Watch This BEFORE You Plant Carrots 🥕

25% off ALL Birdies Raised Beds: growepic.co/3yqRx2N
Carrots are extremely rewarding to harvest.. if you can get to that point! Kevin explains some of the most common issues you'll run into when growing carrots and how to prevent them, starting out with the most important...germination!
IN THIS VIDEO
→ Little Finger Carrot Seeds: growepic.co/3vtyHak
→ Tonda di Parigi Carrot Seeds: growepic.co/3VSGlFE
→ Danvers 126 Carrot Seeds: growepic.co/4aJyO03
→ Shin Kuroda Carrot: growepic.co/3xvFEbc
→ Rainbow Carrot Seeds: growepic.co/49nE88v
→ Scarlet Nantes Carrot Seeds: growepic.co/3VJR19C
→ Cosmic Purple Carrot Seeds : growepic.co/43PnYUm
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Carrot Varieties
01:14 - Starting Carrots In-Ground
03:59 - Thinning Carrots
06:45 - Common Carrot Problems
DISCLAIMER
Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More info on our process: www.epicgardening.com/disclai...

[@novicefam]

Four years ago, while watching your videos, cherished ideas about a small garden began to sprout in me. That passion grew steadily, motivating me to make it a reality. Now, after much effort, my family has bravely bid farewell to the noisy city life and embraced the peace of the countryside. We are diligently cultivating our land, transforming it into a vibrant garden filled with lush, green vegetable beds. My sincerest thanks to you for sparking this dream with your inspiring videos. I continue to be a devoted viewer, constantly seeking new knowledge to make my garden flourish. Wishing you continued success in inspiring even more people!

[@ninirossau2304]

treat your soil right and it will take care of you. do be aware that once the soil has taken hold of you there is no turning back.

[@epicgardening]

that is so awesome to hear. Congrats on your journey!

[@MelvinErlich]

P0

[@cannabis1490]

So good for you and your family...Sending Love Peace Strength Happiness to all!

[@AlyKatKitty]

If you lay toilet paper in the row and sow the seeds on top of that, they will germinate much more successfully. Also, mixing the seed with sand will help you to spread the seeds out a little more, so you don’t have to thin as much.

[@HardhatBambi]

Not all hero's wear capes, some leave great tips in the comment section ❤

[@amyschultz8058]

Carrots are one vegetable that always gave me fits. I reached the point i told my brother, if they dont grow this year then I'm done. He talked to a friend whose dad had a carrot farm and sure enough it was a soil issue. I just couldn't get the soil loose enough. I moved to a raised bed and I have successfully raised 3 crops of carrots now.

[@michaelnowak7384]

Carrots near me are a perpetual struggle. Heavy clay soils galore. I am not smart enough to move to raised beds though. I prefer convincing myself each year that I have finally built up enough carbon in the soil from compost.

[@amyschultz8058]

@@michaelnowak7384 Yes. I totally understand heavy clay soil. We live in the Appalachian ( Va) and it's red clay. We garden mostly in ground but carrots had to move to a bed for my sanity lol.

[@triciac1019]

Oh, thank you for the advice. I will try that this year and keep my fingers crossed.

[@triciac1019]

​Maybe get a taller bucket and use raised bed soil. You could probably grow carrots in that. With square foot gardening, you use one/third each, compost, vermiculite and fluffed peat moss.

[@TheWickerShireProject]

Great Planting method. Less thinning. The PLATING Method : Learned from an African grower that cannot waste seeds. She uses a Ceramic dinner plate. Non windy day. Put about 25 seeds on plate and slowly as you move across the furrow move 1 seed for every 3 or 4 inches off the edge of the Plate. Works like a charm and you get x3 more rows of carrots.

[@TheWickerShireProject]

What's your Favorite Carrot to grow? Zone and species? 7a TN we do Scarlet Nantes. 6 to 7 hours of full sun and 4 hours of partial sun Medium size good for grow bags, Raised beds and likes the heat we have here. My first carrot was Parisian ( tiny round carrots.. quick grow but, not much meat on them. Good to learn with.) Due to Rocky clay soil we are super limited on choices of produce. Central TN yellow clay grew basil, squash and cucumbers easy. Everything else struggled or stunted out. Apple trees do well, blueberries, blackberries but we had issues with Figs dying to frost and peach trees infected by peach borers.

