Carrots
Why You Want to Grow Carrots
• Easy winner – reliable, cool-season roots that grow well in most home gardens.
• Sweet, homegrown flavor – noticeably sweeter and crisper than store-bought carrots.
• Flexible growing seasons – plant in early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
• Small-space friendly – great for raised beds, shallow soil, and containers.
• Kid-friendly crop – fast germination and fun harvest make carrots great for children’s gardens.
• Soil-smart choices – short or blunt varieties handle heavier soils better than long, pointed types.
• Great beginner vegetable – simple care and clear harvest timing build gardening confidence.
Recommended Carrot Varieties
• Short ’n Sweet – Compact, sweet roots that perform exceptionally well in containers, raised beds, and heavier soils. A top choice for beginners and small gardens.
• Nantes Half Long – Blunt, cylindrical roots that resist forking and stunting, making them a dependable option for denser or clay-heavy soils. Smooth texture and excellent flavor.
• YaYa – Early-maturing, uniform carrots with a crisp bite and outstanding sweetness. Perfect for fresh eating and quick harvests when patience is in short supply.
How to Grow Carrots
• Planting: Direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or sow again in late summer for fall harvest. Sow seeds ¼" deep and lightly cover. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days
• Spacing: Thin seedlings to 2–3 inches apart once they are a few inches tall.
• Sun & Soil: Full sun to light shade; loose, stone-free soil produces the best roots.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during germination and root development.
• Fertilizing: Light feeding with Burpee Organic Tomato + Vegetable Granular Plant Food 3-6-4 before planting.
• Containers: Choose containers at least 8–10 inches deep for short varieties like Short ’n Sweet.
• Harvest: Pull when roots reach usable size; carrots taste best young and sweet. Loosen soil before pulling if ground is firm.
• Growing Tip: Avoid over-fertilizing and uneven watering to prevent splitting or poor root shape.
How to Use Carrots
• Fresh eating: Sweet and crunchy right out of the garden.
• Roasting: Brings out natural sugars with simple olive oil and herbs.
• Soups & stews: Adds sweetness and body to slow-cooked dishes.
• Grated salads: Perfect for slaws, carrot salads, and wraps.
• Juicing & smoothies: Homegrown carrots add natural sweetness.
• Pickling: Small or thin carrots are great for quick refrigerator pickles.
• Freezing: Blanch sliced carrots for easy long-term storage.
Quick kitchen tip: Short ’n Sweet carrots are ideal for snacking, roasting whole, or growing just for fresh pulling throughout the season.