When to plant carrots?

When, by region

April to early July, February or March only under cloches, a depth of about 1 cm, 5-7.5 cm between plants and rows 15-30 cm apart, are from the RHS. The 10-15 °C, a germination minimum of 6 °C, 0.5-1 cm, and mid-February sowings that in good conditions germinate in 2-3 weeks, are from Campania. The autumn-winter-spring cycle is from Sicily. The warning against fresh manure, which forks and browns the root, is from Umbria's guide. The months are in the April calendar, February, July and September.

Direct sowing only

Transplanting disturbs the root and forks it. Make a drill about 1 cm (½ in) deep, water the bottom and sow thinly. Campania uses 0.5-1 cm, depending on the soil. In summer, in good conditions, the seed is up in 5-6 days; in mid-February, under cover, it takes 2-3 weeks.

Repeat every 3-4 weeks, from spring to early July, so the crop does not all arrive at once. Early varieties, in February or March, only under cloches. On stony or compact soil the roots twist: Campania and Sicily say so, and the RHS suggests short varieties. The wider calendar is the planting calendar.

Thinning, fly, manure

Thin to 5-7.5 cm (2-3 in). The seedlings you pull can be eaten. Carrot fly lays near the leaves: RHS research found that insect-proof mesh, closed properly, is the most effective method. Sowings after mid-May miss the first generation; a crop lifted before late August misses the second. Don't sow again where carrots grew recently.

In Umbria, no fresh manure on the carrot bed: it deforms the root, browns it and leaves an unpleasant smell. Organic matter goes on the previous crop. Campania advises against carrots after beet, spinach and onion. Onion with carrot, as a pairing, is tradition: what is documented is in companion planting, and onion months are in when to plant onions.

Water and pots

In Umbria they want at least 20 mm of water a week, especially at the start, in small doses and often, so the root grows smooth. The RHS treats them as drought resistant in the ground, but swings in moisture split them: in a long dry spell, a good soaking every fortnight. How much is in watering.

In a pot, short or round varieties, in multi-purpose compost, seed covered by about 1 cm. Long varieties need a deep pot, or you lift them young. A pot that dries out fast is in the container garden. Lift them as soon as they are worth eating: the RHS gives 12-16 weeks, and baby roots in 4-6 weeks. Leaving them to get huge does not improve them.