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Newbie on growing carrots

Posted by weew Summer (My Page) on
Thu, Apr 14, 05 at 12:03

Hi Folks,
I am planning to grow some carrots, but i have few question which need advice and answer.

1. Where to find seed for "baby" carrot? is it pull them out when the carrot 'not mature' yet?
2. Can I use the soil that have been planted tomato?
3. I read some where that carrots can be harvest when the roots reach 1.5inc, if I harvest when the root is just less the 1 inc, will it be ok?

Thanks for those who answer.

Weew


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Newbie on growing carrots

First of all, carrots like loose soil. Any obstructions to their roots, such as clay, stones, or even chunks of organic matter in the bed will cause their roots to fork or not develop properly. If you don't have those conditions, you can try those short, round carrots that don't go deep.

I grow 'Mokum' for baby carrots. Seed can be found at Johnny's or Pinetree Seeds. A true "baby carrot" is one that is picked when young. If left to grow, it will grow as large as any others. So you can really grow any carrots and just pick them small. But it does take approx. 2 months, at least, from the time you plant the seed, before the baby carrot is harvestable.

The "baby carrots" sold in the grocery store were not really babies at all. They are cut that way from large carrots. You will really appreciate the difference in taste when you grow your own young carrots.

Yes, you can plant carrots where tomatoes were previously. Add some fine compost to refresh the soil.

They can take a long time to germinate, and the bed needs to be kept moist until they do. I place boards over the rows to keep the moisture in, lift them up to check every few days, and when they start to sprout, remove the boards.


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RE: Newbie on growing carrots

  • Posted by weew Summer (My Page) on
    Sat, Apr 16, 05 at 0:10

Thanks veilchen for your very useful info.

How about if my area can't get those 'small' varieties plant to enable me to have the baby carrot, can I use those "big" variesties to place that? I read that if the carrot is pull out to early, the colour and the taste will be bad, it is that truth? any advice for me that I can have baby carrot(To shorten the time and repeat planting) using "big" variesties carrot's seed.

Thanks

Weew


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RE: Newbie on growing carrots

Yes, you can use any variety and pick it young. 'Mokum' is not really a small variety, just one that does well when it's picked at baby stage. If left to grow 'Mokum' can get quite big.

When picked too early, the carrot is more yellow than orange and doesn't have much flavor developed. I can't give you a time frame as to how long it will take before you have optimum baby size and flavor, you just have to pull one out now and then to see.


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RE: Newbie on growing carrots

It's also crtitical that you thin the carrot seedlings when they grow to an inch or two above the ground. The seeds are so small that it's difficult to space them evenly and they won't grow correctly if they are too crowded.


 
 

 

 


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