[@gh_007]

I’ve tried the cooled down starch slurry method (mix in carrot seeds, pipe them out in rows, the slurry keeps them spaced), and mixing with sand method. I sorta just do a pinch and sprinkle method now because I have small, precise hands and I tend not to overseed. I also sow them a little deeper and try to mulch with clipped grass and crumpled dead leaves to help with the soil moisture. And because I’m in a cold and very windy climate I cover with old storm windows. It all helps retain moisture and germination rates. The best seed packet I used was a rainbow mix from Dollar Seed company. I have Danvers and something else from Rare Seeds and they didn’t germinate or grow as well as the variety pack, and I like the really pale ones, they’re the sweetest.

[@TheWickerShireProject]

@@gh_007 The rule is: If they dry they die ( in early stage of germination.) Once you have a small tiny tap root its good. I like the grass clippings and leaves for moisture. Eventually it will break down and feed the soil microbes and then feeds the plants. We wiped out and entire grow area using straw from the box stores. Grazon herbicide is just evi!

[@jakethesnake9528]

A technique I learned for planting carrots was, to take a plain white paper towel and dampen it. Now place the seeds on the towel (which makes it so much easier to see as well as space them apart) and plant paper towel, seeds and all. Works great.

[@sarathompson6628]

2:37 The Jacques Tickle 😂 I feel like this needs to be the name of a carrot-juiced based cocktail as well.

[@rpdx3]

Or a sex toy 😅

[@MorticiaLaMourante]

This is a glorious idea. Carrot juice, ginger ale, and vodka maybe. Ginger ale gives the tickle part.

[@sarathompson6628]

@@MorticiaLaMourante yessssss with some muddled fresh ginger for that extra zing!

[@MorticiaLaMourante]

@@sarathompson6628 sounds like a perfectly delicious cocktail!

[@spoopyd.8910]

"That little bit of soil just hits right" The organic fertilizer about to hit left in ten minutes:

[@epicgardening]

LOL

[@aquariusthompson8212]

😂😂😂❤

[@skellaberry]

LMAOOO

[@merelii13]

That fertilizer is why Kevin's so tall lol😂

[@mchljunior_]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[@reflectionsofjapan224]

Hello there. I am an American expat living in the Tokyo suburbs. I have an extensive garden and last year I grew over 75 fruits and vegetable on just under 1/2 acre of land. I grow mostly fruits and vegetables that are native to Japan but this year I am branching out a bit. We have an 11 month growing season here. I would love for you to see my garden.

[@Indy_Kullar]

Pls upload and share your garden images!

[@triciac1019]

I would love to see your garden!

[@777dragonborn]

11month growing season wow ! What about those nasty nip Beatles . We have them so bad here every summer. I grow tabbaco as a deterrent to keep them off the main crops.

[@suran396]

Dang!!!! I have had zero success with vegetables.

[@francestaylor9156]

It’s not just size but also weather. It gets too hot for carrots in the South by mid June so they have to get pulled by then. Unless you only grow them in the fall.

[@Dr_V]

You can try growing them between corn "curtains", sown either in rows (about 6 feet apart) or squares (approximately 10 by 10 feet), these provide shade and also act as a windbreak, slowing down surface evaporation.

[@gh_007]

Another use for carrot tops: Carrot Top Tea! Wash the tops really well, pick out any dried/yellow parts and discard. Drain and lay out in an even layer (no thicker than 1/2-1 inch) on a wide basket. Dry in a well ventilated area, turning and flipping the stems and leaves gently every other day or so. When fully dry (anywhere from 1-3 weeks) cut the carrot tops into 1.5-2 inch pieces with some clean kitchen sheets. Then lightly toast in a dry pan, stir constantly so none of it burns. If you have a lot, toast in batches. They’ll turn light brown but don’t let it get dark or burn black. Store in clean dry jars. Brew maybe 2-4 Tbsp of dried carrot tops for every 2-3 cups of boiling water. Can re-steep. I use a metal mesh tea strainer thing so it’s easy to just lift out of the hot tea when I’m read to sip. It has a roast carrot flavor. I like it in the winters when I want something hot to drink, but no caffeine and no sweetness.

