INFORMATION FROM
KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Carrots
Dr. Leigh Whittinghill, Assistant Professor of Urban Agriculture
Planting
Carrots should be planted between Mar 10 and Aug 1, March 20 and July 15, and April 1 to July 1, in Western, Central and Eastern Kentucky.
Plant at 3 week intervals to have carrots throughout the growing season.
Plant seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch
Final plant spacing should be 2 to 3 inches apart.
If planting in a container, it should be 10 inches deep.
Care and Harvest
Carrots can take a long time to germinate, so pulling weeds too early, may damage seedlings. The long period of germination can also mean that weeds become a problem, so ensure that the bed is free of weeds and weed seeds before planting.
Water about 1 inch per week (including rain), taking care during establishment and root enlargement.
Excess nitrogen may reduce yield or the quality of fruit, so use less than with other plants. If using compost as a nutrient source, be sure it is fully matured, or it may inhibit germination.
As they grow, some carrots may poke up out of the ground. These should be covered with soil to prevent them from turning green, which makes them bitter.
Carrots are ready to harvest 60-80 days after planting in the spring or summer and 80-90 days after planting in the fall, or as soon as they reach the desired size. Leaving them in the ground longer can make them fibrous.