The Procedure for Planting Carrots

Soil Preparation

• Sites that get full, all-day sun result in the best carrot growth. Carrots require loose, well-draining soil for best germination and straight root formation. Working a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost into the soil and breaking up any large clods of dirt helps grow straight carrots. An application of fertilizer before you sow the seeds provides all the necessary nutrients for early growth. Generally, 1 cup of 16-16-8 fertilizer worked into the top 6 inches of every 25 square feet of bed is enough.

Sowing Seeds

• The carrot seeds can be sown when soil temperatures have reached 40 to 65 F, and they take between two and three weeks to germinate. When sowing the seeds, spread them thinly on the soil surface, sowing approximately one seed per 1 inch in rows set 12 inches apart. Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of fine soil or sand. The soil must stay moist until the seeds germinate, but water with a fine mist of water so it doesn't wash the seeds out of the bed. You may need to water daily so the top 2 inches of soil remain moist.

Thinning

• Once the carrots germinate, they will need thinning, otherwise the rows become too crowded for the roots to properly form. Thin carrots when they are 1 to 2 weeks old and begin to produce their true leaves. Pinch off the excess seedlings to remove them without disturbing nearby seedlings. The final spacing for carrots is 2 to 3 inches between each plant in the row. Prompt thinning prevents overcrowding and ensures the remaining carrots have the room necessary for healthy growth.

Basic Care

• Regular weekly watering keeps the soil sufficiently moist. Water carrots about once a week and supply enough water to moisten the top 6 inches of soil, or about 1 inch of water weekly. A 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch helps conserve soil moisture so it doesn't dry out as quickly. The carrots also benefit from a nitrogen fertilizer application when they are 6 weeks old. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of 21-0-0 fertilizer down each 10 feet of row, placing the fertilizer 6 inches away from the base of the plants. Watering after the application helps dissolve the fertilizer into the soil.