[@nikkireigns]

Going to try, thanks!

[@adrianak8522]

Great suggestion

[@HalfNoodley]

Carrots are one of those crops that seems like it will be easy, but certainly is not. I've found it to be one of the hardest to get consistent results.

[@borisnecakovski3805]

Hey Kevin, if anyone in the epic family has enough experience with it, could we one day get a video dedicated to "growing in the shade", whilst explaining how it works, like when they say part shade or full shade with strong ambient light or growing in a sunny window. I'm always confused with what my shady or fully shaded/no direct light spots are considered as and what would be considered good ambient or filtered light, and honestly just what it all means in general lol. Carrots reminded me cause last season I grew them in a spot not knowing as winter came it would drastically less sun in the day in about half the bed, but even with like maybe 3 hours direct light per day once winter was here they grew basically just as well as the rest did. Thanks!

[@epicgardening]

we did a video about that a few years ago, but will revisit

[@borisnecakovski3805]

@@epicgardening awesome, thanks!

[@FluffyTheGryphon]

@@epicgardening Yea! Please do. There's certain parts of my garden that are generally very shady, so I'd love to know what I can put there to maximize my space. Thanks so much!

[@plantflowers1196]

Honestly the cornstarch gel method is my tried and true. As long as you don’t add too many carrot seeds you don’t even have to thin them! Helps with good germination too because the corn starch holds moisture better than soil alone.

[@michealscarn9132]

Happy that Kevin seems genuinely happier in his recent videos now that he made some changes to Epic

[@epicgardening]

I am

[@michelles5705]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@lindacalvelage362]

Grow next to Okra, the roots of the okra allows your carrots to grow deeper. I had an amazing crop last year.

[@theplatypen1959]

Thanks, going to try that this year

[@SandraPerez-tz3fw]

6:45 I love the last section that covers common problems. Super helpful!

[@SWiseman]

I have tried to grow carrots for 2 seasons, finally ending up with gnarled arthritis looking fingerling carrots. You are the 1st gardening content creator who has explained and demonstrated how to thin carrots properly. I am determined to be a success with carrots 😊👍🏽

[@epicgardening]

Glad to hear this!

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

@SWiseman if your carrots are gnarly and bent, it has nothing to do with thinning. Gnarly bent carrots occur from soil that is too hard. As the young roots try to push through the hard soil, they can't and end up bending and becoming deformed. Loosen your soil and if necessary add in some perlite or vermiculite or coco coir so it stays soft. Overcrowded carrots from not thinning will be skinny, but not bent.

[@heatherfisk9670]

I've made carrot top pesto and it was delicious! I was very skeptical, but also tired of throwing out all those tops so I gave it a try. Not bitter at all!

[@bettywilson6351]

You can use the tops anywhere you would use parsley.

[@VictoriaYoutube12]

Something that really helped me with germination is to put a tad of vermiculite on top of the seeds before the soil and I think it just kept the soil a bit wetter for germination… and I’m in OC where outside sown seeds can dry out too quickly if I am not constantly outside keeping them wet

[@triciac1019]

Oh thank you from this advice!

[@H4me7215]

Your video brings back so many memories!❤; my mom was so unique. We had an acre n she grew everything!!!!:we had at least 25 vegetable types, n about 12 fruit trees, grapes all kinds...it was heaven. And to this day, I remember her checking the carrots n bringing one up. She cleaned it with water n gave it to me. Since then I am addicted to carrots. She ended up teasing me that I was a carrot😅😅😅😅great days!❤❤❤❤

[@Thingys-Jill]

Don't forget Atomic Red carrots! I sowed carrot seeds the other day. Red Atomic, Danvers, Nantes, and Imperator. They're under a board at the moment. I really enjoyed this video so much that this is the 3rd time watching it! I tried a method that most people will probably shake their heads at. I decided to make seed papers. (Hey, I had insomnia, so I put it to use) Take a piece of paper towel, split it so it's single tissue. Spread dots of washable glue (little kid's glue) and use a toothpick dipped in water to put a seed or 2 on each glue dot. Let it dry. When you plant it, the glue will dissolve.

