I’ve been growing carrots for about 2 years now with surprising success!!
(Not to toot my own horn)
Carrots are very easy to grow because they really don’t require much from you. And maybe that is an important lesson to learn. Less is more in the garden. Maybe we shouldn’t be adding all of these fertilizers, watering all the time, and spending hours weeding and pruning? We are just exhausting ourselves and working too hard. Maybe it should be as simple as planting the seed and waiting for harvest?
In this blog post, I will tell you all things carrots: from what variety I grow to preserving the harvest.
Let’s begin!
Carrot Planting Schedule
Living in zone 9a means I can plant carrots anywhere from late October to early February. Carrots like cooler weather and can withstand freezing temperatures. They don’t really like consistent hot weather.
Carrot Variety
The variety I like to grow is Danvers 126. I haven’t really ventured out to try any other varieties yet because these have done so well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?!
Soil – Is it important?
YES! The type of soil you grow your vegetables in is very important. Luckily, in Louisiana, we have great natural soil. It is typically a heavier soil that is full of good nutrients. Sometimes it can be a bit too dense so it’s good to mix in some lighter compost/soil to loosen it up. I have not attempted growing carrots straight in the ground.
Last year I grew carrots in a large wood barrel container filled with potting soil.
This year, I planted the carrot seeds in rows in a raised bed. The soil was a mixture of “raised bed garden soil” from Louisiana Nursery mixed with about 4 inches of Black Kow compost.
Direct Sow
Plant your carrot seeds directly in the soil you plan to grow in. Do not transplant carrots. Since they are a taproot, they don’t like to be disturbed.
Spacing
When planting your carrot seeds, space them about 2-4” apart and ¼” deep. The closer together you plant them, the smaller your carrots will be.
Water Water Water
Water those seeds in after planting. And make sure they stay moist until they germinate. You don’t want your seeds to dry out. Carrots take a couple of weeks to germinate. Stay patient!!
Once you see the little green tops coming out of the soil, you can stop watering so much. I water only about once a week after this. If it rains that week, I don’t water.
Wait
Now, put your feet up and relax. This is the waiting period. It takes about 2-3 months for carrots to mature.
Harvesting Time
After your carrots have been in the ground for 2-3 months, it’s time to see if they are ready for harvest. You can tell when your carrot is ready because the green stalk gets pretty thick at the base. About 1” wide right above the soil. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and pull one out to check on it. Tip: Harvest in the morning for optimal sweetness.
Now What?
Now that you’ve harvested your carrots. What do you do with them? The best thing to do is eat them fresh. Straight out the ground. I’m talking just take a bite out of it with the soil still on. Nothing tastes better than a dirty, homegrown carrot.
Cooking: I love to roast my carrots as a side dish for dinner, grate them and add to salads, or cut up and add to a yummy vegetable soup. I have yet to grow enough at one time, but one day I would like to try and make a carrot souffle.
Preserving: There are 2 ways you can preserve your carrots here in Louisiana. One is by cutting off the tops, brushing off the dirt, and storing them in a sealed container in your vegetable drawer of the fridge. This will keep them crisp for about a month or 2. The other way to preserve is to wash them, cut them up into slices, and blanch them for 3 minutes. Place them in a sealed container and add to the freezer. Later you can use them for soups or casseroles.
God has created this beautiful earth that will grow food for our bellies. Isn’t that wonderful?
Let’s greaux, together.