Tips for Starting Carrot Seeds Like a Pro

Описание: Carrot seeds can be tough to get right, so we're going in-depth about starting your seeds right for the best chance at success.

0:54 Intro
1:52 Moisture
2:36 Types of Carrots
3:20 Soil Prep
7:28 Spreading Seed
12:10 Sun or Shade

We love eating carrots, but growing them can be another matter. Getting carrot seeds to germinate well can be a little tricky, and it's something that - while I'm still refining - I feel like I've only just recently unlocked.

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Although I'm showing you this in a container, I don't really recommend growing carrots in a container, and especially not a small one. Small containers come with a higher likelihood of drying out which means more babysitting for you.

Whether you decide to plant in a pot or in the ground, you need to provide sufficient moisture for your seeds to germinate. A pot or even a large raised bed is going to dry out more quickly than the soil because there is more airflow all around your soil.

Before you ever get your hands dirty, picking the right variety of carrots is key especially for container gardeners. Think about how much room you have in addition to the usual spacing.

One upside to growing in a container is that you can more easily control your growing medium. Potting mix is great for carrots. If you're planting in the ground, you want to emulate that soft, light, fluffy feel. Root crops can struggle if your ground is made up of heavy clay like a lot of San Diego is. Soil prep is KEY for carrots.

You want your seeds to germinate as quickly and as easily as possible. You also want them to remain moist. You can create a better environment for your seeds by covering them with potting soil or vermiculite which is extremely light as well as retains water.

When I'm ready to plant, I start by making a furrow. By condensing the soil, capillary action can happen. That means moisture can more easily move freely from below the surface upward without being hindered by air pockets.

I then sprinkle the seeds in liberally. We'll thin them out later so I'm not too concerned with placing every seed individually. Once my seeds are in, they're ready for the water. Set your hose to a mist function, or you can run your drip line. Because the seeds are so light and small, you want to be careful. A high-powered stream can bury or even shoot the seeds out of place.

Once you've watered your seeds in, bring in your seed starting mix (light and fluffy) or vermiculite. I prefer to screen out the potting soil to ensure that only the smallest & lightest material is on top of the carrot seeds. You only need a very thin layer here. The goal is to have just enough to keep in moisture but not so much that your little seeds need to work to break the surface.

Water again after you've set your thin layer of soil or vermiculite. While carrot seeds love moisture, they don't need light to germinate. That means you can move your pot or container into a shady area outside of direct sunlight which also helps with moisture levels. If you're planting in the ground, this is the time to use a row cover or even something like cardboard or wood.

Five days after I've planted my seeds, I check on the seedlings. As soon as I see that any seeds have germinated, I pull off the cover. The other seedlings won't be far behind.

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