What's Up Doc?
Carrots are a popular root vegetable that are easy to grow in sandy soil. Most varieties of carrots are resistant to pests and diseases, and they are also a good late season crop that can tolerate frost. Carrots root is rich in sugar, and a great source of vitamins and carotene. Not all carrots are orange; varieties vary in color from purple to white! If there is a challenge to growing carrots, it is just have soil that is not too heavy ---or, you end up with carrots that have stunted round balls. Most carrot varieties need deep, loose soil. Carrots are grown from seed and take about four months to mature.
There are a few things to remember in planting carrots for large harvest. Gently mulch soil to retain moisture, speed germination, and block the sun from the roots. soil should be well drained and loose to prevent forking and stunning of the root growth. Once plants are an inch tall, thins so they stand 3 inches apart. Snip them with scissor instead of pulling them out to prevent damage to the root. Water at least one inch each week. Weed diligently. fertilize 5-6 weeks after sowing. Carrots taste much better after a couple frosts. Following the first hard frost in the fall, cover carrot rows with an 18 inch layer of shredded leaves to preserve them for harvesting later.
