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

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.

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!

Herb Gardening For Beginners : Tips For Growing Herbs

There is no better reward than walking into your garden and picking up your own fresh, homegrown herbs. They are easy to grow and can add lots of flavors to your recipes without adding calories. You can use them in soups, salads, smoothies, sauces, stews, and dips. Herbs are mostly sown in spring in 2-3 intervals. You can grow them from seed or buy a baby plant from nursery or supermarket. They don't need much care and attention. You just need to feed them with good soil and place it somewhere where it can get plenty of sunlight and air, and water it regularly.

Beginner's guide for growing herbs in pots

While setting a herb garden first think and ask yourself what all herbs you want to grow? What are the climatic conditions of your place? Do you want to grow these herbs in a pot, container, garden or you want to set up your deck, patio or balcony. If you a growing them indoors, you should be able to control the environment in terms of humidity, sunlight and temperature. If you are a beginner, i would suggest try growing herbs in pots or containers.

Tips for growing herbs 

1. What Herbs Should I Grow

Make a list of what all herbs you want to grow. Do you want to grow them for culinary or medicinal purposes or both? There are so many herbs to choose from. You can grow whatever works for you. The purpose is to grow your own food. Just be creative and do a bit of research while growing your favorite herb. Below is the list of some of my favorite herbs;

Annual

Basil, Holy Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Garlic, Carom and Parsley

Perennial

Mint, Oregano, Chives, Lemon Balm, Sage, Lavender, Ginger, Thyme and Rosemary

2. Find a suitable location for a herb garden

You don't always need a large space to begin. You can start planting your herbs in a smaller area as well. You will be surprise to see so much can be grown in smaller places as well but this hugely depends on your climate, weather and soil.

3. Pick the right containers and ensure the drainage

Pick the garden containers with drainage holes to keep the sufficient place for the roots when they grow. There are varieties of pots to choose from. They are made of terracotta, metal, clay etc. I prefer choosing clay pots as they help in drainage and tend to dry out quickly.

Most of the herbs like Basil, Cilantro, Lavender etc. grow well in containers but herbs like Mint, Lemon Balm should be planted separately in pots or garden as they bushy and spread all over.

4. Pair herbs in same planter or plant them individually

You can group as many as herbs in one big planter or in several other small pots. This of course depends, if your herbs enjoy the similar climatic conditions. So, be careful and pick out the plants with similar growing requirements to grow in the same planter.

For example, Parsley and Basil enjoy the similar growing requirements, they love more water, you can pair them together in a same planter whereas, Rosemary and Thyme likes it dry, so you need to keep them separate in other planters.

5. Planting

If you are growing the herbs from seedlings than remember to read the packet instructions carefully. It will tell you about how to sow the seeds. You can also choose to purchase young healthy plants from the nearest nursery store or supermarket and then transfer the entire plant into the container, making sure that the roots are well planted.

6. Feed your plants

Feed them with good soil and place it somewhere where it can get plenty of sunlight and air, and water it regularly.

Soil

Herbs can thrive in garden soil but I prefer to use organic potting soil mix while planting them in pots or containers. Avoid using soil from the outside as it may be contaminated.

Sunlight

While planning your herb garden, choose a location where the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. The herb plants needs plenty of sunlight so keep your plants in a sunny location to grow well. You need at-least 4 to 6 hours of good sunlight until your herbs are ready to harvest.

For example, herbs like Rosemary, Thyme and Lavender, Oregano, Dill and Garlic perform best in full sun, whereas, herbs like Parsley, Mint, Chives and Lemon Balm requires partial sunlight and requires shade.

Water

Provide them with plenty of fresh water but be careful not to over water them. Certain herbs like Oregano and Rosemary prefer well drained soil. And, some herbs like Mint and Parsley like more moisture.

7. Harvesting

Harvest your herbs on time to ensure fresh growth and prune your plants regularly to keep them growing well. Good pruning keeps the plant bushy, green and healthy.

Like in case of Basil or Mint plants, you need to pinch off the top set of 2-3 leaves, this encourages them to have a bushy growth.


So, what are your favorite herbs? Do you grow your herbs in containers or do you set up your deck, patio or your balcony garden. How do you use herbs in your recipes? There are varieties of recipes you can try with your favorite herbs. Have you tried our mint-cilantro dip recipe yet? It's a tangy and exciting combination of mint, cilantro and raw mango along with a kick of green chilli. It pairs well with salads, chips and taste great when spread on sandwich and wraps. You are going to love it!

I hope you've enjoyed our first post in herb-gardening series and are inspired to create one!
Happy Gardening!