Dean Schoeppner
Growing carrots from seed is something even beginning gardeners can do successfully.
These simple tips will help you grow your own carrots from seed and enjoy your best harvest yet.
Know When to Plant
Carrots arecool-season vegetablesthat grow best when temperatures are between 50F and 75F.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
If you want to extend the harvest further,succession plant carrot seedsat four-week intervals from spring through midsummer.
Prep the planting spot by tilling the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
Plant the Right Way
Plant tiny carrot seeds about 14 inch deep in rows spaced about 1 foot apart.
When youre done, gather the thinned-out seedling greens and use them likemicrogreens on saladsand sandwiches.
Water Regularly
After planting, water carrot seeds gently to keep the seeds from washing away.
Carrot seeds usually sprout about 14 to 21 days after planting.
However, they may not germinate if a crust forms over the soil line.
To avoid this, companion plant carrots withfast-growing radishesthat push their way through the soil before your carrots sprout.
Avoid overfertilizing your plants, as carrots grown in overly rich soil produce lots of leaves and minimal roots.
You should also gently weed around carrot roots as they grow since carrots dont compete well with weeds.
