The Carrot
The Carrot
The carrot grows wild throughout the Mediterranean and as far east as the Orient. The region around Afghanistan may have been where the first carrots originated and grew in shades of purple, red, or white. Yellow carrots were first recorded in Turkey in the 900’s. However, it was not until the 1600’s that the Dutch in Holland developed the first orange carrot.
In the United States, there appears to have been little interest in the root-like vegetable. The 1848 Landreth catalogue only lists four carrots, two of which are for table use and the other two are suggested as feedstock for animals. The French became passionate about the orange vegetable and in the second half of the 19th century, the famous French seedhouse, Vilmorin-Andrieux, initiated a vigorous development program for carrots. Many of today’s varieties were developed during that time, including Chantenay and Nantes.
In North America, Queen Anne’s Lace is the carrot’s closest relative. Queen Anne’s Lace is actually a form of wild carrot, but the root has a woody core and there is almost no tender flesh that could be edible.
Carrots prefer a light, sandy loam soil, but they will grow in almost any type of soil. Long rooted carrots do not do well in heavy or clay soils because they become tough or misshaped as they grow through the difficult soil. Carrots should be direct seeded and can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Do not plant carrots in soil with fresh manure because it encourages forked roots. Carrot beds should have humus added the fall before sowing.
Carrot seeds take a long time to germinate, close to 2-3 weeks. Soaking the seeds overnight before planting will speed up germination. Sow seed thinly and cover with about half an inch of soil. Carrots must be thinned twice. The first time, separate the seedlings by one inch. The second time, separate the plants by three inches. The thinnings can be eaten as baby carrots. Carrots can be planted throughout the spring and again in late summer for fall or winter harvest. If heavily mulched, carrots can be harvested throughout the winter.
Benjamin Watson, who wrote Heirloom Vegetables, suggests that carrot seed be sown with radish seed. He wrote, “I generally mix carrot seed with radish seed and sow together to mark the planted area and facilitate weeding and thinning. The radishes will be up and out of the bed long before they begin to compete with the carrots.”