Daucus carota is a biennial plant. In the first year, its rosette of leaves produces large amounts of sugars, which are stored in the taproot to provide energy for the plant to flower in the second year. Soon after germination, carrot seedlings show a distinct demarcation between taproot and stem: the stem is thicker and lacks lateral roots. At the upper end of the stem is the seed leaf. The first true leaf appears about 10–15 days after germination. Subsequent leaves are alternate (with a single leaf attached to a node), spirally arranged, and pinnately compound, with leaf bases sheathing the stem. As the plant grows, the bases of the seed leaves, near the taproot, are pushed apart. The stem, located just above the ground, is compressed and the internodes are not distinct. When the seed stalk elongates for flowering, the tip of the stem narrows and becomes pointed, and the stem extends upward to become a highly branched inflorescence up to 60–200 cm (20–80 in) tall. Most of the taproot consists of a pulpy outer cortex (phloem) and an inner core (xylem). High-quality carrots have a large proportion of cortex compared to core. Although a completely xylem-free carrot is not possible, some cultivars have small and deeply pigmented cores; the taproot can appear to lack a core when the colour of the cortex and core are similar in intensity. Taproots are typically long and conical, although cylindrical and nearly-spherical cultivars are available. The root diameter can range from 1 cm (3⁄8 in) to as much as 10 cm (4 in) at the widest part. The root length ranges from 5 to 50 cm (2 to 20 in), although most are between 10 and 25 cm (4 and 10 in).
Baby Carrots Care
Daucus Carota Subsp. Sativus
It can be invasive in North America and Ireland.
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Lighting
Full Sun
Difficulty
Easy
How to Care for the Plant
Water
Like most vegetables, growing carrots need a minimum of 1 inch of water every week. If they cannot get an adequate supply from rainfall, you will need to water the soil. When you water your carrots, make sure to soak the soil completely. If you only wet the soil's surface, the roots will not grow as deeply.
Pruning
The first time to prune carrots is just after they germinate. This is the time when you can identify the stronger shoots from the weaker ones. After the weak plants are discerned, prune their tops in a process called thinning to prevent them from growing. Carrots are thinned again when the shoots reach 1 to 3 inches.
Fertilizer
If the soil in your garden is not rich in nutrients, you may need to fertilize your carrots. Carrots should be fertilized when the tops have reached 3 inches tall. A granular type fertilizer will work well, if used in moderation. Choose a fertilizer that has little nitrogen and more potassium and phosphate - 0-10-10 or 5-15-15 will work well. Pay attention to the 3 number code on the bag of fertilizer. These three numbers indicate the amount of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium that are contained in that particular fertilizer, respectively.
Soil
Carrots need loamy, loose soil for best root development. Water immediately after planting, then give plants 1 inch of water per week. When roots start to mature, increase the amount of water to 2 inches per week.
Temperature
Young Carrot Tops. Carrots are grown as a cool season crop which means the seeds are sown when soil temperatures reach about 50 degrees F in the early spring. Seed germination typically occurs at 55 to 75 degrees F being optimal for this crop.
Additional
Baby Carrots are unsafe to eat because they are soaked in a toxic chlorine bath. Despite their nutritional benefits, baby carrots have been criticized for being “unsafe” due to part of their cleansing process, which uses a chlorine bath.
Carrots can grow quite large but baby carrots are harvested when they are between 10 and 14cm long and about 2cm wide. They are much more tender and sweet than large carrots and are higher in beta carotene which helps us to see in the dark.
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