While buying carrots from the grocery store is perfectly fine, you might also feel the need to use your green thumb to grow them yourself. Not only does it help you hone in your gardening skills, but it also allows you to cultivate sustainable growth in your very own backyard. Better yet, it can yield just as delicious carrots as those which are bought at the store.
In this article, we are here to help you figure out how you can get started with growing carrots, especially focusing on where do carrot seeds come from. We are here to answer all of your questions pertaining to carrots, and so without further ado, let us get started!
Where Do Carrot Seeds Come From?
Carrot seeds come from, evidently, carrots. More specifically, they come from the flowering tops and drop either when there is a strong wind or they are given a good shake.
When it comes to getting carrot seeds, you can choose to do so the natural way by finding carrots grown at the local, community garden and asking if you could obtain seeds that way or simply by purchasing them, already in packets, at your nearest gardening store. Either case, getting carrot seeds is super easy and accessible to just about anyone out there!
When Is the Best Time to Grow Carrots?
Typically speaking, carrots are hardy, sturdy crops, but to have them flourish their best, it is ideal to plant them just a few weeks before the last expected frost. Some other types of temperatures (e.g. Zone 8) require you to plant carrots around the fall and winter seasons.
Planting carrots during the cold months is the best strategy, for on average they take about 70 to 80 days to fully mature. That said, they should be ready for removing from the earth come the end of winter and the beginning of springtime to be cooked and eaten. They also keep really well until the next batch of frost of the year.
How Do You Plant Carrot Seeds?
The best way to plant carrot seeds in order to yield the best results is to make sure that the soil is loose and free of rocks. You first rake the soil to get rid of any debris before planting a cluster of seeds (three to six of them) together within a given space. Plant them in rows for better weeding.
Finally, you cover the seeds with a combination of compost and soil in a thin layer (no more than half an inch deep) so that the seedlings can come out as they are maturing and growing. Water them just enough to keep the soil moist but not overwhelmingly wet.
How Do You Take Care of Them?
When it comes to maintaining your carrots, it is simply a matter of watering and trimming them every once in a while to make sure that they are growing optimally.
Carrots normally do not need to have a lot of water to grow, but at the same time it is important that you water them a substantial amount when they are young and still growing just to make sure that the soil does not dry out. In other words, it is best to keep the soil moist for your carrots.
Giving the carrot tops a slight trim every so often helps to make it manageable for the vegetable to grow, as means of preventing it from getting too top-heavy. Weeds will be a common nuisance, so weeding will be a common task. Fertilizer well in the beginning of the growing cycle, just so you have your carrots off to the right start for cultivating and maturing.
Any Other Tips?
Just like with any other crop out there, carrots are especially susceptible to diseases, insect and bacterial infestation, and the risk of getting eaten by wildlife animals.
To combat all of these problems, it is encouraged to read up on the possible threats and take measures to prevent them. Whether it is a matter of planting resistant compost or covering the crops themselves, these actions will be the best step in protecting your carrots from dangerous outside forces.
Conclusion
Altogether, carrots are one of the easiest and most versatile crops out there, able to be planted and grown during the cold months while also keeping well as soon as they are harvested. Getting them as carrot seeds is a good step in sustainable gardening, and in the end can yield some pretty tasty carrots for you (and your household) to enjoy.
Happy gardening!
