How to start carrot seeds

Start carrots in seed starting trays indoors, in good quality, finely textured and densely packed potting soil. Use seed starting trays that are at least 2” deep. Sow 2 seeds per cell. If both carrots have germinated and survive transplanting, thin to one carrot.

Because carrot seeds require 14 to 21 days to sprout, many gardeners mix a few radish seeds, which sprout quickly, with carrot seeds to mark the row.

About Carrot and Carrot Family Crop Seeds

Carrots, parsnips, and parsley take 14 to 21 days to germinate; that means you must keep the seedbed evenly moist for up to three weeks or longer. This may require near-constant attention.

Carrots are slow to germinate, but they are even slower and sometimes won’t sprout at all if the soil temperatures are too low. Since the tiny seeds are sown only ½” deep, it is essential to keep the soil moist through the long germination period. They will die if the top layer dries out or crusts over.

It’s hard to imagine a flourishing vegetable garden without carrots. They’re actually pretty easy to grow from seed – so long as you take account of a few golden rules.

Carrots are not difficult to grow, but the condition of the soil will impact their ability to thrive. In order for carrots to develop long, straight roots, they need to be planted in deep, loose, sandy soil without any stones. If your soil is compact or rocky, plant this root vegetable in raised beds or containers.

Starting three to four days before you plan to sow them, soak carrot seeds in water for an hour, and then transfer them to a damp paper towel. Seeds germinate in one to two weeks, depending on the weather. One to two weeks later, they must be thinned, weeded, or both.

‘Short ‘n Sweet’

This rich, sweet little root is easy to grow, and packed full of vitamins. ‘Short ‘n Sweet’ is a ‘Chanetay’ type that produces compact 4-inch roots with about 68 days to harvest.

How many carrots does one plant yield? The carrot is the edible root of the plant, so one plant results in one carrot at the end of the growing season.

Another way of telling that your carrots are ready to harvest is by looking at the diameter of the carrot. If it is between ¾ to an inch in circumference, they are ready to pull. Some gardeners like pulling the carrots when they are immature as well for roasting or adding whole to garnish salads.

Fertilizing Carrots

Carrots should be fertilized when the tops have reached 3 inches tall. A granular type fertilizer will work well, if used in moderation. Choose a fertilizer that has little nitrogen and more potassium and phosphate – 0-10-10 or 5-15-15 will work well.

Carrots and other root vegetables love coffee grounds.

You can work your coffee grounds into the soil where you plan to plant your carrots, giving them a nice place to germinate. You can also put dry coffee grounds in a cup along with your carrot seeds and shake it all up.

Carrots prefer full sun and relatively cool soil. In a raised bed, neighboring plants will help shade the soil and keep it from getting too hot. Consistent moisture produces the tastiest carrots, so give them about 1″ of water per week.