Carrots, even organic ones, are so inexpensive it was honestly shocking to me how tricky they can be to grow. They were one of the vegetables it took me several tries to get right however. And just like most other veggies, homegrown just tastes better!
Here are the tricks I’ve learned over the years:
Carrots like fluffy, loose soil. We add lots of organic matter to our veggie bed every year. I avoid tilling, but I do use a fork to loosen the soil a bit. I also make sure the area is completely weed free. Then I add a layer of compost. I dig a furrow about 1/2 an inch deep and sprinkle my seeds about a 1/2 inch apart. I then sprinkle a little dirt on top of them, water them in, and cover the area w a layer of cardboard held in place w some rocks just until seeds germinate , I check them every other day or so. It is important to keep the area weed free and moist.
When carrots are a couple inches tall pinch the tops off to thin them without disturbing the other fragile plants. This part is hard to do (poor baby carrots ) but necessary to allow the other carrots to reach their potential!! When they are four or five inches tall thin again to about 2 inches apart, this time you can carefully pull them out and eat as a snack. When thinning be strategic and leave the healthiest looking plants in the ground.
If your soil is a bit compacted start out with varieties like French market (small and round) or Danvers half long.
I usually plant in March and then again in August. This gives me a midsummer harvest and also a harvest of winter carrots.
