Planted carrots in March in Jefferson City, MO using a mix of Miracle-Gro Organic Moisture Control soil, Perlite, Coco coir, Earthworm castings.
Thinned to 2” apart. The tops looked great, but the carrots ended up really thin and undeveloped. A few even started to bolt.
Could the soil mix have been too heavy or too nitrogen-rich? Wondering what went wrong and how I can improve it for next time. Open to trying again for a fall crop!
Photos attached — appreciate any advice!
by peakpirate007
35 Comments
We’re in the same boat.
Big, beautiful green tops. Sad carrots underneath
Following cause I’m curious too.
I’m curious too. I pulled my daikon radishes today and they were also super sad.
Not an expert. Been trying to get good carrots myself. From what iv researched, it’s more about soil density. Carrots need loose soft soil so they can grow and expand. Carrot farms are like half sand in their fields to be as light as possible.
Here near St.L, I have over wintered and March-sown carrots. All are about the same size. It’s my experience that the 60-90 days ‘til harvest is under some conditions that don’t exist.
Mine would be about the same size. They’re just not done yet. Carrots will usually push their head above the soil line when they’ve reached full size for their variety.
They just look like they need more time to me. How many days to harvest are these varieties supposed to be?
Too much nitrogen could lead to big tops and less root. Bolting is really weird. Carrots are biennials.
Maybe crowding? Or you may need more phosphorus.
I planted mine in March and they look about like yours. To be fair, carrots can take weeks just to sprout. Carrots grow slow and like the cold better than the heat.
Try growing them over the fall. The first frost will make them even sweeter. Throw seeds down about the first of August so the warm soil will get them to sprout. You should be pulling them right around thanksgiving. This usually works best for me but I wanted some carrots for coleslaw this year and I had some space and some seeds…
Carrots take so damn long to grow in my experience. I just picked some for my dog and they looked like yours. Going to leave the rest in still
I’ve always found to let them grow untill they are ready by feel and sight not by the days the packet says
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I think that mix is definitely on the heavier/denser side for carrots, and the Miracle-Gro might have upped the nitrogen a bit much. Carrots tend to like loose, sandy soil with not a ton of nitrogen. Too much richness in the soil gives you lush tops but skinny, underdeveloped roots. Try cutting back on the more nutrient-heavy stuff next time, and maybe mix in more sand or plain soil.
Two things – 1. crowding. Make sure you have two fingers of space between carrot stems and thin them once it starts to grow if they start to crowd. You can also try to relocate while thinning but don’t get your hopes up (def worth trying though) 2. Give more time too, it’s still early.
< 60 days
Too much nitrogen
Fall did they have required weeks to maturity, maybe your start day was little off
Carrots take me usually 90-120 days from sprout to finish depending on variety. I just harvested my first planter with about 30lbs. Replanted them a few days ago and they’ll be ready around October.
You aren’t alone. I stopped growing them bc mine either stay super small or bolt.
Nutrients or lack there off in your soil. Verity type might also be wrong.
Whatever the seed packet says for days until harvest… double it. Carrots take forever.
You picked them too soon.
I’m in zone 9 and I plant in October and pick huge carrots in March.
Well first off because it’s May yet. They’re not ready to be picked.
Are they in full, direct sun? Carrots take forever to form roots in the shade. I also would have kept them 4″ apart. Bolting usually means lack of nutrients, especially nitrogen. Lack of water can inhibit root formation and hasten bolting, too. Don’t let more than the top half inch of soil dry out between soakings, and water deeply when you do.
They look like they’re just starting to get going. The carrot tuber is a storage vessel so the longer you let them grow (within reason) the more sugars and starches they will produce and store, and the bigger they will get.
I don’t thin (plant in rows instead of broadcast) and grow them in a compost rich bed with additional nitrogen rich fertilizer because I want the biggest bushiest tops I can get before they transition into storage mode. When they start forming tubers I stop fertilizing and let them use what’s in the soil. I get huge long beautiful carrots that are pretty much all touching but they do take time to get started.
Let them grow until you see the tops of them pushing up. These look little and probably needed more time. Loose, airy soil is important too.
You didn’t wait long enough.
I’ve always heard that root veg need to struggle and prefer poor soil. I’ve only ever tried in my fertilized veg beds and ended up with nubs.. beets too. I’ve grown tons of potatoes accidentally in yard scrap piles( no soil involved) so I believe it.
How close together were they planted?
If I sowed in march they wouldn’t be ready untill late june
https://www.reddit.com/r/confidentlyincorrect/comments/1j813nq/carrots_are_not_food/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
I’d say you’ll be lucky in her eyes /s
I will come back to this. I’ve had this problem. People are suggesting they need space and neglect. My daughter in law has a plot that she has completely neglected and the carrot tops are HUGE! I don’t think she’s ever going to pick them 😂. The dirt is now crap to . I will pick one and report back next time I’m over there !
You need to thin your carrots out to around 2-5cm spacings after germination. keep them well watered to start with. Then water them less once they are going. It forces them to go looking for water. Other than that leave them longer. 12 weeks minimum for bigger carrots
Simple: more days needed
Picked them to soon