighbor consumption.
It’s hard to beat the taste of a fresh cool carrot. Many would say they’re difficult to grow. In Actuality, they’re easy to grow, BUT an awareness of the time needed to germinate, soil preparation, and time from seed to harvest are needed.
Carrots were first found domesticated in Persia during the 10th century and were either white or purple. Drawings from the 5th century clearly show carrots. Cross breeding over the centuries resulted in the multitude of colors available today. Within 100 years, they had spread throughout the Mediterranean and western Europe, followed to Asia within another 300 years. Today, the U.S. population eats nearly 10 pounds of carrots a year. One farm in California handles some 10 million pounds a day!!!
Carrots hate handling, so never transplant. Sow only by direct seeding ½” deep in loose (not compacted) soil 12” deep. Soil temperature should by at least 45°. Germination can take as long as two weeks. Once they get to 3” tall, thin with scissors to 3” apart. Time from sowing seeds to harvesting will vary from 50-75 days. Six to eight hours of sunlight needed.
