Growing Carrots from Seed

Carrots seeds are best sown in autumn however carrot seeds can be planted up until the start of summer, and can be sown directly from seed. Carrots can be slow to germinate and then take 9 - 18 weeks to reach a stage where they are ready to eat.

Purple Carrot Seeds

Very popular and we think very tasty 'Purple Carrots' are actually close to the original carrot, the orange ones are the 'new ones'. Purple carrots can reliably be grown from seed and are well worth a try in the home garden. These carrots go under a number of names including Puple Haze, Purple Dragon and Purple Rain, (some are hybrids) they all differ a little in actual color so check them out before you order. Yellow carrots are also available.

Sowing Carrot Seeds

Carrots really need a well dug friable loose soil to prevent forking of the root itself. Make sure you remove any stones or roots. Another trick with carrots is not to provide them to rich a soil, with many vegetable we dig in lots of manure and compost, with carrots a good sandy loam will do the job with some well rotted compost mixed in, stay away from using lots of manure. So if your soil is not loose and free draining try digging in some washed builders sand, this opens up the drainage and lets the carrots grow straight down.

• Soak carrot seeds before planting to improve germination, soak in warm water for 6-8 hours and then sow directly.
• Some growers freeze seeds for 3 weeks before planting to increase germination.
• Plant seeds into a well dug loose soil and cover lightly
• Thin seedlings, carrot seeds are very small and are often sown to thickly, so be prepared to thin them after germination.
• Carrot seedlings are vulnerable to slugs and snails, so provide protection.
• Carrots like water, but not wet soggy soil, water in the morning
• Sow carrots in spring to summer in the open, or try late winter if you have a greenhouse. Sow seed directly and thin to prevent overcrowding.