The Daucus carota sativus, known throughout the world as carrot, is one of the most consumed vegetables in the cuisines of much of the globe. The carrot we know, however, is a domesticated form. The original wild carrot, native to Europe and Asia, has a significantly smaller root and less flavor.
It is a biennial-type plant that is grown to consume its root, which is very rich in potassium, phosphorus and carotenoids, which the body transforms into Vitamin A. In this EcologíaVerde article we are going to see how to plant carrots and when to do itas well as the basic maintenance of carrot cultivation to be able to enjoy our own vegetables, which will taste better than ever.
When to plant carrots
To begin to locate ourselves in the carrot cultivationwe explain what is the best time to place the seeds of this vegetable in the soil of our garden.
Carrot seeds are not complicated to sow, and although in other climates you have to pay close attention to the planting time, in the Mediterranean area you can sow the carrot during almost the whole year. On the other hand, in colder or drier climates, it is recommended to sow between the months from April to July.
In this other EcologíaVerde article we explain what vegetables to plant in summer, apart from carrots.
How to sow carrot seeds
The carrot planting It can be done directly on the desired land, whether it is an outdoor orchard or garden or in an indoor pot. After deciding this, you must follow these indications on how to sow carrot seeds.
- Plant carrots in a pot It will require containers at least 30 or 35 centimeters deep so that the roots can develop properly. In colder areas or if you prefer to ensure proper seed germination, it is also common plant carrots in seedbedto later transplant them to their final location.
- It is recommended to soak the seeds before planting them, since the carrot is a plant that requires a lot of moisture. You can choose here to either leave them in water for up to two hours before planting them, or leave them on wet paper or cloth for up to 48 hours before planting.
- It is also important to prepare a suitable soil or substrate, preferably clay, and aerate and moisten it before placing the seeds, whether it is soil, a pot or a seedbed.
- Carrots tend not to germinate regularly, or some grow very small, so it is also recommended to enrich the soil with earthworm humus or organic fertilizer, which will maximize the possibilities of our plants.
- When sowing, it forms small holes one centimeter deep, spaced about 2.5 cm apart, and deposits one in each one.
- Don’t worry if it takes a few days before you start to see the first sprouts, as carrots take their time.
You may also be interested in knowing the Vegetables that grow well together and learn that carrots grow without problems, and even better, if they are planted next to tomatoes, beans, garlic, onions and peas. And if you are interested in adding any of these to your garden, we encourage you to learn how to grow organic tomatoes.
How to plant carrots: transplant the seedling
When the campus already shows at least two sheets and is a few centimeters high, if we had planted it in a seedbed, it is time to transplant it. Transplant the carrot seedling It is very simple:
- Prepare the land of what will be its final location by aerating it, moistening it and enriching it with fertilizer or humus.
- Dig up the carrot carefully, also picking up the surrounding soil, about an inch from the sprout.
- Prepare a hole deep enough for the entire root to be buried, and place the seedling in it.
How to grow carrots: basic care
The most important point to keep in mind with carrots is that they require soil or always moist substrate. The plants will appreciate having a constant humidity to be able to develop as big as possible. Of course, humidity should not be confused with waterlogging. Always avoid the latter, which could bring diseases to the plants. Regarding light, carrots appreciate very much being at some point where they receive sunlight all day. Only if you live in a particularly hot climate or with very strong sun you should place them in semi-shade.
Finally, it is possible that this plant suffers the attack of the carrot fly. If you plant garlic cloves near them, you can prevent your carrots from being damaged by this pest. Similarly, if it appears, you can also resort to insecticides and here we explain how to make natural insecticides for plants.
When are carrots harvested?
In some three months approximately from sowingthe carrots will start to be ready to be harvested.
However, the plant can be harvested throughout its first year of life, allowing it to grow more and thus allowing you to enjoy fresh carrots for longer. On the other hand, if what you want is for your carrots to give seeds to be able to plant them again, you will have to wait until the following year. This is a biennial plant, which accumulates strength and nutrients during its first year of life and then reproduces in the second.
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