The Carrots Germinated! Now It's Time For The Hard Part

We're checking in on the carrots from a few weeks ago to see how they're doing and what you need to know for your next steps in growing & harvesting carrots.

0:19 Container of Carrots
2:34 Thinning

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At first glance, our container full of carrots is looking good! We have nice germination, and the green leaves are starting to fill out the pot. Both rows are looking nice, and the vermiculite that we sprinkled on top has allowed the seeds to push through.

The key with carrots is keeping them moist. If you recall, we lightly watered the seeds, and we then covered the top of the container with cardboard to help retain moisture. Plus, the seeds don't require light to germinate. Because we're growing these in a fairly small container, we had to closely monitor the moisture levels of the soil. We've been lucky enough to have cool, wet weather in recent weeks. Once the seeds started to show, we removed the cardboard.

Now that we have a nice, green layer going. It's time for the hard part especially since we overdid the sowing process to show you what that looks like.

It's time to thin. As painful as this is, you NEED to do this. By gently going through the rows with my hands, I'm able to pull any seedlings that are not rooting well, have fallen over, or are just generally weak. I'll do this about once a week even to promote growth by removing competition. You'll quickly notice the plants that you have left will be stronger!

Thinning is a great practice for most plants, but it's especially key for carrots and other root crops. The root needs room to grow, so you don't want to give it a crowded environment. Without thinning, your harvest will be small, spindly, and just not very successful.

Stay tuned for more carrot updates in the coming weeks!

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