We have found a variety that does pretty well in our summers: New Kuroda Carrot. We sow these in our beds and in pots when day temperatures are in the 80-85ยบ range (NOW). They are then harvested over the summer.
We sow our carrot seed using a home-made seed shaker: a cottage cheese container with hole punches in the lid. After sowing, tamp down the soil so the seeds have good soil contact.
Carrot seeds need to be kept moist until they germinate. A light covering of vermiculite works well to help retain moisture while they germinate. Thin carrots to at least 1" apart and eat the thinnings including the tops. Carrot tops are high in vitamins and minerals but don't taste so great. Toss a few baby tops into your salad instead of eating a plate of them.
If you have a great carrot top recipe, please share it with us.
An improved Chantenay-type, this smooth, deep orange carrot grows to 7" long and 2" in diameter. Bred to thrive in sub-tropical areas, it produces high quality, uniform roots in summer for fall harvest. The uniform plant has high tolerance to heat and leaf blight.
Deep orange red color roots, slightly tapered, 17-19 cm (7 in.) in length, 6 cm (2.3 in.) in diameter, with weight of 250 gram (0.55 lb). Maturity: 100-110 days from sowing. The leaves grow vigorously. Good colored Chantenay type. GREEN SEEDS Kuroda selection is highly tolerant to leaf blight and heat.
This variety is very popular and widely grown in Asia. This improved version produces excellent quality carrots in deep orange red color, which are smooth and uniform in shape. The plant grows very well in summer for harvest in fall to winter. Easy to grow.
Germ 6-14 days
A smooth, uniform conical carrot with a deep orange red color. Use as a main crop for enormous yields of 6” carrots that mature late in the growing season. Keeps well in cold storage.
A smooth, uniform conical carrot with a deep orange red color. Use as a main crop for enormous yields of 6” carrots that mature late in the growing season. Keeps well in cold storage.
PLANTING:
Outdoors- Early spring, a few weeks before last frost until mid summer. Sow lightly, 1/4” deep, with soil temperature 50-80 degrees. The cooler the soil the longer it takes for germination, up to 3 weeks. The soil moisture should be maintained regularly until germination. Thin to 1-3” apart.
Outdoors- Early spring, a few weeks before last frost until mid summer. Sow lightly, 1/4” deep, with soil temperature 50-80 degrees. The cooler the soil the longer it takes for germination, up to 3 weeks. The soil moisture should be maintained regularly until germination. Thin to 1-3” apart.
Harvest
Start when carrots reach finger size for baby carrots or when they turn to a bright orange. Late season carrots hold longer and become sweeter in the cooler weather.
Start when carrots reach finger size for baby carrots or when they turn to a bright orange. Late season carrots hold longer and become sweeter in the cooler weather.
Tips
Use a row cover helps to maintain moisture for germination. Carrots prefer a loose soil, free of rubble. If your soil is heavy with clay, use the shorter varieties. Keep well weeded and cover any exposed carrot with soil to prevent greening.
Use a row cover helps to maintain moisture for germination. Carrots prefer a loose soil, free of rubble. If your soil is heavy with clay, use the shorter varieties. Keep well weeded and cover any exposed carrot with soil to prevent greening.
