Carrots are native to the hilly areas of Afghanistan. Carrots appeared in Europe around the 12th century and were cultivated in various colors such as red, yellow, orange, purple and white. Carrots are in the Apiaceae family, the same family as parsley, celery, parsnips, and fennel. Carrots are easy to grow from seed in the garden, in a planter box, or even in a larger pot. Carrots can survive in almost any climate as long as the soil is properly prepared before planting. Follow these steps to start growing great-looking, juicy carrots today.
Illustrated tutorial on growing carrots. This DIY tutorial includes: selecting varieties, preparing the garden, planting carrots, and caring for carrots. If you want to learn how to grow carrots, see the production system Learn this illustrated tutorial on growing carrots!
Select a variety
1Choose a carrot variety with root sizes and shapes suitable for your soil. Here are five main varieties, each of which also includes several subcategories. - Chantenay Carrots. Chantenay carrots can grow to 13 to 15 centimeters in length in soil and can be planted in most types of soil, but they are better suited to fertile, heavy soils.
- Spherical carrot. Also known as "Thumbelina," ball carrots are very similar to Chantenay carrots, but they don't grow as long.
- Danvers Carrots. Danvers carrots are very large carrots that require heavy, fertile soil to survive. But the soil doesn’t need to be too deep.
- Nance carrots. Original from France, Nans carrot has a round head and a cylindrical shape. The whole carrot can grow to 15 to 23 centimeters. Like Danvers carrots, Nance carrots are planted in rich, shallow soil.
- Emperor Carrot. Carrots commonly found in supermarkets need to be planted in deep, fluffy soil. Emperor carrots are characterized by very slender roots growing on the rhizome. The soil used to grow this carrot is finicky, so make sure your soil is fertile and fluffy.Pine, deep enough, and ensure good drainage before planting this carrot.
2Select the seed type. Carrot seeds are either unprocessed, coated with bentonite, or treated with fungicides. Bentonite-coated seeds retain moisture during germination better than uncoated seeds. If you want to increase the viability of your seeds and make the germination process easier, choose coated seeds. Also, coated seeds are easier to control, and you can control planting intervals better with coated seeds than with uncoated seeds. Precisely spaced planting eliminates the need for later thinning.
Take care of the garden and prepare it
1Choose an area with full or partial sun. Although full sun is best, a little shade is okay because carrots are a cool-weather crop. 
2Turn the soil. Making sure the soil is fluffy is a very important factor when growing carrots. Use a shovel to thoroughly loosen the soil in the planting area. - Pick out the rocks or hard, caked soil in these areas. Use a rake to pick out any small rocks. You want the soil to be fluffy rather than hard and clumpy.
- You may need to make a nursery to grow carrots. Since carrots are demanding on soil conditions, it is better to plant them in an existing area in a completely new area. Use beds made of cedar wood to grow carrots because it won't mold in moist conditions.
3Test soil pH. Carrots prefer a slightly acidic soil environment with a pH between 5.8 and 6.8. Your local agricultural extension department should have soil testing methods, test kits, and guidance. 
4Use manure, compost, or any other organic fertilizer to fertilize the soil . Mix organic fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 10cm. This will help the seeds germinate and grow in the soil.
Growing carrots
1Start by sowing a batch of carrots during the last late frost. Then for the next two or three weeks, plant another batch each week. - Carrots like cold climates. If you are under USDA hardinessPlanting in Class 8 or warmer areas should be done in autumn or winter.
- Re-make sure the soil is loosened before planting.
- You can also learn to grow carrots in flower pots. Growing carrots in pots is much the same as growing them in the ground or in a planting box. Just make sure the pot is deep enough to accommodate the growing carrots and allow their roots to grow.
2You can sow the seeds randomly or plant them in rows. If planting in rows, the seeds should be planted in pits 3 to 5cm deep, and the distance between pits should be approximately 10cm. For fluffy soil, dig a hole with your fingers. Place six seeds in each hole. 
3Cover the seeds with 1.3cm thick fertilizer. You can use compost, a planting soil mix, or even mix in some sand, especially in warmer areas. The sand helps support the emerging seedlings. 
4Monitor the growing seedlings. Depending on soil temperatures, seeds will germinate in about one to three weeks. Germination will take longer in cooler soil. 
5Water carefully after planting. Seeds are light and fragile and if watered too much Or watering too hard can easily wash away the seeds.
Take care of carrots
1Always keep the soil moist. If you are in a hot climate, water your carrots every day. Just be sure not to wash away the seeds or damage the germinating seedlings due to excessive water pressure. 
2Put some mulch near the sprouting seedlings. Place a few inches of leaves, bark, or hay around germinating seedlings to retain moisture. - Pluck any grass growing out of the mulch by hand. Pull gently so as not to disturb the roots of the carrots.
- Make sure to cover any carrots emerging from the mulch. If the carrot crowns are exposed to air, they will become bitter.
3Give the carrot Thinning. When the leaves on the carrots reach 5cm, thin the seedlings and remove the small carrots so that the remaining carrots are spaced 2.5cm apart. - This reduces crowding and gives each carrot and its root enough space to grow.
- In another two weeks, the leaves on the carrots will grow to about ten centimeters tall. Thin the seedlings again so that they are 8 to 10cm apart. Make sure to complete this step, otherwise the carrots will not grow straight if they are too crowded and may not grow fully.
4Harvest carrots. The bigger and longer the carrots grow, the sweeter and juicier they will be. They can be raised and eaten when they are large enough, which takes about two to three months from sowing to harvesting. The carrots are mature when the crown is slightly above the soil surface and about 2cm in diameter. - Use your hands to pull the carrots out from the base of the leaves to avoid damaging the roots. Grab the leaves by the base and shake them a few times before plucking them outward.
- Watering before plucking carrots will loosen the soil, making it easier to plow out intact carrots.
Tips
- Placing two earthworms in the soil will keep the soil fertile.
- Always keep carrot seedlings completely moist.
- Check your carrots every day to make sure nothing has damaged them.
Warning
- Carrots are most susceptible to leaf blight. If your carrot leaves have white or yellow watery spots that eventually turn brown, then it has leaf blight.
- Deer, gophers, prairie dogs, and rabbits all love to eat carrots.
- Also watch out for hungry birds, which will eat carrot seeds.
- Don’t let your carrot seedlings dry out.
Extended reading:
1. How to grow beans. Illustrated tutorial on growing beans and peas
2. Illustrated tutorial on growing cabbage: How to grow cabbage
3. How to grow sunflowers yourself. Illustrated tutorial on growing sunflowers
4. Rose planting tutorial: How to grow roses
5. How to germinate grains and plant sprouts picture tutorial