[@Ki_Adi_Mundi]

The carrot on the right still has a great personality.

[@justinbukoski1]

After years of carrot failure I switched to planting pelleted seeds and have never looked back. I get a great harvest every year with no thinning. Downside is there are fewer varieties that are pelleted.

[@epicgardening]

Yeah also more $ - but it's very reliable!

[@tamidavis3730]

I started making seed mats out of a paper towel (the square folded ones) and for the "glue" a bit of flour and water. Once they're opened up they're a perfect fit for square foot gardening. I put seeds on it every couple inches. Then when I plant I just lay down the paper towel, very lightly cover with soil and water in. Perfect carrots, nice and big and I don't really need to thin. Cheaper than pelleted but a little tedious up front.

[@joepa6106]

Always wanted to try that

[@gretahelphrey7842]

You’re both an inspiration and a great teacher. Thanks!

[@helenalderson6608]

Mine winter over great with a great crop in the spring

[@roo-dog3484]

Kevin the carrot king 🥕👑😂 great video packed full of good info! Trying carrots for the first time this spring 🌱

[@tatianamaria1]

Me too!

[@macfarms280]

Lol I feel attacked

[@I_saw_that.]

Thats an average size carrot bro 🥕

[@jpro6413]

I feel attracted To him

[@Pepe-zd1kb]

​@@I_saw_that. Had a great personality

[@T00STiCKY]

@@Pepe-zd1kbunderrated

[@briannaboyd2478]

Lmaooo same

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

You’ve gotta be one of the best KZbin personalities I’ve come across and I watch a lot of KZbin stuff to learn. Every year your content just gets better and it’s cool to see how much your videos have improved over the years. I love that you’ve added the comedy parts they always make me laugh, and the other creators you’ve added to your circle were a great addition as well.

[@adigmon]

I live in 9a. With our weather, I’ve finally had luck planting carrots in fall and harvesting in spring. The regular carrots do not grow well for me but I’ve done so well with the Parisienne and short varieties.

[@markmahoney14]

Best carrot video i haven't tried yet is press a cylinder pvc tube or any carrot size tube into the ground or bed. Sift your compost into a fine powder and put it into the tube. Plant carrots into each tube. Thin each tube to one carrot per tube. Brilliant idea i haven't tried yet.

[@madammazon2942]

I LOVED the images that went along with the problems and diseases! Thanks for this Kevin! I know I'll be coming back to this video and I hope I grow the happiest of carrots this year❤️

[@omaeve]

We didn’t want our carrots too close together I take one packet of carrots add one cup of organic soil mix it well together then plant the carrots by sprinkling the soil along the row. I do this for a 50 foot row in the garden.

[@rachel.lynnnn]

I love the shed door swinging in the wind

[@blindkimberly1360]

I remember going to the garden in the snow to pull carrots. So sweet! Think I need to plant some this year! Thank you!

[@Yupppi]

I love how you have sources to the pictures used on the video, really professional vibe to the content.

[@rhondabryant6873]

Love that you are so humble, and to think that you have only been doing this twelve years is so encouraging!

[@happyhobbit8450]

I'm starting carrots in egg cartons in a grow tent -- a neighbor gave me her variety so it's adapted to this area's soil and climate. I got some nutrient rich sand from the Columbia river banks so will see how well this works :) Thank you for your tips ... very informative!!!

[@hotpinkkt]

I tried to grow carrots last year but it didn't work out. I'm actually mostly growing them for the tops as my bunnies LOVE the tops. I got the short variety (around 4 inches) so it makes a good treat for my bunnies! I'm growing lotsa veggies for them like Kale, Cilantro, Parsely, etc

[@webenbanu]

Another fantastic video! I've heard about how difficult it is to grow carrots from other folks in each of the gardening groups I'm in online, so I was apprehensive when I tried them last year. When I pulled them up, I thought that I actually hadn't done too badly. Sure, I'd completely forgotten to harvest them so they'd been in the ground all year and through the winter, and it looked like they'd died at some point so they were mushy and rotting, but the taproots were straight and their size wasn't too terribly bad (I have low standards for first attempts, lol). So I'm trying again this year, and it's good to have some advice! I'm going to try to remember them this year!

[@lil.miscellaneous]

Have you ever tried the slurry method, where you make a cornstarch slurry and add your seeds to that. Use a squeeze bottle to plant your seeds. This makes it very easy to get your rows straight.

[@colemansines9722]

PERFECT video! Right to subject, thorough info, demonstrations and photo of problems and solutions!!!

[@richardshepler2047]

You’ve rekindled my hope that I may be able to grow carrots. I’ve experienced most of the problems you shared. Thanks!

[@lorenn8]

Great video and tips! 👏 Thanks! I have started to plant a garden for the first time this year. Listening to grandma’s tips and obviously, network. Greetings from Croatia! 😺

[@christinaabner84]

Happy mothers day I have 4 kids and12 grandkids

[@growinginportland]

I’ll keep trying. Haven’t mastered it yet. Still working on germination. Tried your cover technique didn’t work. Not going to stop. Carrots are my favorite.

[@kfetter9046]

Thanks for all the great info Kevin! I am planning on trying carrots this season, so this video came at the perfect time. 🥕🥕🥕

[@balisticburr6894]

I just watched the tomato plant experiment. I'd love to see one with different types of manure/poop

[@totumz4156]

Literally planted my carrots four days ago

[@dumbofreak]

I tried carrots by seed for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I placed cardboard over the top and kept the soil moist. Checked them yesterday and they have sprouted! I'm excited to see how they grow this spring.

[@minimalistsmanaged]

Wonderful video! Im so excited to pop out and buy some carrot seeds! 🥰

[@Greens5511]

Oh I just love this!!! Great content and I love ur way of teaching!!!

[@spindelyshankz671]

Thanks carrot daddy! My carrots were meagre last year!

[@joepa6106]

Not this year ! This year we take everything they told us we couldn't ever have.. AND MORE !!!!

[@cookie122195]

I really enjoyed the set up of this video! It was to the point and extremely helpful. It was also nice to know that I'm doing the right things to help my carrots grow. Thank you for the entertaining and informative video!

[@LoriWatson11]

This was great! Thanks Kev!

[@ellison2024]

Love, love, love this format. I can use it to plant and then problem solve.

[@GinnieJo]

I THOROUGHLY appreciate and love the design/layout/approach of the last part of this video dealing with problems and solutions! May we have this for future videos and a multitude of veggies and plants?!? Pictures of what the problem is with the cause/solution, I mean just perfect execution of that! 🙌🏼😁 And very understandable!

[@edelove8317]

I about died, “that little bit of soil hit right!!”😂🤣🤣

[@lauraansara5066]

Wow great site!! So glad I found u!!

[@Godisgracious85]

Thank you for the thinning tips ❤

[@NMGardening]

Thanks for the crunching...

[@mommybrown4]

This video was awesome. I loved the problem / solution primer at the end.

[@carojm11]

i just finished planting carrot seeds and i'm so relieved that apparently i did it right! i'll be using the board trick to keep them moist until they fully germinate :D

[@epicgardening]

Love it!

[@JodiMontano]

Very well explained and thorough. I planted mine in a container a few weeks ago, and they're sprouted, but still small. I have high hopes for this year.

[@TheSempleGardener]

I love your informative videos, Kevin! As a fairly new gardener I'm keeping track of my season this year with a few videos and carrots are part of my garden this year (sprouted 4/29 in raised bed; 6a) This video answered so many question for me but I'm sure there's some lessons I'll only Learn by making mistakes.

[@barbaracarbone4658]

I never have a good carrot harvest here in New York. I keep trying, though. I'll go over your checklist this season. Thanks🎉

[@graffic13]

I actually grew Parisienne carrots a few years ago .. they were basically baby carrots! Totally fun AF! Highly recommended!

[@nunyabusiness863]

Wow thanks a lot for this info. Didn't know this. Really really appreciate your videos Kev.

