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Organic Carrots - Growing and Seed Saving Info

PLANTING INFO:
Seeding depth: 1/4-1/2�; Seeding rate: for early small bunching: ~45 seeds/ft; for full size ~30 seeds/ft; for soup size or storage 15 seeds/ft; Plant spacing: thin to 1-2" depending on desired size; Row spacing: 18-24".

CULTURAL INFO:
Carrots are hardy biennials that do best in fertile sandy loam, but will perform well under most conditions if appropriate varieties are chosen. For compact soils choose tapered carrots that can wedge their way into soils like Chantenays or Danvers types. For looser sandy loam or silty soils, most types will do well. Prepare beds by loosening soils, best quality arises from raised beds. Imperator types should only be grown on raised beds that have 10-12� tilled zones. Prep beds one week before planting and let settle. Direct seed as soon as soil can be worked in the spring through mid-summer. Transplanting is not recommended. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 55-75�F. Seedlings may take up to 3 weeks to emerge. Plant every three weeks for a continual supply. Harvest when carrots have appropriate coloring and flavor has developed. Carrots hold well in the field for up to 3 weeks in the summer and longer in cool conditions. Some varieties, like Napoli, may be over wintered outdoors or in the high tunnel for an early spring harvest. For storage carrots dig roots after frost but before ground freezes. Store topped and carrots in near freezing temperatures with high humidity. Unwashed carrots store just as well as washed but may stain during storage.

DISEASE & PESTS:
Fungal leaf blights caused by either Alternaria dauci or Cercospora carotae can cause severe defoliation and greatly reduce yields. Generally, cercospora blight appears earlier in the season than alternaria blight. Both these fungi are seed-borne but can also be spread by crop residue from previous years. White mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) manifests as a cottony white mycelium around roots and lower plant parts, usually late in the season. Avoid planting in areas which are shady or have poor drainage, practice crop rotations with non-vegetable crops (such as grains).

SEED SPECS:
11M-37,500 seeds/oz (24,250 avg), 175-600M seeds/lb (288M avg).

SEEDING RATE:
Early small bunching � 45M seeds/1000�(~ 1.9 oz), 1.4MM seeds/acre,(~ 5 lb), using ~45 seeds/ft, 18� row spacing; Full size � 30M seeds/1000�,(~ 1.3 oz), 1MM seeds/acre,(~ 3.3 lb), using ~30 seeds/ft, 18� row spacing; Storage � 15M seeds/1000�, (0.65 oz), 500M seeds/acre,(~ 1.7 lb), using ~15 seeds/ft, 18� row spacing. M=1,000, MM=1,000,000.

SEED COATING AND PELLETING INFO: Some of the hybrid carrot varieties we carry receive an organic film coating applied to the seed.

SEED SAVING INSTRUCTIONS:
Insect pollinated biennial. Different carrot varieties must be isolated by � mile to keep them from crossing with one another. They must also be isolated from the common wildflower Queen Anne's Lace, which is the same species as carrot. Store carrots over the winter. In areas with mild winters they can be left outside. In the spring, transplant the entire carrots to their original depth, 6"-12" apart in rows 18" apart. They will grow in height and eventually flower. Seeds are ready to harvest when they are dry. They can tend to shatter when ripe, so take care in harvesting and watch closely during ripening. Use a 1/8" screen to help with cleaning. Carrot seeds can remain viable for 3 years under cool and dry storage conditions.