Growing carrots for the first time

[Gemma]

I grow all my veggies in pots, not due to lack of space but cause it works out better for me (no weeds= less labor) So far I've grown cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, zucchini, potatoes, herbs and lettuce, spinach, kale...this year I would like to try growing carrots, but I don't know the first thing about growing carrots, other than start the seeds in a deep tub, do you have any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[marlingardener]

Gemma, I've never grown carrots in a container, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
I wouldn't plant the long types, but there are shorter carrots that are delicious. In our heavy soil we plant Danvers Half-long. Scarlet Nantes grows to a length of about 6" and is good for containers.
If you are feeling adventurous, there is a "rainbow" carrot that comes in four colors. The rainbows all taste like carrots, but sliced fresh in a salad, the purple, red, white, and yellow make for visual interest!

 

[Robert Cummings]

Carrots do not like over fertile soil, it tends to make them leggy and tasteless, try to get cheap compost that has less nutrient than more expensive compost.

 

[Purrfluff]

If you use potting soil that is probably light enough for carrots. I read somewhere that they prefer sandy soil. Makes sense considering they are growing downwards.

 

[zigs]

The higher up you can get the container the better as the carrot root fly stays within a foot of the ground usually.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Sow later (June) to avoid the 1st larvae and harvest earlier (late Aug) to avoid 2nd brood.

 

[Gemma]

If you use potting soil that is probably light enough for carrots. I read somewhere that they prefer sandy soil. Makes sense considering they are growing downwards.

I buy my soil at the greenhouse where I get my plants, it's a mixture of peat mos and perlite, very very light, would that due?

 

[Gemma]

Sow later (June) to avoid the 1st larvae and harvest earlier (late Aug) to avoid 2nd brood.

even in zone 5?

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Oops sorry not sure how things work over your way @Gemma

Best listen to USA posters .....and not me!!!

 

[David from Dothan]

When planting carrots in my heavy soil, I create a tapered cavity where the carrot will grow, fill the cavity with sand then put the seed on top and lightly cover.

 

[marlingardener]

Gemma, peat moss and perlite isn't soil. Mix in compost or even bagged garden soil. You can plant carrots in your zone as soon as the soil can be worked (ground soil, not container soil!). I'm in zone 8 and we planted our carrots about a month ago. I'd think you could plant in late April.

 

[headfullofbees]

When planting carrots in my heavy soil, I create a tapered cavity where the carrot will grow, fill the cavity with sand then put the seed on top and lightly cover.

That's how I grow my parsnips.
My soil is so heavy, and our allotments so infested with carrot fly, that I've given up on conventional carrots in the ground. I grow lovely sweet chantenay carrots and finger carrots in bins, which are too high for carrot fly to reach.

 

[Silentrunning]

Carrots are my curse. In my many years of gardening I have never had a good crop. If the weather doesn’t get them the bugs do. This year I’m not even going to try. I will use the space for peppers.

 

[marlingardener]

Silent, one sign of a good gardener is knowing when to quit trying. I applaud your sensible decision to have a good pepper crop instead of failed carrots. I wish I had become as sensible as you earlier.
I have given up on growing pole beans. As much as I'd love to have pole beans (variety doesn't matter, I just want pole beans!) I tried for several years and met with dismal failure. Now I plant more bush beans.

 

[Purrfluff]

I am getting pelleted carrot seed. As I sow throughout the spring I'll report on the germination.

Carrots are a pain. This is my last shot at them. If this doesn't work I won't try again.