Carrots

Family Name

Carrots belong to the family Umbelliferae and are related to Parsley and Celery.

Seasonality

Carrots can be produced all year round, giving better quality roots in the dry season with the use of irrigation.

Duration of Crop

Carrots take 12-16 weeks from seeding to maturity depending on the variety.

Varieties

The two (2) recommended varieties are Danvers Long Yardley 2. Both varieties are long, slender golden in appearance and tender in quality.

Soil Type

Carrots give highest production on well drained, light sandy soils as well as deep, loose, loamy soils. Avoid heavy clamp because this causes the roots to become distorted.

Carrots produce poor yields on Acid soils. The best Ph is between 6-6 ½.

Land Preparation

1.       Stale bed preparation could be carried out 2-3 weeks before planting using Round UP or 2-4D.

2.       The land should be thoroughly prepared before seeding.

3.       Plough to the depth of 12” and work to a fine tilt on flat or gently sloping lands.

4.       Prepare flat-topped beds 4ft wide as long as practicable along the contours.

5.       On heavier soils use effective drains.

Spacing and Planting

Carrot Juice

Carrots are direct seeded. Seeds should be planted ¼” deep and thinned to 3” apart within rows and 9” apart between rows. About 3lbs of seeds will be required to plant 1 acre. When planting, avoid times of heavy rainfall. Such rains can result in heavy loss of seeds seedlings.

Fertilizing Application

Incorporate NPK (16-8-24) or (13-7-23) at final land preparation at a rate of two (2) sack/acre. If TSP is available also incorporate one (1) sack/acre.

Follow-up this for heavier soils fertilizer at four (4) weeks and seven (7) weeks after germination at a rate of 1 ½ sacks to acre. For lighter soils fertilizer at two (2), five (5) and seven (7) weeks after germination at a rate of one (1) or two (2) weeks after germination.

TSP should be placed in the root area. If soil acidity is a problem use Limestone as necessary.

Weed Control

1.       Pre-emergence Herbicide

Apply Pendimethalin (Prowl 42.3 EC) at 3 1/3 pints (1575 ml)/acre

2.       Post-emergence Herbicide

To control annual and perennial grass weed, apply Fusillade at 1 ½ to 3 pints per acre. Where hand weeding is done be careful not to disturb carrot roots.

Harvesting

Harvesting of carrots generally entails pulling and topping the field leaving approximately half inch of leaf base attached to the tuber. Carrots must be topped soon after pulling, and protected from direct sunlight.

Yields

In-season approximately 15 000lbs per acre can be obtained. Yields may be adversely affected during the rainy season.