Archive for the ‘Carrots’ Category

Did you know carrots originated in Afghanistan and were purple in colour? It was the Europeans that bred the standard orange carrot that we so commonly consume. Carrots grow pretty much all year round, need little fertilizer and come in all shapes and sizes, including miniture, ball-shaped and fat stumpy varieties. The best soil to grow carrots in is a well draining sandy loam, not too much added organic matter and with plenty of sun, in a patch where something different has been grown and harvested. (Crop rotation is very important to keep disease away).

Carrot seeds must be sown where they will eventually mature. My advice would be not to bother with buying carrots in punnets as they do not transport into beds too well and often just turn to seed. Prepare the bed a day before sowing by raking and gently loosening the topsoil and give it a good soaking with water. Read the rest of this entry »