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Recent Blog PostsStarting a small vegetable garden The benefits of a community garden Gardening products you can't live without ...view the rest of the posts on Growing Vegetables Blog. |
Baby Carrots Aren’t Exactly Carrots That Didn’t Grow UpBaby carrots are not undeveloped carrots. They’re just different breeds. This carrot’s full-grown size— is small! Anywhere from 2 to 6 inches. There are several varieties of these babies that are not only grown for their small size—but their sweet taste and longevity as well. Also they will grow in course, rocky soil when other larger carrots can’t. The first thing to remember about growing carrots is that they’re cool weather vegetables. And that starting carrots from seeds, not only yields plants with the lowest mortality rate once they hit the surface— but provide healthier crops of carrots at the lowest cost! So, starting a garden is best by sowing carrot seeds before the last expected frost in your area. Space inch apart. Cover with a thin layer of peat moss. To speed up germinating, cover carrot beds with burlap. Water the burlap daily until the carrots sprout and the baby seedlings are well established. At this stage the carrots biggest enemy is weeds. Hand weed as needed, until carrots are 2 inches tall. Thin out, if crowded, then mulch. Carrots like chopped leaves, pine needles and compost. To retain moisture, retard weed growth and prevent sun burnt carrot tops. The insect terror of the carrot world is the rust fly. Growing onions or garlic between the carrot plants wards off the flies, as well as mixtures of wood ashes and compost. This will also get rid of carrot weevils, wireworms and other carrot pests. These carrot babies may be small, but they’re big in flavor:
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