[@bisayangboleroofficial7091]

Wow amazing planting style bro

[@alex_b_brooklyn_yo]

Super helpful!

[@kimdoolin3002]

I'm growing carrots for the first time this year. I started them in a deeper set seed tray and then transferred. Will see what happens but they seem to be doing well at the moment.

[@lindysmallwood2039]

First time growing carrots. So far so good. Will see what the future holds. lol. Thank you!❤️🌺

[@bryanjames5256]

Thank you. I just got the Atomic Red variety from Botanical. Love carrots, just never been efficient with them.

[@JohnHenrySheridan]

Thanks for another epic gardening video !

[@NurtureYourJoy]

I never knew about Hairy Carrots 🥕 😂 Thanks for the advice. Great as always 🧡🥕

[@carolfaberpeake857]

That is a big help thanks!! Think I will use my grow bags so I can get better sun fur them!! 🎉

[@shewholaughs4977]

Love the rainbow mix

[@shellyroseburg2831]

If you put your seeds in sand they spread better for planting and less thinning later.

[@lorrigierman7089]

Very helpful information, thank you! I keep trying but haven't given up on root crops....yet.

[@jacobbruch3244]

Planted Danvers 126 and Carnival blend in my bed a few weeks ago. I was super paranoid they would dry out so I watered every day, covered in cardboard, and pretty much every seed germinated (a testament to BI seeds that a brand new gardener was able to pull that off). Excited for my inaugural carrot harvest

[@ponwajeechrans7372]

Grow them one year,now they grow every where. Grow them for butterflies

[@lindasoaft9303]

Thank you! I use cardboard to cover the seeds.

[@Oktopia]

This was timely and useful information. The troubleshooting part most of all. You should do the same for other veggies.

[@NatureHerbsandTea.]

Very nice ❤️ Thank you ❤️

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

Very nice. I am going to try that method because I have yet to get a decent crop. Take care

[@kathryncarty1629]

Good video on carrots 🥕. I appreciate the explanations regarding why they may grow stunted or "hugging "way as well!

[@bettywilson6351]

You can also use carrot tops anywhere you would use parsley. Tabbouleh is a favorite of mine. You don't even have to wait until the carrots are harvested. Just pull one or two leaves from each plant. Just be careful not to cut off too many from one plant. You want enough leaves to feed the roots.

[@fuurinkazan164]

Thank you! Another super helpful video. I think I figured out what I did wrong last season. The board trick is gonna help!

[@TexasBluebonnetHomestead]

Nice harvest of peas! I hope I’m able to get a harvest before it’s too hot.

[@cookiepfeffer8196]

Very helpful tips !

[@terrivance8750]

Thank you, Kevin. 😊

[@TheGamersHaven]

Thank you so much Eric

[@Coccinelf]

I have never had any problem with my carrots even in my first year of gardening. In fact I thought it was the easiest crop for a disabled gardener. Until last year, all of my seeds rotted because we had too much rain :(

[@Desert-Dweller]

Perfect timing. I'd planned to plant carrot seeds tomorrow morning! 🥕🥕

[@sharimarshall6100]

When is the best time to plant carrots in zone 10b?

[@Desert-Dweller]

@@sharimarshall6100 Sorry, I have no idea, I'm British living in Africa. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@rainnmoon114]

Hey that little carrot has a great personality!

[@CabinGRL]

I have a video on my channel of a carrot pull in my garden last week and the carrots were hairy. I put them out for the deer 🦌 I’ll check out the other vids on what to do about leafhoppers the insect that causes hairy carrots. Thanks!

[@kushscentedbeard3098]

My seeds have just germinated, great timing

[@sheisofthewoods]

Do the corn starch gel method, will naturally space your seeds without needing to thin much and will help keep the seeds wet.

[@MiguelHenriquezEscobar-kr7xx]

Hi I really appreciate your videos and I want to ask you when is the best time to grow corn 🌽 thanks

[@Jay12629]

It’s hard to take you seriously without a cat or dog running around. ;) I love your channel.

[@paulinebrus7580]

great video! I try to grow them know for 3 years and have not eaten one tiny carrot :( I am going to try out your tips and tricks :)