ABOUT CARROTS
Carrots are usually grown in rows and the fine green leaves make a good display. Depending on the variety of carrot grown the roots can range from 1” to 8” long.
This is a crop that can be grown all year round (as is the leek) and carrots will grow in all conditions except extreme heat. Carrots should be used in a crop rotation system with leeks, parsnips, onions, garlic and other root crops.
There are long-rooted, stump-rooted and cylindrical carrots and which you choose to grow is your own preference. However if you are sowing outdoors the type may be distcated by your soil depth (heavy or stony soil need the stump-root or cylindrical variety)
Early varieties are faster cropping than the maincrop variety so if sowing in March/early April or late july then choose an early variety and a maincrop if sowing late april or May.
INGREDIENTS
Fleet Rootrainer Trays
Carrot seed
Good compost mixture
Water
METHOD
Carrots should be sown directly into the garden but can be sown in the Fleet Rootrainer propagation tray and transplanted when they reach a suitable size.
It is a good idea to mix the seed with river sand and pour it into seed drills. The sand seems to help germination but because of its draining properties ensure that they get enough water.
Carrots have one of the longest periods of germination (over 3 weeks) and it thus necessary that they are kept well watered during this period.
It is a good idea to intersperse the rows of carrots with rows of onions or garlic – the smell will keep pests away from the carrots.
Once the seedlings are about 2” tall they should be thinned out to about 1” apart and when 6” tall to 2” apart. At this stage excessive or overwatering should be avoided as it will tend to crack the roots.
As with leeks, carrots need 4 to 5 months to achieve their full size. The beauty of the carrot is that it can be used from baby to full grown for such a variety of foods.
Carrot foliage attracts the Carrot fly and eggs are laid around the base of the plant. The grubs burrow into the roots and either disfigure or destroy the crop. A sign of attack is reddish foliage.
ABOUT PARSNIPS
Parsnips look like white carrots and like the carrot should be sown directly into the garden in the same way that carrots are sown and thinned out to the same distances as with carrots. Parsnips, like carrots can easily be sown into the Fleet Rootrainer propagation tray and transplanted when reaching a suitable size).
Remember if you still have carrots and parsnips in the ground by mid-November they should be lifted before the heavy frosts and they can be stored in a cool place for up to 5 months.
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