Heat Today will be hot in the south of the Netherlands: up to 32 degrees! Check whether your reservoir is still full, whether the mix is still moist, shade vulnerable plants around midday, and wait with sowing until it cools down.
Wortelgroente
How to sow and grow carrots
The bright orange Makkelijke Moestuin carrots have a rounded tip. They grow 15 to 20 cm long, making them ideal for raised beds.
Carrot
Home-grown carrots are delicious. This variety has rounded tips, so the carrots grow thicker when they reach the bottom of your raised bed instead of bending around the corner.
The carrots grow 15 to 20 cm long. You can leave them in your raised beds for a long time in autumn.
Variety: Jerada RZ
The carrots grow 15 to 20 cm long. You can leave them in your raised beds for a long time in autumn.
Variety: Jerada RZ
- Family: root vegetables
- Plants per square: 16
- Height: 30 to 40 cm
- Sowing time: mid-March to mid-August
- Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
- Germination: 10 to 15 days at 10 to 21°C
- Time to harvest: from 9 to 10 weeks
- Sunlight: preferably full sun, which makes them deliciously sweet
- Packet contents: about 190 seeds, enough for 5 squares
We sell the packets separately, but you can also find them in the value Basic seed bundle.
Good to know: this variety was developed for professional growers and is only available from us for home gardeners 🙂
Good to know: this variety was developed for professional growers and is only available from us for home gardeners 🙂
What are carrots?
Carrots are grown for their edible root. This popular vegetable can be eaten in many ways, raw or cooked. Even the foliage is edible.
The first white carrots came from Persia (now Iran) and were brought to the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. The current orange carrot is the result of crossbreeding over the years. You can find carrots in lots of colors, even purple.
The first white carrots came from Persia (now Iran) and were brought to the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. The current orange carrot is the result of crossbreeding over the years. You can find carrots in lots of colors, even purple.
Are carrots good for you?
Absolutely. All carrots are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C. They also have a lot of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A.
Carrots contain minerals like calcium and potassium for strong bones and fiber for healthy digestion.
Don't forget the leaves: even the carrot tops are full of vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, and Vitamins C and K.
Carrots contain minerals like calcium and potassium for strong bones and fiber for healthy digestion.
Don't forget the leaves: even the carrot tops are full of vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, and Vitamins C and K.
What do you need to sow and grow carrots?
Besides the seeds, you need:
- a 30 by 30 cm square
- Makkelijke Moestuin Mix or MM coconut mix
- a spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day
How do you sow and grow carrots?
Carrots are included in the free Makkelijke Moestuin app. It guides you from seed to harvest.
Every vegetable goes through several stages, which we call levels. The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and regularly asks you to check whether your plants are ready for the next one.
So you do not need to know how to grow carrots successfully before you start. But if you would like to read ahead, visit the Carrot in the shop for a detailed description.
Every vegetable goes through several stages, which we call levels. The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and regularly asks you to check whether your plants are ready for the next one.
So you do not need to know how to grow carrots successfully before you start. But if you would like to read ahead, visit the Carrot in the shop for a detailed description.
How do you sow and grow carrots?
These carrots are included in the free Makkelijke Moestuin app. Use it and you will get guidance from seed to harvest.
Every vegetable goes through several stages, which we call levels.
The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and regularly asks you to check whether your plants are ready for the next one.
So you do not need to know how to grow carrots successfully before you start.
But if you would like to read ahead, here is what the whole process looks like.
Level 1: Sowing carrots
Level 1: Sow carrots
Loosen the mix in a square in the second or third row of your raised bed, then sow as follows:
- make 16 holes in the square, no deeper than 1 cm
- put 2 seeds in each hole
- carefully close the holes
Depending on the weather and the time of year, you will see the first green shoots after about 10 days.
Level 2: Carrot seedlings
Level 2: Carrot seedlings
As soon as you see the first seedlings, you know things are going well. They probably won't all come up at once, but give it another few days.
Then it's time for the next level.
Then it's time for the next level.
Level 3: Thinning your carrots
Level 3: Thin out your carrots
When several seedlings come up in each hole that you sowed, choose the best ones and remove the rest: that's called thinning out.
It might sound harsh, but it's necessary. Especially for carrots. They need enough room to get nice and thick. Too close together, and you'll get plenty of carrot leaves but no carrots.
If you see spots where nothing came up, sow a few more seeds. Carrots - like beets and radishes - can't be transplanted.
It might sound harsh, but it's necessary. Especially for carrots. They need enough room to get nice and thick. Too close together, and you'll get plenty of carrot leaves but no carrots.
If you see spots where nothing came up, sow a few more seeds. Carrots - like beets and radishes - can't be transplanted.
Level 4: Caring for your carrots
Level 4: Care for your carrot plants
After a week or 2, your seedlings will become small plants.
You hardly need to do anything for the next 5 weeks: if the weather's dry, give them some water and remove the odd dead or yellow leaf. Easy 🙂
You hardly need to do anything for the next 5 weeks: if the weather's dry, give them some water and remove the odd dead or yellow leaf. Easy 🙂
Level 5: Harvesting carrots
Level 5: Harvest carrots
About 9 - 10 weeks after sowing at the earliest, the first carrots are ready to harvest.
To see if your carrots are ready, wipe away the soil mix at the base of the leaves. The carrots should be at least 1 cm in diameter, ideally bigger.
It can sometimes take longer, depending on the weather. Just leave the small carrots in your patch: they'll catch up. Go ahead and harvest the bigger ones now.
To see if your carrots are ready, wipe away the soil mix at the base of the leaves. The carrots should be at least 1 cm in diameter, ideally bigger.
It can sometimes take longer, depending on the weather. Just leave the small carrots in your patch: they'll catch up. Go ahead and harvest the bigger ones now.
Carrots require a little patience. You can actually forget about them for weeks. The longer they're there, the thicker they get. You can even harvest them in winter 😀
What do you use carrots for?
You can enjoy the carrot roots by themselves. Eat them raw by the fistful or grated in salads. You can also boil, stew, or roast them.
The leaves are edible and super healthy. They taste similar to parsley: spicy with a hint of carrot flavor. Process raw in a (tabouleh) salad with the carrot root, tomato, onion, chickpeas, and cumin. Or make a pesto. Or toss in a stir fry. The options are endless.
The last levels
The final levels
During the final levels, keep harvesting the carrots until they are all gone.
Carrots cope well with cold, so you can leave them in place for a long time in autumn. A little frost even makes them sweeter.
So: ready to grow carrots yourself?
I'm sure you are 😉 Our carrots are sweet and super tasty. They're also ridiculously easy to grow. All you need is some patience.
Plus: with our app and materials, it's pretty much impossible to fail.
Order your carrot seeds here or get started with a complete starter kit:
Plus: with our app and materials, it's pretty much impossible to fail.
Order your carrot seeds here or get started with a complete starter kit: