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Yummy, crunchy carrots


Carrots are easy to grow and are filled with vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder they are the vegetable of the year!


W


hat is more fun or easier to grow than carrots? This root vegetable, Daucus


carota, has been in vogue in Western culture since Roman times, when it was purple, black or red rather than orange. But Western cultures have no lock on carrots, which are one of the most important food crops grown in the many countries of southeast Asia, including the Philippines and China, which is the world’s top producer of carrots. In fact, they originated in central Asia, probably Afghanistan, where


they are also an important


crop. Carrots are members of the Apia-


ceae family, which also includes culi- nary plants such as anise, celery, cori- ander (cilantro), dill and parsnips. They


are biennials, meaning that


they will flower in the second year of growth, but are typically grown as annuals (grown and harvested in the same year). There are several different carrot types and they are primarily divided up by shape. Carrots are undemanding, asking


only for some well-drained, sandy soil with no obstacle in the way of their taproots. They can easily be grown in containers deep enough for their roots and they like the cool temper- atures of late spring and early fall. And best of all, they don’t have to be planted in regimented rows; they will grow perfectly well among the flow- ers in your cultivated garden and lend it interest with their ferny leaves. If your garden has light, peaty soil,


all the better for carrots. They like a pH level of about 6.5 to 7.5, which is fairly neutral, and will thrive if they get the odd dose of potassium. Plant carrot seeds about two centi-


metres deep and cover with a half centimetre of soil. Soil temperatures of 18 to 24 C (65 to 75 F) are best for germination. They take 14 to 21 days to germinate so don’t despair if you don’t see immediate results. Some people advise planting fast germinat- ing radish between carrots to help you remember where they are.


26 • Early Spring 2016 Harvest as you go along, using


the small immature carrots as a treat and thinning out the seedlings to allow room to let the remainder of the carrots get larger. By the way, the greens are also edible, although somewhat bitter. They are filled with


vitamin K, A and C, potassium, chlorophyll and contain calcium and iron. h


Click here to see a video on how to plant and grow carrots.


localgardener.net


Photo by Candace Towner.


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