Tendersweet Carrot
$2.99
A super nutrient-dense open-pollinated heirloom that is productive and vigorous, with uniform, cylindrical, deep orange-red roots; that are smooth skinned, fine grained and nearly coreless—and they grow 9-10 inches long, and often longer, and resist splitting, even when grown in heavier soils.
2 in stock
Product Description
Difficulty:
Moderate
Timing:
Direct sow from just after the last frost date to late summer for harvests from summer through early winter. Sow at 3 week intervals for a continuous harvest. Direct sow winter-harvest carrots (where winters are mild) in the first two weeks of August. Optimal soil temperature is 45-85°F. Seeds may take as long as 14-21 days to germinate.
Starting:
Because carrot seeds are tiny, they need to be sown shallowly. The trick is to keep the top-most layer of soil damp during the relatively long germination period. Water deeply prior to planting. Direct sow the tiny seeds ¼” deep, 4 seeds per 1″, and firm soil lightly after seeding. Make sure the seeds are only just buried. Water the area with the gentlest stream possible, and keep it constantly moist until the seeds sprout.
Growing:
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. The softer and more humus-based the soil, the better. When soil is dry enough in spring, work it to a fine texture. Broadcast and dig in ½ cup complete organic fertilizer for every 10 of row. Avoid fresh manure. Carrots will become misshapen, but still edible if they hit anything hard as they grow down into the soil. Keep weeded and watered
Thinning:
This is the process of removing some seedlings, if necessary, so each has enough space to grow in the row. It is very important to thin carrots so they don’t compete for available nutrients, moisture, and light. Thin to 1½-4″ apart when the young plants are 1″ tall. Use wider spacing to get larger roots. As they grow, carrots may push up, out of the soil, so hill soil up to prevent getting a green shoulder.
Harvest:
Carrots can be harvested at any size, but flavor is best when the carrot has turned bright orange – or its other mature color. After harvest, store at cold temperatures just above 32ºF. Store in sand or sawdust during the winter, and pull as needed.
Days to Maturity: 75 days
Planting Depth: 1/4″
Distance Apart: 1/4″
Amount: 1g
