How to Grow Carrots in your Vegetable Garden

Carrots are a great vegetable to grow in anyone's garden. They are easy to grow and as long as you follow the advice in this tutorial you should be able to produce great carrots every growing season.

Carrots work best in a raised bed garden where the soil is very loose. This gives carrots the ability to grow deep and develop.

Here is how you can grow great carrots in your vegetable garden.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   The first step to great carrots is preparation of the bed where the carrots seeds will be planted. Prepare the area by mixing in plenty of compost about three weeks prior to planting. You can also start preparing the area in the fall for the spring plantings by mixing in shredded leaves that have fallen during the autumn season.

2. Sow your carrot seeds a quarter to half inch deep. Any deeper and the seeds will have a tough time to push through to the surface when the seed germinates.

3. The ideal soil temperature for carrot seed germination is seventy five degrees Fahrenheit (twenty-four degrees Celsius). They will germinate in temperatures above and below, but for optimal germination, seventy-five will serve you well.

4. 
    

   Carrots grow best when the soil pH level is in the 5.5 to 6.5 range. You can test the pH level of your soil by purchasing a soil testing kit online or at most garden centers. They cost less than $10.

5. Sow your seeds at least two inches apart, in a given row, to give your carrots plenty of room to spread out and grow. Make sure you spread your rows at least six to eight inches apart.

6. Finally, make sure your carrots receive moderate watering. Monitor your rainfall so that you do not overwater, and water them first thing in the morning with a deep soaking, every few days.

Resources

• Online Home Vegetable Gardening Resource
• Vegetable Gardening Facebook Fan Page

[carolj1]

on 9/13/2009 I have no luck with carrots. I will try these ideas!