by Tom Zink, Horticulturalist

Overview:
Carrots are a nutrient-dense root crop known for a sweet and crunchy texture. Eaten raw or cooked, carrots contain beta carotene, promoting better vision and skin health, as well as antioxidants, and fiber helping with digestion. It’s an excellent storage crop if kept in a root cellar or a cool dark place.

How to grow:
Carrots are a directly seeded crop. Plant in loose fertile soil with a pH range of 6.0-6.8 at 1” in-row spacing and 16” between-row spacing for intensive plantings. If using a seeder, you will be required to thin to the desired spacing.

Seasons to be grown:
Carrots prefer the cooler seasons to grow, but can be sown from early spring through fall. They benefit from frost, as this converts starches to sugar, making them sweeter and more flavorful. Summer carrots, while still edible, don’t have as intense a flavor. Starting a crop in late summer/early fall to overwinter will give you the best results in flavor.

Common pest and disease pressure:
Blights can reduce yield and quality. Alternaria blight shows as brown-black lesions edged with yellow on leaf margins. Cercospora blight first appears as small dark spots with yellow margins on the younger leaves and stems. To prevent blights, practice a three-year crop rotation. Copper is a good preventative/treatment for blights. Carrot rust flies and wireworms are the most common pests. These can be controlled with Bt and row covers. Along with insects, wildlife (like rabbits and deer) can harm a crop, so fencing is recommended.