Your Vegetable Garden: Growing Carrots

When I was very young, I played a song called "The Carrot Seed" on our kid-sized record player The song was basically an early version of an audio recording, giving a shortened version of the book of the same name. The song described a little boy who planted a carrot seed, and waiting patiently for it to grow. No one else believed that the seed would grow. The end of the song described the little boy's triumphant success as his carrot finally grew.

Growing carrots in your home garden takes some preparation and patience, but success can be yours in the end!

Soil preparation is key when planting carrots. Since we're eating the root of the plant, it's important that you plant your carrot seeds in a well-drained, sandy soil. A few weeks before planting, dig up the soil and make sure it's a light, crumbly mixture in your hand.

Add plenty of fine organic material to your soil before planting (make sure it's rotted well, without any large pieces). Remove any stones, twigs, or toys the kids have left out in the garden. If your growing carrot encounters thick soil (like clay), or obstructions (like a Tonka truck), you're going to dig up twisted carrots in a few months.

Most home gardeners prefer short carrot varieties, especially with less than ideal soil conditions. Like most vegetables, you're going to plant according to the Hardiness Zone you live in. Check out the planting recommendations for your zone on the back of the package. Carrot seeds will germinate in temperatures as low as 40 degrees, but grow better in temperatures reaching 50 degrees.

Seedlings are usually bought in a paper envelope or on a strip of growing material. The strips are extremely easy to use, with the seeds embedded in the growing material. All you have to do is lay the strip into a shallow (3/4 inch) row. To plant loose seeds manually, pour a small amount of seeds into your palm and pinch a few at a time, sowing the seeds about one inch apart. Try not to let them bunch together, as you'll have to think them later.

Seedlings should appear in two or three weeks. (This is the patience part of your song.) Thin plants when they're about one inch high. (You don't want your carrots to crowd each other out.)

Depending on the variety you've planted, your carrots will be ready to eat in 70-100 days. (This is another patient part of your song.) You know it's time to harvest when the foliage on the top begins to dry out. You can use your hands if the soil is loose enough, or use a small hand shovel. Be careful as you harvest the tender carrots - it's a sad day when you snap a carrot in two trying to dig it up. For heavier soil, using a larger shovel to dig deeper will help ensure you bring up the entire carrot.

If you want to harvest carrots throughout the summer, plant new rows at 3 week intervals. Enjoy the success of your hard work - carrots are great to eat raw or cooked. Rich in vitamin A, these vegetables are a great addition to even the smallest of backyard gardens.