richard j. oâneill, md, mba (president) has practiced internal medicine for seventeen years. following college in minnesota, he received his md at the university of minnesota medical school graduating with the distinction of alpha omega alpha honors. he trained in the field of internal medicine at the university of texas southwestern in dallas.
Early cultivars (types of carrots â it will state on the seed packet whether it is an early or maincrop) can be sown in February or March under cloches or similar protection but the main sowing season is from April to early July. Sow 13mm (1 / 2 in) deep in rows 15cm (6in) apart. Sow thinly to avoid thinning out, or once the seedlings start coming up, thin to 5-7.5cm (2-3in) apart. Carrots are best grown in the open ground, but you can try short-rooted types in containers or growing bags. Drought resistant, carrots like hot weather, seldom needing water. If they start wilting, give a thorough soaking of water every 10-14 days. Keep weeds down between rows by hand weeding-if you allow weeds to grow they may end up crowding out the carrots. Be careful when weeding or thinning that you donât crush the foliage, as the smell attracts carrot fly (a pest).
Carrots do not transplant well, so start them outdoors once the soil is at least 45 degrees F. The seed can be mixed with sand or dry compost to make sowing easier. Sow seeds evenly in a very shallow furrow, about 1/4 inch deep, and keep seeds moist so they will germinate.