![]() ![]() Gardeners in the Deep South (Florida, South Texas, Southern California and similar climates) will find that carrots actively and happily grow during the winter months and several successions can be sown throughout the fall and into winter.Helpful Carrot Tips for Southern Gardeners: If you are unsure about your specific region, be sure to check your state university’s monthly planting calendar, which will give you guidance on when carrots can still be reliably sown in your area. Florida and Southern California gardeners can sow carrots throughout the fall and winter months as the winter is the best time to grow good carrots there. When Should Southern Gardeners Sow Carrots?Īfter the intense heat of the summer has passed and fall is on the horizon, it is time for southern gardeners to plant carrot seeds! Southern gardeners with a warm or mild winter can sow carrot seed in early fall, usually September, to harvest throughout the winter and into spring.Ĭarrots can reliably be sown outdoors in fall without protection from about South Carolina down to Florida and on the west coast, from about Sacramento south (some cold microclimates excluded). The beauty of growing carrots is that there are many planting and harvest windows to keep these nutritious roots on our plate throughout the year!Ĭheck out our comprehensive video guide to growing great carrots, seed to harvest! Northern gardeners will have to start their fall carrot planting in midsummer in order to harvest delicious roots in the fall and early winter. Gardeners in the far south can once again begin to sow carrot seeds in fall for a winter harvest. Tag us in your photos if you share them on Facebook or Instagram - we’d love to see how you get on! Take a look at our carrot and parsnip hub page for more advice on growing and enjoying these tasty roots.Should I reap or should I sow carrots in the fall? That depends on where you are growing. We hope you enjoy growing (and eating!) your carrots. Here are our top tips for growing carrots: If you want a quick visual recap, watch our short video tutorial for step-by-step tips on how to sow carrot seeds in the garden. If your crop does become infested, rotate your carrots to a new location as carrot fly can remain in the soil and re-emerge the following spring.This also helps ward off slugs, aphids, and other more benign garden pests. Cover the seedbed with horticultural fleece or clear plastic, at least 60cm high, or fine netting. ![]() Thin out weaker plants in the evenings when flies are less active – the females are attracted to the smell of freshly pulled carrots and broken foliage.Grow fly-resistant varieties such as ‘ flyaway’ or ‘ resistafly’ alongside a sacrifice crop of a non-resistant variety to lure the carrot fly larvae away.Here are some quick tips to help prevent carrot fly: Unfortunately, once your crop is infested it’s not possible to reverse the damage so it’s best to be vigilant from the start. Larvae burrow into the roots and leave them susceptible to rot. This is an aesthetic issue and shouldn’t affect the flavour of your vegetable.Ĭarrot fly is a common pest which can spoil a whole crop. There are a couple of common issues you might face Image: Napoleonka/Shutterstockįorked roots are common when soil is heavy or rocky, or seeds are sown too close together and not thinned out. Prepare your beds the autumn before to allow a period of rest before planting.įor further information on different varieties, have a look at guide: Early Heavy and stony soils, or clay-based beds can make growing more difficult, but short-rooted varieties like ‘ Caracas’ can still do well in these conditions.Īdd plenty of organic matter to the soil before sowing but remember that carrots dislike freshly manured earth. However, as a general rule, they prefer to be cool and don’t do well in greenhouses during the hotter summer months.Ĭhoose a sunny spot with light, fertile soil and good drainage. Check the seed packet if you’re unsure when to sow your chosen variety.įor a spring harvest, you can grow carrots in a greenhouse throughout the winter. Early cultivars such as the ‘ Nantes 2’ can be sown under a cloche or started in greenhouses from February. Most varieties are sown outdoors between April and July. Image: Carrot 'Amsterdam Forcing' from Thompson & MorganĬarrot seeds can be sown from early spring right through to late August and can be harvested almost all year round. 'Amsterdam Forcing' is an early maturing variety and can be sown in February ![]()
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