How To Grow Carrots From Seed: 5 Easy Steps
Growing carrots from seed lets us choose our favorite heirloom, organic, and conventional varieties and grow them in numbers for yields all season. Dedicating a patch or tucking them in among other plants makes the small-space crops versatile in garden locations. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores how to grow carrots from seed for bright, colorful roots this summer.
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Carrots, packed with vitamin A and beta carotene, bring a sweet flavor and crunchy goodness. They’re relatively easy to grow and take up little space in the garden. They grow and sweeten in the cool seasons of spring and fall and are somewhat heat-tolerant as they withstand cool-to-warm transitions.
As root vegetables, carrots help aerate soils in addition to their fresh or cooked culinary additions. There are those best for fresh eating or cooking and those with long storage times. They grow in a variety of colors, lengths, and thicknesses for diversity on the plate, harvested young or at maturity for the best flavor.
Late winter and early spring are prime for direct sowing seeds for an early summer harvest. Sow successional rounds to keep them coming until fall’s first frost. With a few simple steps, growing carrots from seed easily yields a viable crop.
Growing Carrots From Seed
Carrots (Daucus carota) are compact root vegetables that do well with direct sowing in spring before the last frost. In warm climates, sow them in late summer or fall for overwintering. The cool-season crop sweetens after a few freezes.
As root vegetables, carrots have long tap roots that become the starchy, flavorful, edible component we want to foster. Because the taproot is sensitive to transplant disturbance, seeding them directly in their garden location is ideal. Sow these in place, where they develop undisturbed, to avoid misshapen carrots. They grow well in prepped soils, pots and containers, and raised beds.
Carrot seeds are tiny, narrow, and challenging to distribute evenly. They’re available bare or pelletized with a protective coating that makes them larger and easier to work with. The clay-based coating naturally breaks down with regular moisture after sowing.
Prep the Best Site and Soil
Soil is one of the most essential site components for healthy carrots. They develop the best in organically rich, loose soils. Light, sandy loams provide easy movement for even root development. In dense soils like clay, taproots have to work to create growing space.
Carrots can grow in clay soils as long as they’re well-drained and not compacted. In dense soils, the taproots may become misshapen, bent, twisted, or forked as the roots seek nutrients and water. Turn and loosen the soil to a foot deep for best success. Remove rocks and clumps that become impediments to the lengthy, fibrous roots.
At planting, amend the soil with compost, leaf mold, or other organic matter to improve texture, aeration, moisture retention, drainage, and nutrition. Good drainage is essential to healthy development. Carrots prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Situate them in full sun for the best growth. Adding to their versatility, they also tolerate partial shade, with four or more hours of sunlight daily.
Direct Sow Carrot Seeds
Working with a prepped and weed-free site, direct sow carrot seeds two to four weeks before the anticipated last frost date or when soil temperatures are at least 45°F (7°C). The best germination occurs when soil temperatures reach 60-75°F (16-24°C). They can take up to three weeks to germinate and fully develop a few weeks later. They’ll germinate sporadically over the course of those early weeks; sowing more than you need ensures enough seedlings.
In cool climates with mild summers, sow successional rounds every three weeks up until 10 to 12 weeks before fall’s first frost.
Seeds benefit from a very light soil cover. Sow them at ¼ inch deep with one-inch spacing. Since the seeds are small, do your best to disperse them lightly in a single row to thin them later. For pelletized seeds, aim for a seed every two to four inches. Less thinning is necessary with this spacing. If planting in rows, space them 6 to 12 inches apart (or more, depending on the variety).
Tend and Thin Seedlings
Carrot seedlings emerge with two fine-bladed leaves before developing their first feathery true leaves. Because of their delicate leaves, they can face challenges in popping up through the soil if the surface becomes weighty or crusty (usually from drying after heavy rain or irrigation). Keep the soil surface moist to promote sprout emergence.
Seedling spacing is important for overall growth, including the best yield and flavor. When seedlings reach one to two inches tall, thin them to about three inches apart (increase the spacing for larger varieties). Thinning allows room for mature leafy growth as well as root development. Preventing overcrowding reduces competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Proper spacing also means plenty of air circulation, making fungal diseases from damp and crowded leaves less likely.
Choose the most vigorous seedlings at the appropriate spacing and clip the excess seedlings at their base. Clipping (rather than pulling) avoids root disruption of the remaining seedlings.
Irrigate, Weed, and Fertilize
Consistent moisture promotes the best root development and flavor. About one inch of water per week (rainfall and irrigation) is usually sufficient. For even moisture, water loamy compositions deeply about once per week, and sandier textures twice a week. Fluctuations in water cause stress, and growth slows as a means of conserving energy. Changes between wet and dry conditions contribute to disorders like stunting, splitting, cracking, and decreased flavor.
Mulch around the upper leafy growth to help maintain moisture and regulate temperature. A three-inch layer of weed-free straw or other material also helps suppress weeds, which compete with carrots for resources. Keep weeds at bay as they spring up to avoid damage and disruption to the taproots. A light, shallow cultivation while they’re weed seedlings keeps them from interfering with the forming carrots.
As they grow, carrot “shoulders” sometimes push up out above the soil line. Hill or mound soil over the exposed tops to keep them from turning green with sun exposure.
With rich, organic soils, additional fertilizers may not be necessary. To give the developing seedlings a boost, apply an organic granular (like 5-5-5 or 10-10-10) at planting. Fish emulsion as leafy upper infill provides a low-grade, nitrogen-rich application.
Pair With Companions
Carrots make good partners with a number of crops, herbs, and flowering plants. Beneficial companion plantings improve growth and repel pests.
Carrots are an easy pairing with radishes. Plant seeds of both in the same patch. Radishes are quick-growing and break through the crusty upper soil, making way for carrot seedlings to emerge. The fast-appearing leaves also mark the planting site as a placeholder before the other sprouts crop up. Harvesting the radishes loosens the surrounding soil so that the carrot roots can continue developing.
