Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Growing Carrots in Containers


Lack of growing space is one factor that obstructs the realization of many a gardening goal. And it can be frustrating as hell! Fortunately, there is a way around this hurdle- innovation! Container gardening is one of the most obvious applications of lateral thinking. The long list of plants that can be successfully grown in containers features many that can surprise you. One of them is Carrot. Carrots, along with tomatoes and pepper are amongst the most popular plants in home gardens. Not many, however, know how easy it is to grow carrots in containers. Take a look.

You can start carrot seeds indoors in a container that’s about15 inches in diameter and 12-13 inches deep. Fill the container with quality potting soil and sprinkle the seeds. Top the seeds with a ¼ inch layer of soil and apply water. Carrot seeds usually take 2-3 weeks to germinate. Make sure you keep the soil moist throughout this period. Once the seedlings grow 2-3 inches tall, thin them such that they’re at least an inch apart.

Caring for carrots isn’t difficult. Place the container at a location that gets at least 5-6 hours of full sun every day, irrigate on a regular basis and fertilize them every 3 weeks, preferably with a liquid organic fertilizer. Carrots will be ready to be harvested within 60-80 days from sowing the seeds. Loosen the soil around the carrots using a garden fork and pull them out.

Growing carrots in containers is a simple process that, while it helps save space also allows you to produce healthy, delicious food for your household. So what are you waiting for? Start now!