With a roomy gage , you’re able to grow carrot just about anywhere , admit on a balcony or patio .
Cameron Sadeghpour
Although most gardener train carrots in their in - ground gardens , there are some definite reward togrowing carrotsin containers . container protect Daucus carota sativa ascendant from burrowing pestssuch as field mouse . They are also asmart root for small spacesand gardens with miserable or bouldered soil .
Credit:Cameron Sadeghpour
If you ’ve ever had deformed , or forked carrots because you grew them in a rocky garden layer , you may want to try growing these radical veg in pots alternatively . Whether you have a garden , patio , or balcony , here are wide-eyed tips for successfully growing carrot in a container .
1. Choose a Sunny Location
carrot needfull sun , which mean at least six to eight hours of sunshine day by day . One of the good thing about produce carrots in containers is that you may move pots around if the blot develop too shady as the season progresses .
2. Use a Deep Container
The mountain should be at least 10 to 12 inches deep for carrot motley with short , rounded roots and at least 20 inches deep for long varieties .
Grow bags are a good option for carrot as they drain well , are comparatively deep , and fall in an assortment of size . According to the formula ofsquare - foot gardening , a individual 12 - inch - wide grow bag accommodates up to 16 Daucus carota sativa plants . Another choice for growing carrot are large terra - cotta or plastic pot , or solid food - safe charge plate bucket , as long as they have large drain hole in the base .
3. Select Short Carrot Varieties
turgid , deep planter accommodate any carrot variety . However , carrot with myopic , rounded roots such as ‘ Adelaide ’ , ‘ Chantenay ’ , and ‘ Parisian ’ are particularly well - suited for shallower container .
4. Use Well-Draining Potting Mix
sate the container with a dirt - destitute potting mix that ’s loose , well - draining , and robust in food . Garden soil is too dense for container growth , but soil - detached potting mixes are just the right consistency to support developing carrot roots . To add up nutrients and improve drainage , blendsome compostinto your potting mixing .
5. Plant in Cool Weather
carrot arecool - time of year veggiesthat are typically planted outdoors as soon as the soil is workable , or about two to three weeks before thelast hoar appointment of leap .
For a uninterrupted harvest , succession plant seedsevery two to four weeks from spring until the weather condition gets hot in midsummer . Carrots do n’t grow well in hot weather , but seeds can be planted again in late summer to former drop for a fall harvest .
6. Plant Seeds at the Right Depth
carrot do n’t wish to have their tooth root touch , so they are always straight - seeded . Sow carrot seed 1/4 inch deep , space them about 1½ to 3 inch asunder .
To make the good use of your container space , industrial plant seed in a grid - corresponding pattern .
7. Prevent Soil Crusting
dirt that dries develop a crust on the open , making it much harder for carrot seeds to spud . To avoid this , sprinkle a easy layer of compost or backbone over the top of your container garden after planting carrot seeds , or contribute a small straw mulch .
Planting Raphanus sativus as companion plantsalso keeps the soil from crust ; faster - growing radishes will germinate first , give way up any crusts for the later - sprouting carrots .
8. Water Often
After planting , keep the soil moist at all time . Carrots grow in containers typically need to be watered more often than plants uprise in an in - soil garden bottom , although that count on the type of plenty you employ . turn bags and terra - cotta pots usually dry out quicker than plastic container , so it ’s best to experience the stain before water to ensure you do n’t overdo it . A good ruler of thumb is to water carrot when the top column inch of grease feel teetotal .
9. Thin Out Extra Seedlings
One of the leading reason why Daucus carota sativa develop spindly roots is overcrowding , so thin out extra Daucus carota sativa seedling when the plants are a few inch improbable .
After being thinned out , carrots that develop wide , blocky roots should be spaced about 3 in asunder , while assortment with more slender ascendant do just fine with 2 - in spacing .
Cut off surplus seedlings with scissors to avoid disturbing the remaining cultivated carrot roots , and use the seedlings you remove asmicrogreens on saladsor sandwich .
10. Fertilize Lightly
Although carrots are light feeders , they are more fertile with a bit of plant food . For best results , desegregate some compost into the potting mix before planting , and then inseminate the carrots approximately once every four to six weeks with abalanced , liquid organic fertiliser .
Mixingbone mealinto your planting containers before sowing seeds also helps carrots grow even better .
11. Harvest When Mature
Carrots can be reap as shortly as they pass a usable sizing , although most varieties grow full in about 50 to 80 days .
When it ’s time toharvest Daucus carota sativa , gently hand - displume the root one at a meter or glean them all at once by dumping the grow container on a tarpaulin .
After harvest home , snip away the carrot greens and store the carrots in the electric refrigerator for a week or two , or suspend , dry , or can them .
