Carrots

1. Good soil preparation is essential. Fork it thoroughly to break up lumps and remove as many stones as possible. Carrots thrive in light, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, so it’s also worth adding some well-rotted organic matter.

2. Sow carrots directly into the ground. Make a seed drill (shallow trench) about 1cm deep using the edge of a hoe or trowel. Sow the seeds thinly along the bottom of the drill about 5-8cm apart. Cover them with soil, and water well using a watering can with a rose attached.

3. To extend your cropping period, sow seeds successionally at two-week intervals. You can also sow a selection of carrot varieties that will crop at different times over the season.

4. Carrots don’t require too much care. Aim to keep the soil around them weed free, although once the carrots start to grow strongly, their foliage will shade out most weeds. Water occasionally.

5. Thinning out carrot seedlings not only wastes time, it can also attract carrot root fly. These pests detect the smell of crushed foliage when you pull the carrots up, before laying eggs in the soil. Their larvae then go on to eat the carrot roots. Sowing carrot seeds thinly avoids the need to thin carrots. If you do choose to thin your carrots, see how to reduce carrot root fly infestation.

How to harvest carrots

Lift carrots when the soil is moist, or water beforehand, to prevent them breaking off when you pull them. Water the soil again to settle it around the remaining roots.

Protecting carrots with fleece

Carrot fly is the most common and serious problem associated with growing carrots. The fly’s maggots eat tunnels through the carrots, ruining the crop. Choose resistant varieties such as ‘Resistafly’, ‘Flyaway’ or ‘Syrtan’. Alternatively, place a 45cm-high fine-mesh barrier around crops or cover with fleece or a similar material. Alternating a row of carrots with a row of companion plants like onions or garlic may help to mask their smell.

Growing carrots in pots

If space or soil type is a problem, you can still produce an excellent crop from seed sown in a pot that’s at least 30-45cm deep. Fill with sifted garden soil or compost such as John Innes No.2.