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When to harvest carrots4/8/2023 ![]() Their taste and texture can’t compare to the vegetables that sit idle in a delivery truck or in a grocery store for sometimes weeks at a time. Carrots will keep several weeks if you place them in a plastic bag to increase humidity and store them at a temperature near 32 degrees F.Many garden vegetables taste the best when they’re picked fresh from a backyard garden. Wash the carrots and store them in the bottom of the refrigerator. Pull unused carrots and place them in a compost pile or spade them into the soil. To prevent the roots from wilting after harvest, remove the carrot tops and place them in the compost pile. To avoid breaking the carrot while pulling, loosen the soil around the carrot with a spade. Pull them from the soil when the roots are 1 to 1½ inches in diameter. HarvestingĬarrots should be ready for harvest 70 to 80 days after planting. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides can be used. If the roots have knots on them, your soil may have nematodes. Remove from the garden any carrot plant that becomes yellow and stunted. If leaf spots appear on the plants, dust them with an approved fungicide. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and can help control many diseases.īefore using a pesticide, read the label and always follow cautions, warnings, and directions. Sevin® is a synthetic insecticide organic options include Bt-based insecticides and sulfur. Many insecticides are available at garden centers for homeowner use. Weeds will take nutrients and moisture from the soil and reduce your carrot yields. Keep the carrots in your garden free of weeds, especially when they are small. Rocky soils result in poor-quality carrot roots. This is especially helpful for crops planted in the hot summer.įigure 4. To prevent the soil from crusting, scratch the soil lightly around the plants and sprinkle the row with water often to prevent crusting, or cover the seeds with vermiculite or sand. If radishes were mixed with the carrots, pull and eat them as they mature. Overcrowding and rocky soils result in poor quality roots (Fig. Thin the carrots to 4 inches apart as they continue to grow. Some carrots will be large enough to eat. When the carrot tops are 4 inches high, thin the plants to 2 inches apart. Water the plants as required to keep the soil moist to about 3 inches deep. Fertilize again when tops are 6 to 8 inches high if the tops become pale. Once the plants emerge, scatter 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per 10 feet of row beside the plants when the tops are about 4 inches high. Use a rake to mix the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. ![]() Fertilizingīefore planting carrots, scatter on the soil 1 cup of a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 for each 10 feet of row to be planted. High temperatures cause poorly colored, low-quality carrots.įigure 3. Night temperatures of 55 degrees F and day temperatures of 75 degrees F are ideal for carrots. 3).Ĭarrots grow best in cool temperatures of early spring and late fall. 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. Scatter 18 to 20 seeds per foot in the row. Using a hoe handle or stick, make one or two rows ½ inch deep on top of each prepared ridge. For a fall crop in other areas, plant them in August. In many South Texas areas, carrots can be grown all winter. In South Texas, plant carrots any time from July through February. Plantingīegin planting carrots as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. VarietiesĬarrot varieties that do best in Texas include Danvers 126, Danvers Half Long, Imperator 58, Nantes, Nantes Half Long, Red Core Chantenay, Royal Chantenay, Scarlet Nantes, and Sugar Snax. If the ridges are more than 1 to 2 feet apart, plant two rows of carrots on each ridge. Beds allow good movement of air and water through the soil.įigure 2. Smooth the soil and work it up into beds (Fig. Turn it completely over so all plant material is covered. Small, fine pieces of plant material can be turned under to enrich the soil. Remove all rocks, trash and large pieces of plant material from the soil surface. They will grow in some shade and do well in small gardens and flower beds. In heavy soils, they mature more slowly, and the roots are often rough and unattractive. Site selectionĬarrots do best in loose, sandy loam soils that are well drained. One foot of row will yield about 1 pound of carrots. For home planting, 5 to 10 feet of row per person should supply enough fresh carrots for table use. They can be served cooked or raw, by themselves or in salads or other dishes. New! Click or tap to view the new Growing Carrots guideĬarrots are an excellent source of vitamin A and add color to a meal.
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