Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Carrots demand deep, loose, stone-free soil at pH 6.0–6.8. Sandy loam is ideal — clay causes forked, stunted roots. Before sowing, dig to 30cm deep, remove all stones and break up clods thoroughly. Avoid fresh manure, which causes forking. Sow seeds 6mm deep in rows 30cm apart; once 5cm tall, thin ruthlessly to 5–8cm between plants — overcrowding is the single biggest yield-killer. Germination is slow and patchy (14–21 days); sowing with radish seeds as row markers helps identify where carrots are germinating. Keep soil consistently moist until germination, then water deeply once or twice per week delivering 2.5cm — irregular moisture causes cracking. Feed with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser (5-10-10) once tops are 10cm tall; too much nitrogen pushes leafy growth at the expense of roots. A light frost improves flavour by converting starches to sugars. Sow in early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
