HOW TO GROW

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Carrots

Delicious and packed with vitamins, carrots are a traditional grow-your-own favourite. As well as the classic long orange roots, look out for small round carrots and even red, yellow or purple varieties.

Carrots are quick and easy to grow, taking up little space, and can even be grown in containers. Sow small batches regularly for cropping from early summer through to autumn.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE

Sow                  Sow                   Sow     Sow         Harvest     Sow   

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Harvest        Sow             Harvest           Harvest             Harvest           Harvest

Sow

Carrots need an open, sunny site and fertile, well-drained soil. If your soil is stony, shallow or heavy clay, you may end up with stunted or forked carrots, so try short-rooted types. These are also ideal for growing in containers.

Early cultivars can be sown in February or March under cloches or with similar protection. The main outdoor sowing season is from April to early July. Seed packets will state whether the cultivar is an early or maincrop type.

Sow the seeds as thinly as possible, 1cm (½in) deep, in rows 15–30cm (6–12in) apart. Thin out seedlings if necessary, aiming for plants 5–7.5cm (2–3in) apart.

Carrots are drought resistant so seldom need watering. However, in long dry spells they will benefit from a soaking.

Fast-growing weeds can crowd out carrots, so hand weed regularly between rows.

Cover crops with fleece tunnels or put up barriers around them to prevent carrot flies (see below) laying their eggs. Be careful too when weeding or thinning that you don’t crush the foliage, as the smell attracts carrot fly.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking