First time growing carrots (5b-6). I realized my newbie mistake of crowding the seeds, so after sprouting, thinned them out. However, still pulling these little blunts. Could the horrible heat and humidity affected their growth? I planted in a deep raised bed and wonder if they would have done better in the ground. What can I do differently next year?
by NP4VET
27 Comments
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I’m a newbie too but I had good luck with mine for my first year. Just by how short they are, I’m inclined to think maybe your soil is too compacted/dense? I read they like loose soil free of stones.
https://preview.redd.it/03ipnrtdt2hf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d9c1abd1a430d450e891c44bc38c76d64a0b5de
I thinned mine as they came in also so I don’t think that’s your issue. Overcrowding would cause skinny or fused carrots to my understanding. Maybe try to loosen the soil before planting next time and possibly mix in an amendment to help lighten it up depending on what you’re working with currently.
I have had the same issue before. My soil and fertilizer had too much nitrogen which produced top but no root growth. I have since used more phosphorus which helps.
They dont like the heat. I plant mine in October and harvest in March (zone 9b, upper Texas gulf coast)
My first time was exactly like this. Each harvest you adjust and get better. For me it was giving them more sun and water. I had them too shaded to save them from heat but they needed more sun. Keep at it it’s worth it
You got healthy greens. Agree. Perhaps too much nitrogen.
Did you grow other veges next to them, like potato? Fennel? If not then, as others has alredy mention, loose your soil a bit and easy on the nittrogen.
It’s ok!!! I grew carrots for the first time this year. I harvested just enough to make one, small carrot cake. There is always next year 🤞🏼
Plant in spring. Give high p-k fertilizer. Thin and keep moist.
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Make pesto from the tops!
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I live in a place where the soil is almost all clay. I have amended my soil so much, it nearly floats away. My carrots turned out great. I put mine in too tight, and thin.
You might also want to experiment with varieties. Some work better in certain gardens. I almost always try 2 varieties of anything new. I’m so glad I did. I planted 2 varieties of beets. One fell flat on its face, but another was amazing! Now I only plant Red Ace.
I do Red core chantenay, Danvers Half Long, and Nantes. I’m in zone 6a/b. I also don’t harvest them all at once unless I’m canning them. Someone in my area said they were harvesting them in November. Not sure I would go that far.
Lol this is what my carrots look like every year, no matter what I do… carrots and garlic elude me.
Those are crits
Hmm, i see short carrots but very tall tops. I’m a novice gardener, but nitrogen contributes to leaf growth, while the other two “main ” nutrients contribute more to fruits or roots. All the extra top growth is NOT going into fruit or roots. I made this mistake once as a child and was disappointed because i thought it was doing SO WELL.
Don’t be discouraged, though, it is a step in learning .
Other factors: carrots do best in loose , well -drained soil. If you have thick or packed soil that reduces size, they don’t like to be “squeezed”. If you are container gardening, some carrots do better than others.
For hot days: try shade cloth/ shade sail/ shade tunnel. Reduces heat stress and moisture loss.
I’ve only had one harvest of carrots and mine were about an inch or two on average so I’m no expert however through my research I think I had two problems. Nitrogen too high and I watered too shallow at the start. The plant initially sends out s long taproot to look for water, so if you are watering the top daily and don’t let the top of the soil dry out, then it doesn’t need to go any deeper. I read that you should water deep and let the first inch or two dry out before watering again. That’s what I plan on doing with my next batch.
U did well 👏 🩷
Must have been cold out
I haven’t done carrots yet, but I’ve read they prefer cooler temps, which means you can try again in the fall if you’d like. Carrots like looser soil and would benefit from a low nitrogen fertilizer with good phosphorus and potassium.
Keep us posted if you decide to try again for fall!
My tips. Start them earlier they don’t love too high of heat, or start in the fall if possible. thin a lot, it’s hard but worth it, You need at least an inch between plants. Wait longer. They take forever.
First time growing ginger. Hydroponically. IDK if it helps with your carrots, but AI recommended nutes formulated for fruiting stage – less N, more P and K – with slightly reduced EC/TDS. I didn’t harvest yet, but seems like the plant is doing well ..
https://preview.redd.it/z16h0t8q34hf1.jpeg?width=450&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6f729dc8521f9e75f4e43f2d0dbbb51a93e6708
Edit: altho it might end up with just as tiny rhizomes as your carrots, lol
Mine were like this too. I didn’t thin them. Lesson learned!
Only spelling it this way from now on thanks 🙏🏾
https://preview.redd.it/k8inb3w0h4hf1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4df565082a770226792cc8059560df79e62290bb
😬
Mine came out similar I was told to thin out the seeds and that it didn’t have enough space to grow.