Carrot

How to sow

Sow 2 cm, deep stone-free mix. Use peat-free coco. Keep the surface just moist.

Germination 10–21 days in the crop record.

Growing

1. Sowing — Day 0. Scatter tiny seeds thinly on moist compost. Cover with 1cm. Do NOT transplant — direct sow only.
2. Germination — Days 10–21. Keep moist. Fine, feathery seedlings appear. Do not disturb.
3. Seedling — Weeks 3–4. Thin to 3cm apart. Use thinnings in salad.
4. Root development — Weeks 4–8. Keep watering consistently. Do not disturb the soil surface.
5. Harvest — Weeks 10–12. Gently pull by the leaf base. Water the pot first to loosen soil.

Keep at or above 7°C where the crop record sets a floor.

Harvest

First cut around 10 weeks.

Gently pull by the leaf base. Water the pot first to loosen soil.

Common mistakes

• Pot too shallow — Carrots grow downward — they need 25cm+ depth or the roots fork and distort. Use the deepest pot available. Choose short-root varieties (Chantenay, Paris Market) for containers.
• Stony or lumpy compost — Stones and lumps cause the root to fork around the obstruction. Use fine, sieved, stone-free compost. Add sand for drainage.
• Transplanting — Carrots develop a taproot immediately — any disturbance forks the root. Always direct sow. Never start in a seed tray and move.
• Slow germination panic — Carrots take 10–21 days to emerge — one of the slowest common vegetables. Be patient. Keep soil moist. Mark where you sowed so you don't accidentally dig.

In the kitchen

• Roasted — Halve lengthways, toss in olive oil and cumin. Roast at 200°C for 25 minutes.
• Raw sticks — Cut into batons and eat with hummus. The simplest and most honest use.
• Carrot soup — Sweat with onion, add stock, blend. Finish with cumin and a swirl of crème fraîche.
• Grated salad — Grate with lemon juice, olive oil, and cumin seeds. Moroccan-style raw salad.
• Glazed — Simmer in butter, honey, and a splash of orange juice until sticky. Side dish for roasts.

Questions

Sources

1. Carrot Seed Pack
2. Coco Soil treatise
3. HubWīk contents
4. Grower knowledge + RHS Growing Guides