Carrots

Carrots are one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow in your own garden because there is nothing like the flavor of a carrot that is freshly harvested. It is a flavor you can't find in the store - sweet, crunchy, earthy, and delicious!

Site selection

Carrots grow best in deep, loose, and well-drained loamy soil with good organic matter content. If you have heavy clay or very shallow soils you might consider building raised beds for certain vegetables such as carrots. 

Planting

Planting dates for Western Oregon
March - August 
Plant early season varieties in March for late spring/early summer harvest. 
Plant long season and storage varieties in summer for fall and winter harvests. 
Carrots taste best when harvested during cooler weather. 

Direct seed
Carrots should be seeded directly in the garden. Transplanted carrots will be forked and misshapen due to taproot restriction. Plant carrot seeds 1/4" deep and prevent the soil from drying out or crusting over. Carrots need consistent moisture to germinate, which should occur within 14 to 21 days.  Thin seedlings to 3/4" or 1" apart to allow carrots to fully develop.

Harvesting

Harvest carrots when they reach the desire size. For  spring/summer harvests it is important to harvest fairly quickly to avoid carrots that crack or become woody. In fall and winter the harvest period can be drawn out because the carrots do not grow as fast and hold up better in cooler soils. 

Recommended varieties
Click on each variety to learn more

Danvers 126 (Eden Brothers)

Kyoto Red (Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.)

Mokum F1 (Territorial Seed Co.)

Scarlet Nantes (Territorial Seed Co.)