Carrots are always sown directly in their permanent location. For later (summer-autumn) cultivation, they are sown in rows or strips on a flat surface, while for earlier spring cultivation, they are sown on raised beds.
Crop Rotation for Carrots
Carrots are grown in crop rotation, which means careful consideration of the preceding crop and the cultivation site is necessary.
They are sown on areas previously occupied by crops fertilized with manure and free of weeds. Ideal preceding crops include tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, peppers, and legumes (peas, beans). If carrots are sown as a late crop, they are often grown as a follow-up crop after early potatoes or peas. Carrots make a good preceding crop for all other vegetables. To reduce the risk of diseases and pests, carrots must be grown in rotation, and they can return to the same area only after 3-4 years. Suitable preceding crops include tomatoes, cabbage, and peppers. Carrots are a good preceding crop for most other vegetables.
Sowing Carrots
Raised beds warm up faster, allowing for quicker seed germination. Raised beds can be wide (100 cm) with typically 5 rows sown, or narrow (75 cm) with two rows of carrots. The spacing between rows is 30 – 40 cm, and within the row, it is 2 – 3 cm.
The sowing layer must be flat and have a fine crumbly structure. Seeds are sown at a depth of 1.5 – 2 cm. To ensure a high percentage of seed germination, it is recommended to use calibrated and treated seeds against carrot flies and fungal diseases. After sowing, the rows are lightly pressed with an appropriate roller.
Sowing Times for Continental Croatia
| Purpose of Cultivation | Sowing Period | Days to Harvest | Harvest Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early “young” carrots | March – early April | 90 – 80 | 10 – 30 |
| Mid-early and summer | Late March – throughout April | 130 – 100 | 30 |
| Autumn storage carrots | Late April – early May | 190 – 130 | 30 |
