Index

• Sowing Instructions (Indoors)
• How to Transplant
• Sowing Instructions (Outdoors)
• Crop Maintenance
• How to Harvest
• Pests & Diseases

Sowing Instructions (Indoors)

• Sowing time: Sow from March to September
• Stagger sowing times for a continual harvest
• Sowing Location: When sowing indoors, sow in fibre pots
• Sow 3 to 5 seeds per fibre pot, thin out later
• Prepare fibre pots filling with compost
• Soak soil first, sow seed 1-2cm deep & cover lightly with soil

How to Transplant

• If growing indoors you should transplant out once weather is suitably warm
• Take care not to disturb plant's roots
• Plant fibre pot directly into prepared soil
• Space 7 to 15cm apart depending on variety

• Water well

Sowing Instructions (Outdoors)

• Sowing time: Mid to Late spring & throughout summer

• Sowing location: Direct into rows

• Sow seed 1-2cm deep
• Sow 3 to 4 seeds every 7 to 10cm, thin later
• If thinning is required, do so once seedlings develop their first true leaves
• This minimizes competition & allows for faster growth
• Dispose of thining, do not leave on vegetable plot
• Soil: Prepare soil creating a deep, light & free draining soil
• Heavy clay soils are not suitable – improve by added sufficient well rotted farmyard manure or horticultural grit
• Start digging over soil in late winter or early spring
• Aim to achieve a fine crumbly texture
• When cultivating, remove all weeds, roots, rocks and small stones
• Fresh manure and small stones can cause carrot roots to split
• Do not add manure as it can make the soil too rich for the seeds
• Sand will add drainage so mix seeds with a handful

Crop Maintenance

• Cover early sown seeds & seedlings using garden cloche
• Carrot seeds hate drying out, if sowing in summer make sure to keep moist
• Weed rows regularly
• Protect against carrot fly (See below)

Harvesting

• Pull up carrots as soon as they are big enough to eat
• Best to harvest in the evening to avoid carrot fly attack
• Use a fork to lift, being careful not to damage the carrots

Storage

• Late sown carrots must be lifted by October and stored over winter
• Only store the best undamaged roots
• Cut off foliage, and lay the roots between layers of sand in a storage box
• Store somewhere cool and dry
• Remove any rotten roots

Pests & Diseases

• Pests: Carrot fly
• Damage to carrot: The carrot fly lays eggs that attack the carrot
• Effect on carrot: Larvae leave small black tunnels throughout  the root causing wilting
• Carrot fly is a low flying insect
• Reduce attack by: Erecting windbreakers or fine mesh to protect crop
• Remove all thinings from your vegetable plot
• Try growing your carrots on raised beds
• Or try carrot fly resistant varieties such as 'fly away'
• Other plants such as garlic, chives, sage and rosemary will also help to deter carrot fly
• Other pests, diseases & issues include carrot willow aphid, swift moth, green top, forked roots and splitting