Sunday, March 29, 2020

Planting, Growing and Harvesting Carrot


Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Carrot

Carrot is the food root vegetable grown and consumed throughout the world. Carrots love to grow in a cool temperature just like Radish, Beet, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Leek and many other root vegetables.

There is something special about homegrown produce. Lately, I grew these carrots in my containers. These are some beautiful carrots which I picked up today. Chunky, long and straight.

Carrots are very versatile in various number of dishes. It has a crunchy texture and a sweet taste to it. The color of the carrot is usually red, orange and yellow. They are due to pigments, carotene which makes the carrot orange and anthocyanin makes it bit yellow, red and blue. Here's a step by step guide on how to to grow, plant and harvest carrots from seeds in a pot or a container



Carrot is the food root vegetable grown and consumed throughout the world. It has a crunchy texture and a sweet taste to it.



Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Carrot - Here's a step by step guide on how to to grow, plant and harvest carrots from seeds in a pot or a container.

1. Grow Carrot in a Pot


I'm growing red carrots which is very common here in India. They are very easy to grow in winters. It's a cool weather crop. It prefers well-drained, moist and rich soil. Buy a 6 inches deep round container with holes while sowing carrots in containers.

While growing carrot in a pot you may plant 5-6 seeds in one single pot. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil, and water them gently. It needs well drained soil which are free from rocks. Sprinkle pinches of seeds thinly along the row and cover the seeds with soil. 

Take the containers or pots and fill them with well-drained potting mix by adding compost, manure or any other fertiliser before planting. Soil should be well drained and need to be free of rocks.

I generally grow carrots from the seeds. You can buy these seeds from the nurseries or even order them online. They need to be sown in late spring season, after the threat of frost has been passed.


2. Plant Carrot in a pot


Sow carrot seeds ½ inch to 1 inch deep and about ¾ inch to 1 inch apart. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil, and gently lamp down to firm. It needs well drained soil which are free from rocks. When your plants are 4 inches high, the carrots are ready to harvest.

When growing in carrot in a pot you may plant 5-6 seeds in a pot or containers while growing carrots. Sow the seeds very thinly over the top than cover with the quarter inch (1 cm) layer of potting soil.  Lightly water them in every 1 to 3 days.



Step by step guide on how to grow, plant and harvest Carrot from seeds in a pot or container.



3. Caring of Carrot


Carrot need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Water the plant regularly so that the soil do not drive out too quickly. After 2 weeks the roots will come up you need to give the support to the carrots with soil from all the sides so that they grow straight and healthy.

The plant will take 2 months to mature. After 1 month, put some fertiliser, compost or manure into the soil. To help your carrots grow as long as possible, soil surface should be cleared. It should be fertile, healthy, sandy and well-drained. It should be well dug, by removing any stones and rocks, as it tends to impede your carrots growth. 

The flies which can destroy the roots of carrots can be protected by alternatively growing companion plants such as leeks with carrots. Keeping the soil moist will help can also avoid this. Carrots doesn’t need additional feeding but needs organic mulching and fertilisers in the soil, after every 6-7 weeks, so that they remain healthy.


4. How to Harvest Carrot


If you have planted your carrots into the fall it’s best to harvest in winters. When your plants are 4 inches high. You may find that the carrots are large enough to eat.

Carrots take almost 2 months to get the first harvest after planting. Lift the carrots as they as soon as they reach the right size.


Storing and Preserving Carrot


Carrots can be kept in the refrigerator for at least 1 week or can be stored in damp sand boxes which can be kept in a cool, dark place.


How to use Carrots in cuisines


Carrots can be eaten both in raw and in every cooked forms. It can be pickled, stir fried, soups, smoothies, patties, salads and various other cuisines.


Health Benefits of Carrots


Carrots are low in calories and contains no fat. They are rich in Vitamin A, B8, C, L, Folate, Potassium, Iron, Copper and Manganese. Vitamin A keeps eye, skin, hair healthy. Vitamin C stimulates the activity of white blood cells. Potassium helps to increase blood flow and circulation, reduces hypertension and heart diseases. Other nutrients and minerals prevent to fight Cancer and keeps your body healthy.

I hope you loved our tips on Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Carrots and other useful information too. Do, let us know in the comment section below.

You can also go through our tips on Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Radish.

Happy Gardening!
Namaste!