Carrot Question

[gil1]

My first garden, so please bear with my ignorance...

I planted carrot seeds on 4/12, about 90 days ago. The seed packet told me to harvest at 70-80 days, so I dug up two carrots today, worried I was at least 10 days late. Anyway, the first one was about 2 inches long. The second, pictured, was longer (maybe 8 inches), but is still stunted.

If I had left it in the ground longer, would it have fully formed? Or is this just what I get on some carrots? Or maybe I planted too early, and that's why the carrot wasn't mature?

 

[fishboy1]

Im no expert but we are seeing the same thing.

I think its our soil (hard, lots of clay) and lack of rain.

Read where carrots like soft loamy to sandy soil. Kinda hard to grow in dirt like concrete.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Mine are the same way down here in FL.

 

[catman529]

I've had similar results. I am pretty sure they do best with loose soil but it could also be the variety of carrot. Look for one that is known to consistently grow decent size and till the soil well and keep em watered, it might help. I am no expert with carrots though, haven't had much luck with them and I haven't put the effort into it.

 

[Chapman]

One thing about carrots, you have to thin them out. I hate to pull those little plants, but they need a couple inches between plants or they won't grow into good size carrots.

 

[WTM]

you can always use them as baby carrots.

 

[Sako]

Have anyone tried planting this in hilled up rows? I was thinking of doing this next year and was hoping that building a hill to plant them oun would help keep the soil loose enough for them to grow big.

 

[catman529]

Have anyone tried planting this in hilled up rows? I was thinking of doing this next year and was hoping that building a hill to plant them oun would help keep the soil loose enough for them to grow big.

good idea, might have to try that if I ever grow carrots again.

 

[gil1]

One thing about carrots, you have to thin them out. I hate to pull those little plants, but they need a couple inches between plants or they won't grow into good size carrots.

Yeah, I planted mine from seed and just put tons of the seeds in rows to see what would come up. I never went back and pulled out some to give the others room. That could well be it.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Sako]

Have anyone tried planting this in hilled up rows? I was thinking of doing this next year and was hoping that building a hill to plant them oun would help keep the soil loose enough for them to grow big.

good idea, might have to try that if I ever grow carrots again.

I got looking and it is recommended that you can have a second "fall" planting of Carrots in early August... I went ahead and purchased (online) two different types of carrots that are early varities (60 days to maturity). I am going to get them in the ground in a few weeks.... I will try the hilling and see how that works...