Planting Carrots from Seeds: Beginner 101

Preparation

• Choose a location with full sun to light shade
• Prepare a soil bed that is loose, well-draining, and free of rocks and debris
• Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8

Soil Preparation

1. Turn the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches
2. Remove all stones and clods that could cause carrots to grow malformed
3. Add well-aged compost to improve soil texture
4. Sprinkle bone meal across the bed (avoid adding manure, which can cause hairy roots)
5. Water the bed deeply and let it sit for a day or two

Planting the Seeds

1. Create shallow furrows about 1/4 inch deep
2. Space rows 12-18 inches apart
3. Sow seeds thinly and evenly:
   • Drop seeds by hand, spacing them about 1-3 inches apart
   • You can mix seeds with sand to help distribute them more evenly
      
4. Lightly cover seeds with 1/4 inch of aged compost or potting soil
5. Gently press down on the soil to ensure seed-soil contact

Care and Maintenance

1. Keep soil consistently moist during germination
2. Consider covering seeds with a thin layer of mulch like shredded cardboard to retain moisture
3. Thin seedlings when they have 3-4 true leaves, spacing plants 2-3 inches apart
    
4. Fertilize with a low-nitrogen fertilizer (like 0-10-10)

Pro Tips

• Plant carrots 3-5 weeks before the last frost date
• Interplant with radish seeds to mark rows and prevent disturbing carrot seeds
• For best results, use raised beds or deep containers at least 12 inches deep