Carrots are a biennial root vegetable, normally harvested for their sweet and slender roots. Left unharvested, carrots tops will flower and produce seeds in the second growing season. Growing carrots in Florida is not particularly challenging if the weather is cool and soil is loose but fertile.
| Carrot | Daucus carota |
| Season (FL) | Fall, Winter, Spring |
| Soil type | Deep, well-drained, fertile |
| Light | 6-8 hours |
| Water | Moderate, consistent |
| Mature plant size | 12-18” |
| Harvest in | 70-120 days |
Growing carrots in Florida
Carrots prefer cool weather and grow just fine in Florida’s sandy soil. Some varieties will perform better than others.
Best carrots to grow in Florida
- Imperator
- Nantes
- Danvers
- Chantenay
Purple varieties for Florida:
- Cosmic Purple
- Purple Haze
- Purple Dragon
When to grow carrots in Florida
Carrots are a cool season crop, thriving in temperatures from 40°F to 65°F. Temperatures above 75° will reduce growth, decrease quality, and result in a bitter, less tasty crop.
Optimal grow times for carrots in Florida:
North Florida: August – March
Central Florida: August – March
South Florida: Sept – March
What you’ll need
The best option with carrots is to buy seeds online since they won’t transplant so easily. Plan on seeding directly into the garden. Make sure soil is free of rocks, stones, and roots. Failure to do so will result in funny-shaped carrots as the roots attempt to avoid these obstructions.
How to plant carrots
Prepare an area free of rocks, stones or roots, as this will disturb the roots and result in misshapen or stunted carrots. Make sure soil is loose, up to 12” deep, so carrots have space to grow uninterrupted. Amend with compost for extra fertility.
Plant seeds a quarter-inch deep, or simply spread them over the soil, then sprinkle more soil on top. Plant seeds 1” to 3” apart depending on variety – they don’t need much space since they’ll grow down vertically. Water thoroughly immediately after planting.
Planting carrot seeds with radish seeds is a good idea. Carrots are much slower to germinate, and the radishes will be ready for harvest before the carrots really need space to grow.
Mulch after planting to retain moisture and protect the growing roots from the sun.
The seeds are tiny which makes it easy to plant too many. Thin rows as the seedlings reach 1” tall, giving the roots more space to develop.
Plant seeds every few weeks for a continual harvest.
For best results, plant carrots in a different spot each season to reduce the risk of attack by carrot-loving pests waiting in the soil for the next crop.
Growing carrots in containers
The long and narrow growth habit of carrots makes them well suited for containers. You’ll also have more control over growing conditions when planting in containers. Use a potting soil that is clean, light and fluffy. Use a container at least 12” deep and preferably 12-18” wide, or more.
Place the container in a spot that is exposed to at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Carrots will require extra care and attention when growing in pots, since they won’t have the water and nutrients naturally occurring in the ground. Monitor the pots for too much or too little soil moisture, and water consistently.
‘Mini’ and ‘radish’ style carrots are perfect for containers.
5 tips on caring for your carrots
- Water consistently as they germinate and begin to grow; frequent shallow watering is best, until germination
- Less water is requires as carrots continue to grow, while inconsistent watering causes roots to crack
- Carrots are sweeter after a frost; don’t be afraid to leave them in the ground through frosty conditions
- Weed regularly to eliminate competition for water, nutrients, and root space
- Weed with care, so not to disturb growing roots, and keep area free of rocks and other obstructions
When to harvest carrots
Carrots are ready to harvest in 70 to 120 days depending on many factors.
There’s nothing wrong with harvesting early, and the smaller ones are the sweetest. However, if you wait too long they’ll be tough and woody.
Harvest the carrots continually, and those left in the ground will continue to grow.
Clean the dirt off and remove the green tops before storing.
Suggested recipe for carrots
- Carrot juice
- Carrots sliced and sauteed in butter
- Carrot ginger soup
- Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
Sources
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/carrots.html