How to Germinate Carrots

Germinate carrot seeds in the garden for best results.

Carrots are cool season root vegetables that germinate and grow best during the cooler seasons of spring and fall. Plant the seeds in spring after the soil beings to warm for a summer harvest, or in late summer for a fall harvest. The seeds are delicate and slow to germinate, taking up to two weeks before sprouts appear through the soil. Carrots are available in many varieties, with maturity dates ranging from 58 to 78 days, allowing you to select one that fits your desired characteristics and harvest time.

Things You'll Need

• Tiller
• Organic compost
• Row markers
• Hoe
• Clear polyethylene plastic, optional

Instructions

1. Loosen the garden soil with a tiller to a depth of 8 inches. Add 2 to 3 inches of organic compost and use a tiller to incorporate the amendment. Rake the soil smooth and remove all weeds and debris.

2. Mark row ends in the garden with sticks and then use the handle of a hoe to trace a line from one end to the other. Space the rows about 18 inches apart.

3. Sprinkle carrot seeds along the row with your fingers, keeping the small seeds thinly spaced, about an eighth-inch to a quarter-inch apart.

4. Sprinkle 1/4 inch of soil over the seeds and tamp lightly. Avoid compaction of the soil to prevent a reduction in germination and growth.

5. Sprinkle the soil with water to keep it moist for germination. Avoid heavy water application, which may wash the seeds away or push them too deep into the soil.

6. Thin 1-inch tall carrot sprouts by carefully pulling them out of the soil with your fingers so there are no more than three sprouts per inch of row space.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact a county extension office for a soil test kit the summer before planting carrots. The results of the test include recommendations for pH and nutrient amendments for the best results with growing carrots.

• Secure a sheet of clear polyethylene plastic over the planted carrot rows when sowing seeds in early spring. The plastic helps warm the soil and retain moisture to promote seed germination. Remove the cover once sprouts appear.

References

• University of Illinois Extension; Carrot; Ron Wolford, et al.
• University of Minnesota Extension; Growing Carrots and Other Root Vegetables in the Garden; Vincent A. Fritz; 2009