When is the best time to plant carrots in the south?

Carrot planting time in the south

The most suitable temperature for carrot growth is 22-25℃ during the day and 11-15℃ at night. The greater the temperature difference, the sweeter the carrots and the better the quality. Therefore, summer and autumn in the south are generally more suitable for growing carrots. The best planting time is between the Great Heat and the Lesser Heat, generally from early July to late August, when the temperature is suitable and conducive to the growth of carrots.

How to grow carrots in the south

1. Soil

Carrots require fertile, loose, well-drained, highly porous loam or sandy loam to grow. Carrots are highly adaptable to soil pH and can grow normally in slightly acidic soils in the south, but will stop growing in soils with a pH below 5.

2. Turn the soil and make ridges

Before sowing, the land should be deeply plowed, and then ridged after drying. After the preliminary soil and ridge-making work is completed, a small trench with a depth of 3-5 cm is opened on the top of the ridge, and the carrot seeds are evenly sown in the trench. Then, it is covered with 3 cm thick soil and then watered thoroughly to ensure that the soil is moist.

3. Thinning and fertilization

During the carrot seedling stage, you need to choose cool weather to thin out weak and overcrowded seedlings, leaving healthy seedlings, and maintain appropriate seedling spacing; after the carrot seedlings are thinned and planted, apply top dressing according to the growth of the carrots.

Key points for growing carrots in the south

1. Carrot seedlings grow relatively slowly, but weeds grow fast, competing for water and nutrients in the soil and affecting the growth of seedlings. They need to be weeded in time. Herbicides can be used for large areas, and manual weeding can be done for small areas.

2. Carrots need sufficient light and water to grow. Try to ensure 14 hours of light a day during the carrot seedling stage. The plants use photosynthesis to synthesize nutrients to promote root absorption. At this time, field management also requires a combination of water and fertilizer to ensure that the carrot plants fully absorb nutrients.