Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The beautiful, aromatic umbels of carrots are dried by hanging upside down.
GROWING FOR SEED
Carrots should not be sown too early when growing for seed, unless earliness is
a trait you would like to select for. Keep in mind that carrots should develop to their full eating ripe-
ness at the time they are dug up in autumn, so early-ripening varieties should be planted relatively late
(early summer) and late-ripening varieties should be planted a week or two before the last spring frost.
If early carrots are sown too early, there are consquences: they are overly ripe in autumn (and thus will
not store well), they are difficult to select, and they do not grow well when replanted in the spring.
Ideally, carrots sown for propagation are harvested as late in autumn as possible and are ripe at the
same time as eating carrots. This is when the first selection takes place. Store undamaged, clean roots
in a frost-proof root cellar and cut the tops (green vegetative growth) back to 1-2 in. (3-5 cm) above
the crown of the root. It is of utmost importance not to damage the crowns. Carrots will need protec-
tion from drying out and too much warmth throughout the winter, the optimal conditions being
33-38°F (1-3°C) and 90% humidity. A second selection of plants occurs just before planting these
carrots out again the following spring: be ready to appraise their longevity in storage and maintenance
of taste and lushness.
Roots can be planted out in the spring as soon as the snow has melted and the ground is more or less
dry (early to mid spring). A hardening-off period of a few days is recommended to let the carrots
slowly adjust to sunlight after a whole winter in the dark. Carrots are vulnerable to drying out at this
point, especially if the soil is relatively sandy, so be sure to water adequately and perhaps provide
shade from the sun and ground cover to protect from the wind. The ideal conditions for planting out
are cloudy, mild temperatures, little to no wind, with rain coming right after planting.
Plant spacing: 16-25 in. (40-65 cm) between rows, 8-12 in. (20-30 cm) within the row, depending
upon size of the variety. Plant roots such that only the crown is visible and the roots are well anchored
and vertical in the ground. Once they have begun to grow, they will need to be weeded two or three
times. With the last weeding, build up soil around the base of the stems to provide more stability. The
flowers will need support, but it is not necessary to support each individual plant. Sink a post every
20-40 in. (50-100 cm) in the ground and pull a string taut on each side just below the flowers, such
that all stalks between the poles are supported.