Heirloom Danvers Half-Long Carrot Seeds – Perfect for Beginners & Home GardensDaucus carotaListing is for 1 packet of minimum 50+ seeds Learn how to grow carrots from seed all the way to harvest with my YouTube video tutorial: https://youtu.be/nsEZCDwjxFw Out of all the carrot cultivars I have trialed, this one provides me with the most consistent results. Danvers handles compacted soils better than other varieties. It produces carrots that are on average 7 inches long. I like to harvest at the 4th month mark (not 3), for bigger and sweeter carrots. General planting guidelines suggest to direct sow carrot seeds 3 weeks before your average last frost date. Then succession sow every 2 weeks for a continual harvest. Carrots prefer to grow in temperatures between 45-80F. If it gets too hot (over 80F), they get stunted and stop growing. If your in a warmer climate. zones +8, it can be a challenge trying to grow them as there is a short window where temperatures land in the ideal range. Using my garden as an example to determine when to direct sow carrot seeds - I use www.plantmaps.com to calculate when I should direct sow seeds in my zone 9B garden. Put in your zip code and it will generate a lot of important gardening information specific to your area. At the bottom is a monthly chart of average max and low temperatures. Look for the months where the average maximum temperature doesn't exceed 80F. For me, this is November thru March. I can start direct sowing seeds in November, with December being the last chance. This allows 4 months of growing time so I can harvest before April arrives when temperatures now exceed 80F. If carrots are grown in too much heat, it can stunt their growth and cause a bitter flavor. Ideal Growing Conditions Sun: full sun, 8 hours a day Water: Keep the soil consistently moist Soil: Prepare the carrot growing space by working in lots of compost and a combination of sand and peat moss or coco coir to create very loose, fluffy soil. Fertilizer: Mix a balanced fertilizer into the soil before direct sowing the seeds to give carrots a boost. Then fertilize with something high in phosphorus and potassium, and low in nitrogen at 1 month and again at 2 months after direct sowing the seeds. When & How To Sow Seeds: Direct sow seeds 2 weeks before your last spring frost date for a spring crop OR direct sow 3-4 months before your first winter frost date for a fall crop. Direct sow the seeds, spacing them about 3 inches apart in rows that are 2FT apart. If following square foot gardening guidelines, plant 9 total per square foot. Sprinkle a few seeds, press them down gently to make contact with the soil, do not cover with soil. Gently water the area everyday. Carrot seeds need constant moisture to get good germination so water the area everyday. Thin your carrot seedlings when they are 3 inches tall. This prevents overcrowding to ensure the carrots grow straight, do not split, or become stunted. Germination: 10–21 days Days To Maturity: 90-120 days after direct sowing the seed How & When To Harvest: Most seed packets will say ready to harvest in 90 days. However, I find that if I let my carrots go to 120 days, they are much bigger and have better flavor. I would not allow them to go past 120 days as they will start to get woody in texture. Common Diseases: Common carrot diseases include leaf blight, powdery mildew, and root rot. Leaf blight causes yellowing and browning of leaves and can be managed by spraying the foilage with 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water. Root rot, often caused by overly wet soil, is best prevented with well-draining soil and careful watering. Crop rotation and removing infected plants can also help reduce disease spread. Common Pests: Common carrot pests include carrot rust flies, aphids, and cutworms. Carrot rust fly larvae tunnel into the roots, which can be prevented by using floating row covers and rotating crops. Aphids can be controlled with insecticidal soap or a strong spray of water. Cutworms can be deterred by placing collars around seedlings and keeping garden beds weed-free. Do I have a YouTube video tutorial on how to grow this? Yes https://youtu.be/nsEZCDwjxFw Additional Tips/Information: N/A My Recipes That Use Carrots My Mom's Carrot Cake