Growing Great Carrots: Checklist

Sun: 6 hours or more.

Sowing: sow directly, 2 to 3 weeks before last frost. Carrots hate transplanting.  Thin ruthlessly for respectable sized carrots

Soil: deep, loose, stone-free, pH 6.0 to 6.8. Stones and clods make forked carrots.  Add compost NOT sand to heavy soils.  Likes well rotted chips.  

No fresh manure: it causes forked, hairy roots. Use well-rotted compost only.

Germination: seeds can take 2 to 3 weeks. Keep the surface moist the whole time.  Some recommend a board over seeds while sprouting, but often the board disrupts the tiny seedlings.  Patience is the key.  Water, weed and wait.

Thin: to 2 to 3 inches apart once seedlings are a few inches tall.

Water: Deeply, weekly.  Dry spells encourage them to dive deep, but don't let them dry then soak them or carrots will split.

Cover: insect netting keeps out carrot rust fly.  Planting a tomatoe in between the rows also works.  

Shoulders: cover exposed tops with soil or mulch, or they turn green and bitter.

Rotate: 3 years.