Tips for Growing Carrots in Pots 

What is the Best Container to Grow Carrots?

When choosing the best container for growing vegetables in, depth is the most important factor to consider. Carrots can be grown in most container shapes ranging between 6 to 15 inches in depth.

Check the specific depth requirements according to the variety of carrots you’re growing – this will likely be on the seed packet.

Most carrot varieties require a minimum container depth of 12 inches, with 1.5 to 2 cm of spacing available between seedlings and the container edge. Good spacing and depth will allow carrots to grow well and fully develop.

How to Recycle Old Containers

If you’re recycling (or ‘repurposing’) a pot or container to grow carrots, you’ll want to make sure you’re able to maintain the perfect level of soil moisture. To do so, make sure it provides plenty of drainage by drilling drainage holes into the bottom.

Growing mediums without efficient drainage will cause carrots to rot from the waterlogged soil.

How to Choose the Right Variety of Carrots

Perfectly shaped cone-like carrots are not a guarantee when growing your own. However, choosing a suitable variety, especially when growing in containers, should give you a good chance for a great harvest.

Shorter varieties, such as Chantaney, Oxheart and Round carrots are ideal for container growing. Oxheart varieties have roots only 2 to 3 inches long at maturity.

There are also a few varieties of small round carrots such as Parmex or Rondo that are perfect for gardeners trying to avoid funny shaped homegrown carrots.

Chantaney Carrots

Chantaney carrots are the best choice, with ‘red cored’ varieties being a popular cultivar. They have the classic carrot characteristics, broad fat shoulders with a tapered triangular yet blunt tip.

Growing between 4 to 5 inches, their short length is perfect for growing in container gardens. Ideally planted in early spring, Chantaney carrots are best suited to containers between 12 to 15 inches in depth.

What is the Best Soil to Grow Carrots in?

Carrots grow easily in loose lightweight soil, with good drainage and free from twigs, stones or any other hard bits. Soil or compost that is not smooth, but rather, has obstructions such as stones, will cause carrots to grow either hard, oddly shaped or with 2 or 3 legs.

It’s best to buy a good quality potting soil to use in your containers, or alternatively make your own. Make sure the soil’s pH is between 6 to 7.

How Long does it take Carrots to Grow?

Once planted, you should start to see your carrot seeds sprout at around 14 to 21 days. They will then be ready to eat in around 12 to 16 weeks. Depending on the variety of carrot you are growing.

Check the carrot seed packet for details.

What to Feed your Carrots

Carrots grow best in full sunlight and well-drained soil. SO ensure your container has holes in the bottom, and is in the sunlight most of the day.

When your seedlings reach an inch tall with their first set of true leaves, we recommend feeding them with Deep Rooter. Deep Rooter stimulates root growth, which in this case happens to be the vegetable itself. Longer roots means a stronger plant.

Wait a week before adding a fertiliser as to not overload the plant. SeaFeed Xtra is a fertiliser that contains essential plant ingredients that will improve the general health of the plants.

Seafeed Xtra and Deep Rooter should then be used weekly on separate days.