CARROT


 

Soil Preparation 

  • In early September, prepare the soil of your raised bed or plot by pulling up weeds and any dead old plants.
  • Give it a dig over and break up any big clumps of soil and remove stones. (If your soil is heavy or sticky clay, go here)
  • Mix in sheep manure or compost mix to give the soil a boost in nutrients. 

Planting the Seed

  • Any time between September and mid February, create a shallow trench 2cm deep.
  • Lightly sprinkle seeds along the length of the trench, giving 30cm between rows.
  • Water seeds morning and night every day for 10 days, then once a day after that (no need to water if it rains!).
  • Seedlings will emerge in 10-21 days

More Tips

  • Choose a spot with plenty of sunshine.
  • After 30 days, thin out the carrot crop by pulling out the weaker looking seedlings, leaving 5cm between each remaining carrot. This will allow them to grow larger. 
  • Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent the roots from splitting.
  • After 10 weeks or when you can see the crown above the soil, pull up a carrot to check for size and harvest as you wish to eat.