Growing Carrots on an Allotment

Carrots are a classic allotment crop — nutritious, versatile, and excellent value when home-grown. They can be a little fussy at the start, but once you understand soil preparation and moisture control, carrots are reliable in both beds and containers. You can grow them from seed (most common) or plug plants for easier establishment.

This guide covers how to grow carrots successfully, when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, container vs ground growing, and proven ways to improve yields.

🌱 1. Types of Carrots You Can Grow

🥕 Early / Nantes-type

• Short to medium roots

• Sweet and tender

• Good for heavier soils

🥕 Maincrop

• Longer roots

• Best for storage

• Need deeper, stone-free soil

🥕 Short & Stump Varieties

• Ideal for containers

• Reliable in poor soils

🌈 Coloured Carrots

• Purple, yellow, white

• Slightly slower growing

• Same growing method as orange carrots

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Carrots

From Seed (Most Common)

Pros

• Best root shape

• Cheapest option

• Wide variety choice

Cons

• Slow germination

• Needs careful thinning

Plug Plants

Young carrot plants grown in modules.

Pros

• Faster, more even establishment

• Less seed waste

• Useful where carrot fly is a problem

Cons

• More expensive

• Limited varieties

👉 Both methods work — soil preparation and watering matter most.

🗓️ 3. When to Sow & Plant Carrots

From Seed

• Outdoors: March–July

• Early sowings: Under fleece or cloches (Feb–Mar)

• Succession sow: Every 3–4 weeks

Plug Plants

• Plant out: April–August

Carrots prefer cool to warm soil and tolerate light frost.

🌾 4. How to Grow Carrots in the Ground

Soil Requirements (Critical)

• Stone-free

• Loose and fine-textured

• Not freshly manured

Fresh manure causes forked or split roots.

Spacing

• Thin to: 5–7cm between plants

• Rows: 25–30cm apart

Thin early — crowded carrots stay small and crooked.

Sowing Depth

• Sow seeds 1cm deep

• Keep soil moist until germination (can take 2–3 weeks)

🪴 5. Growing Carrots in Containers

Carrots grow extremely well in containers.

Container Guidelines

• Depth:
  Short varieties: 20–25cm
  Long varieties: 30–40cm

• Free-draining compost

• Sow thinly and evenly

Containers are ideal for carrot fly avoidance.

💧 6. Watering Carrots

Even moisture is key.

Best Practice

• Water regularly during germination

• Keep soil evenly moist during root development

• Avoid letting soil dry out completely

Irregular watering causes:

• split roots

• poor flavour

• woody texture

🌿 7. Feeding Carrots

Carrots are light feeders.

Feeding Rules

• Compost added before sowing is enough

• Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilisers

• Optional light feed if growth is weak

Overfeeding = leafy tops, small roots.

🐛 8. Common Pests & Diseases

Carrot Fly (Main Problem)

Symptoms

• Red/purple leaves

• Tunnels in roots

Prevention

• Grow under fine mesh

• Avoid thinning during the day

• Grow in containers

• Sow resistant varieties

Slugs

• Damage young seedlings

Control

• Good drainage

• Protect seedlings early

Forked Roots

• Caused by stones, manure, or compacted soil

• Improve soil preparation rather than feeding

🧺 9. Harvesting Carrots

When to Harvest

• Harvest young for sweetness

• Maincrop carrots lifted from late summer to autumn

How to Harvest

• Loosen soil gently with a fork

• Pull carefully to avoid snapping

Carrots taste best fresh from the ground.

🌾 10. Improving Carrot Yields

• Prepare soil thoroughly

• Sow thinly to reduce thinning

• Keep moisture consistent

• Use containers or mesh to avoid carrot fly

• Succession sow for steady harvests

Carrots reward patience, not feeding.

⚡ Quick Carrot Growing Tips

• Never use fresh manure

• Don’t rush thinning

• Grow short varieties in difficult soil

• Water during dry spells for sweetness

🧠 Key Carrot Principles

• Soil quality matters more than fertiliser

• Even moisture = sweet roots

• Thinning is essential

• Containers reduce pest pressure

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash