Long before carrots were considered as something to be consumed every day, they were first recognized as a medicine. Which means, carrots are really that healthy for the body. That’s why in this article, we are going to talk about the different kinds of carrots and how to grow them on your own so that you will have an endless supply of this healthy vegetable.
Types of Carrots
- Baby Carrots – Baby carrots are a small variety of carrot. They are not immature carrots because immature carrots have no taste. Baby breed carrots have full flavor, and they only come in smaller sizes compared to other breeds of carrots. They are perfect for planting if you have a small garden area.
- Chantenay – This breed of carrot is short and fat in appearance. The only difference they have with the baby carrot is that they are a little broader at the top. Chantenay carrots are perfect to plan if you want to store carrots over the winter.
- Danvers – This type of carrot is a middle of the road breed carrot. Danvers is longer compared to the Chantenay, that’s why if you’re looking for a medium-sized carrot, then this type is the right one for you.
- Imperator – This is the traditional carrot, and you can see this type at any supermarket. It has a long and slender look along with a pointed tip. Imperator carrots are sweeter compared to other carrot types because they have higher sugar content.
- Purple Carrots – This type of carrot has a dark red to violet skin, orange flesh, and yellow core. Purple carrots are famous for their sweet flavor. However, they can be quite peppery, too.
- Red Carrots – As their name imply, red carrots have reddish or pink skin and flesh. That’s why if you want to add more color to your diet, you might want to consider mixing some red carrots on your salad next time.
- Round Carrots – If you have shallow planters or smaller space to plant carrots, then round carrots might be right for you. They have the same size and shape as radish, and they are perfect for growing in your backyard because they are not picky when it comes to soil types.
- White Carrots – True to its name, white carrots have white skin and flesh. It’s quite a unique type of carrot, and it is known for its sweet and mild flavor.
- Yellow Carrots – Just like any other colors of carrots, this type of carrot is true to its name because it is yellow from the skin to the core.
How to Grow Carrots and Take Care of Them
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have loose and rock-free soil. To accomplish this, you need to double dig their space or grow them in a raised bed. Carrots are perfect for container gardening also. If you think your soil feels heavy and you think that it would be hard to grow carrots in it, just add the right amount of compost in it. To plant carrots, you will need a simple gardening set such as a trowel, cultivator, and transplant trowel. If you don’t have this equipment, then a right backhoe can do.
After making sure that you have the right soil and equipment, the next thing you want to do is to make sure that you plant your seeds three weeks before the last frost date. After that, you plant again every two to three weeks, then about two to three months before the first expected fall frost. Then you’ll stop because it takes 70 to 80 days for carrots to reach their maturity.
Once you have gone over the soil with a rake and you remove lumps or rocks in it, you can begin to plant your seed in rows. This is because planting the carrots in rows makes it easier to weed and maintain. Just make sure that you sow about six seeds at a time and keep them at least an inch apart of each other. In about one to three weeks, you will need to go back through them and thin them. While you’re waiting for germination to happen, you can plant a few quick-growing radishes at the end of each row to mark it. Remember, the soil needs to be moist so that the germination can happen. Also, make sure to water your carrots gently, so you don’t wash your seeds away.
When you see the tops of the carrots reach about two inches tall, it’s about time to thin them to about one inch apart. After two weeks, you may need to thin your carrots again to around three to four inches apart.
Finally, if you begin to see any crowns popping up through the soil, all you have to do is cover them with a little bit of mulch or soil to keep them from turning bitter and green. That’s about all the things you need to remember when it comes to planting and taking care of your carrots.