How to Thin Carrots

Thinning the carrot patch is one of the gardener's most tedious jobs. Here are some tricks I use to make it faster and easier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Fluid seeding carrot seeds

   The best way to thin carrots is not to sow them too thick in the first place! I have used "fluid sowing" with great success. The basics of fluid sowing is to pre-germinate the seeds and then suspend them in a carrier gel you make from cornstarch and water. You sow the seeds by squeezing the gel and seeds out of a plastic baggie. This allow you to place droplets of gel and seed at precise spacings. See my article on fluid sowing under Resources for more details on this technique.

2. A second way to sow carrots thinly and precisely is to mark off a 12" x 12" (square foot) block in the soil, then make 16 evenly-spaced, light depressions in the soil. Put two carrot seeds in each spot then cover and tend as usual. If both seeds in each spot germinate, you will only have to thin one, which is only 16 per square foot. The rest will then be perfectly spaced.

3. 
    

   Okay, you just broadcast the seeds and let them lie. Now you have some thinning to do. No worries! Just pick a day and time when you feel relaxed and patient. Then bring some sharp scissors or floral shears out to the carrot patch. Use the shears to snip the extra carrots off at the soil line, ensuring 2" between carrots you are saving. I set up a cadence and make very quick work of the process. Plus I can use the time to daydream, plan other crops, or think up new eHow articles!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't pull carrot seedlings when thinning; this can damage the roots of the plants you are saving.

Resources

• How to Fluid Sow Seeds
• How to Improve Carrot Seed Germination

[goldiec]

on 10/31/2009 Thanks for the great article on How to Thin Carrots. We have a big garden every year and I want to grow carrots next year because they are my favorite vegetable. 5*

[rkremer]

on 10/28/2009 I like the idea of growing them in squares. I always feel so guilty when I thin carrots--like I'm killing something I shouldn't! I got some huge carrots this year, but my not thinning them is always a problem.

[nancys123]

on 9/28/2009 Good info on thinning carrots. 5*

[awkword]

on 9/27/2009 I like my Grandmother's way. Wait until they show some orange at the soil-line. Pull the big ones, wipe them on Apron and eat them. In my case, it was...on pants. Loved Grandma's garden. :)

[sonni57]

on 9/27/2009 Great info on thinning carrots.