When to plant carrots

Carrots are popular for their excellent adaptability, few pest and disease problems, and ease of cultivation. They are not only abundant in yield but also have good storage resistance. In China, carrot cultivation is extremely common and can be found almost everywhere. In areas with suitable climatic conditions, carrots can be grown all year round, but most areas prefer to cultivate them in autumn, making them the most widely cultivated root vegetables. Carrots are therefore considered one of the main vegetables in autumn and winter. Learn more about when to plant carrots below.

When to plant carrots

Carrots are semi-cold-tolerant vegetables and their seeds can start to germinate at lower temperatures, about 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, but the optimal temperature range for germination is 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The optimum temperature for leaf growth is 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, while the ideal temperature for fleshy root growth is 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops below 3 degrees Celsius, carrot growth will stagnate.

Normally, the planting time of carrots is concentrated from early July to early August. If sowing is too early, the carrots may sprout and bloom prematurely. Such carrots will be hard in texture, small in size and low in water content. On the contrary, if planting is too late, the yield may be affected. Therefore, it is crucial to arrange the sowing time reasonably for the quality and yield of carrots.

Carrot Planting Tips

Land selection for growing carrots is critical because carrots have a well-developed and deep root system and require soil moisture levels of approximately 60% to 70%. The ideal soil type is loose and breathable loam or sandy loam, especially sandy loam with deep soil, fertility, water retention and good drainage. When tilling the land, you should deep plow and apply 1000 to 1500 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer , 100 to 200 kg of wood ash and 8 to 10 kg of general calcium. Then mix the fertilizer evenly into the soil, rake it flat and open the bed. Usually, high ridges 100 to 130 cm wide and 15 to 20 cm high are used for cultivation. This will help the carrots grow quickly and reduce cracking, hollowing and bifurcation.

Thinning and weeding usually begin 7 to 10 days after sowing, when the carrot seedlings emerge. If crop straw is used for covering, it needs to be removed in time. In hot and rainy seasons, weeds grow rapidly and should be removed when thinning out seedlings. To save labor, you can choose to use herbicides , such as 50% cypermethrin wettable powder, and spray it from sowing to the second leaf period. Thinning generally needs to be done 2 to 3 times, the first time when there are 1 to 2 true leaves, and the second time when there are 4 leaves. The seedlings should be transplanted at this time, and the seedling spacing should be kept at about 6 cm. When transplanting subsequently, the seedling spacing should be adjusted to 12 to 15 cm.